Miami, FL – September 9, 2024 – The Adrienne Arsht Center (@arshtcenter) is proud to announce the return of the Arsht’s outdoor concert series, LIVE ON THE PLAZA, for the 2024-2025 season. LIVE ON THE PLAZA features intimate concerts starring South Florida-based artists, outside and under the stars in the Arsht’s Thomson Plaza for the Arts. New this season, the series features three festival-style weekends celebrating rock, Caribbean and soul music, as well as a themed Tango Night on November 15.
Tickets to LIVE ON THE PLAZA are $20 for General Admission tickets and $30 for VIP tickets.* VIP tickets include table service for up to four people. Table locations are assigned in the order of purchase. General Admission tickets are seated on a first come, first served basis. Tickets for the October lineup of concerts, which include the JESUS PUPO, RASPBERRY PIE, ABSTRACT CITIZEN and the ROCK & RHYTHM WEEKEND performances, are available now and may be purchased at arshtcenter.org, or at the Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722. Tickets to all remaining concerts will be available starting September 20.
The 2024-2025 LIVE ON THE PLAZA series is presented by TD Bank.
The 2024-2025 LIVE ON THE PLAZA series features three festival-style weekends including:
Stout (@theestout) is a true Renaissance woman. She went from playing drums and singing in a choir to touring the world with artists such as Alicia Keys, Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) and Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles, to name a few. Her sound is deeply rooted in gospel and soul, and blended with elements of jazz, rock, hip-hop, pop and more. Her sound can be likened to Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone and Tina Turner. She has been taking the world by storm with an unapologetic approach to music.
Experience the magic of Alexa & the Old-Fashioneds (@alexaandtheoldfashioneds), a dynamic, four-piece band reminiscent of 1990s women-led bands but with a fresh, contemporary energy. The group blends pop, rock, soul and spoken word. Lead vocalist Alexa Lash, named Miami New Times’ Best Songwriter of 2024, will captivate you with her heartfelt lyrics and soulful voice. Her music navigates love and heartbreak, melody by melody and lyric by lyric. Her voice has been compared to those of Florence Welch, Adele, Amy Winehouse and Janis Joplin. Her musical influences range from bright Broadway musicals to the dark and edgy lyrical prowess of performers such as Alanis Morrisette.
In this special performance, violinist Belinda Stohner and cellist Jose Pradas, both from Miami, will join Lash and her band, which features lead guitarist Marcel Salas, bassist Carlos Marcano Garcia and drummer Jonathan Colorado. They’ll perform songs from Lash’s album, Heartbreak in Movements, as well as band favorites.
The return of a crowd favorite! Gold Dust Lounge (@golddustlounge) is the Miami brainchild of guitarist-composer Russell Mofsky, who takes familiar sounds and references and bends them into something that reverberates with the wild and exotic. His music is an amalgamation of his eclectic influences, ranging from vintage cinema to primitive surf rock, cool lounge noir and punk meets Americana. This music is for fans of Bill Frisell, Sonic Youth, La Lom and Khruangbin as well as fans of films by David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino. Gold Dust Lounge’s self-titled jazz album was nominated for Best Instrumental Album of 2019 by the Independent Music Awards. Arranged in a quartet featuring guitar, violin, bass and drums, no two Gold Dust Lounge shows are alike. Don’t miss this “fusion of wailing ambient instrumentals stamped with retro surf rock and acid jazz” (South Florida Sun Sentinel).
Jimena Fama (@jimenafama), who performs under the name Electro Dub Tango, is an Argentine composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer based in Miami and Berlin. Her imaginative music features expressive vocals over bandoneon and guitar. She captures the heart and soul of tango and can be likened to Astor Piazzolla and Grace Jones.
Her interpretation of neotango or, as she calls it, “New Generation Tango,” has garnered international acclaim, with her music being featured across the globe in commercials and on shows such as Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. A dance floor will be provided at this special Live on the Plaza concert.
Strong and unexpectedly diverse.” —The New York Times
Haitian-American trumpeter and composer Jean Caze (@jeancaze) is a prominent figure in today’s jazz scene. Throughout his career, Caze has remained committed to musical innovation, blending his Haitian heritage with American jazz influences. His style of Afro-Caribbean instrumental music can be compared to that of Hugh Masekela, Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti and the Caribbean Jazz Project.
A magnetic performer, Caze has appeared onstage alongside icons such as Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Al Jarreau, Arturo Sandoval and Michael Bublé. Caze and his six-piece band will put on a night of Haitian rhythms, catchy melodies, improvisation and fun audience interaction.
Low Ground (@lowground_band) is a five-person bluegrass ensemble from South Florida. The name “Low Ground” is a nod to the Sunshine State, where musicians usually play at (or below) sea level, contrasting with other bluegrass band names that typically highlight mountains and ridges. Low Ground perform classics such as “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” and “Shady Grove,” among other favorites. However, you’ll often find them playing adapted versions of songs from artists such as Phish and Merle Haggard. These new takes on well-loved tunes prove Low Ground is keen to experiment. Their eclectic sound pulls from folk, swing and other genres. The trio features Amanda Accardi on bass, Paddy King on fiddle and Trevor Klutz on guitar. The band formed in 2020 and will release their first album of original music and reimagined covers in January.
Taking inspiration from 1970s Nigerian big bands, Diaspora Vibe Afrobeat Allstars (@diasporavibe) are the brainchild of Gordon Duane Myers, a multi-instrumentalist and producer, and Rosie Gordon-Wallace, founder of Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator. This initiative kept local musicians employed during the pandemic, and began with concerts at the Garner Foundation in downtown Miami. The band is a multicultural explosion, reflecting Miami’s diverse 21st century landscape. Audiences will be treated to a night of world music infused with funk, soul and jazz.
PinoGrillo (@pinogrillo.music) is an experience. Led by acoustic guitarist and vocalist Francisco Pino, the band performs funk, R&B, reggae, pop, hip-hop and Cuban guaracha from “el campo” to create their own brand of international soul music. Focusing on the roots of Cuban, Jamaican and American funk music, PinoGrillo has arranged and curated a vibrant acoustic tribute to the multifacetedness of a South Florida stereo.
A fan favorite returns to the Arsht Center. Born and raised in Miami to Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican parents, singer-songwriter Victoria Blue (@victoria_blue) credits her diverse upbringing for who she is today. Her music is a fusion of pop, R&B and soul with a strong Latin flair. Awarded “Best Outstanding Vocalist” at the National Music Festival in New York, Blue is an international force to be reckoned with. Her Spanish language music can be compared to La India, Celia Cruz, Juan Luis Guerra and Jose Feliciano. Her English language music gravitates toward Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and Gloria Gaynor. Bridging the gap between American and Latin cultures, Blue brings a diversified sound and electrified vocal style to Live on the Plaza.
Back by popular demand! The inescapable Calixto Oviedo and the Cuban Jazz Train (@calixto_oviedo_) return to reshape the connection between Afro-Cuban music and jazz at Live on the Plaza. Originating from a common African polyrhythmic foundation, the group playfully combines traditional Spanish elements and distinct blues inflections for a sound that is truly their own. Oviedo, a Latin Grammy nominee for La Rumba del Siglo (2000), has collaborated with renowned global artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Chucho Valdés. Drawing on their rich musical roots and a healthy dose of soul, Calixto Oviedo and the Cuban Jazz Train are undoubtedly crowd-pleasers.
The remaining lineup for October 2024 includes the following:
Havana-born pianist and composer Jesus Pupo (@jesuspupo) studied with maestros such as Violeta Hemsy de Gainza, Jorge Luis Prats, Andrés Allen and Arturo O’Farrill. He has performed solo, in jazz groups and with symphonies. His collaborators have included Danay Suárez, Romeo Santos, Gente de Zona, Carlos Varela, Richard Bona, Kelvis Ochoa and Rhythm Portal Miami. His albums include Nevando en La Habana and Oro.
Dubbed “Orlando’s #1 dance band” by Orlando Magazine, Raspberry Pie (@raspberrypiemusic) is all about funky, tongue-in-cheek songs with singalong choruses that ALWAYS keep the dance floor packed and grooving! Their live show incorporates elements of street dance, classical ballet, and acrobatics, all against the backdrop of live funk and disco music. Raspberry Pie have headlined several notable conventions including Florida Supercon in Miami, PAX East in Boston, PAX West in Seattle, and Dragon Con in Atlanta, and have played successful tours of the US East Coast, Midwest, and Southwest.
Abstract Citizen (@abstract_citizen) pushes boundaries and blends genres. Their captivating performances weave modern jazz, Peruvian folk and bluegrass influences. The band will keep you engaged with their thoughtful, heartfelt and stimulating show.
Abstract Citizen was founded by guitarist and composer Aaron Lebos, a Miami native who has been an active member of the music scene since he was 16 years old. Joining Lebos is a remarkable band featuring some of the most in-demand musicians in South Florida. The quartet also includes vocalist Justine Garcia, bassist Marty Quinn and drummer Brahm Masla, all of whom are graduates of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.