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> MIAMI'S FIRST ANNUAL 4/20 FESTIVAL |
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Miami's First Annual 4/20 Festival By: Nina Munizaga The first annual Miami 4/20 Fest landed on Easter Sunday this year, and that didn't matter one bit. While much of the Christian and Catholic world celebrated the coming of their savior this past Sunday among family, loved ones and delicious home cooking, a few hundred Miami natives flocked to the American Legion Miami, near the Design District, to revel in a holiday of their own - the ever-so-loved day of 4/20. With thoughts and scents of Mary Jane in the air, people from all ages and all walks of life gathered at the intersection of 64th Street and NE 7th Ave to enjoy 14 hours of music. From reggae and hip-hop to rock 'n' roll and punk rock, this backyard venue held over 85 bands playing on eight different stages for an all day music fest. Spectators ventured through grassy fields lined with food vendors, liquor bars, hemp clothing and jewelry carts during the daylong music showcase. Stages sponsored by well-known local venues such as Design District's club Revolver, Downtown Miami's HardRock Café located in Bayside, drum 'n' bass culture event producers BeatCamp and hip-hop/rap big wig underground production company Smoke Entertainment were scattered throughout American Legion, leaving no corner unoccupied. Celebrated local rock bands such as jazz/blues group King Bee, indie band Humbert, and emo-sounding outfit 50Watt Stereo kept attentive eyes and ears gathered in front of the stage with passionate percussion sections and sweet harmonies, while urban legends in the making - like the Aboriginal and The Linx - forced onlookers to acknowledge the talent that stood before them with tight flows and intense beats. "It's great to have such a variety of genres at one venue," said festivalgoer James Hirokomo. Perhaps the most awaited performers of the day by all festivalgoers - from punk rockers to hip-hoppers - were reggae legends The Ska-ta-lites. These half-dozen, Rastafarian, more-than-middle-aged men had the room packed tight with bodies gracefully swaying back and forth to the sounds of musically brilliant, heavenly tunes. During the Ska-ta-lites' set no one was anything or anyone, except an aficionado enjoying really great reggae. "This group, their sound and vibe is a musician's fantasy," said 20-year-old pianist, Kathryn O'Neil. "You can't help but appreciate the craft, no matter what you're into." The BeatCamp room, which pulsated with bouncing bodies as it has numerous times before at numerous previous venues, claimed the late night hours with performances from the positive energy of Council of the Sun and the intense sounds of New Republic. |
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