HOW THE NORTH BEACH SOCIAL BUILDS COMMUNITY AND TAKES YOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE THROUGH MUSIC.
To put it lightly, Miami is a city with no shortage of things to do on any given night and seemingly has an overabundance of exceptional music venues. Yet, there is no live music venue in our city nearly as iconic as the Miami Beach Bandshell. The Bandshell, managed by the Rhythm Foundation since 2015, has created a space that thrives on the diversity of its programming. Between the world-class acts they regularly book, there’s also its annual Youth Music Festival, roller skating disco events, and film screenings. Yet, one of the Bandshell’s most transformative concert series often flies under the radar.
The Rhythm Foundation has been spotlighting the international sounds found in the 305 since 1988. Through collaboration with the city of Miami, the Rhythm Foundation was finally awarded management of the Bandshell.…
From this partnership arose the North Beach Social.
The Bandshell’s monthly Social provides a stage for our finest local artists, all while creating space for an all-ages audience. The best part? The event is completely free. The Social has featured exceptional bands, including the Jacuzzi Boys, The French Horn Collective and Afrobeta, but since its creation, the Social evolved into something far bigger. By design, these performances are a vehicle to bring people together in a fun, and more importantly, accessible environment.
This curatorial element is something the foundation has in spades. By entrusting local artists with such a beloved, iconic stage, they’ve put their faith in the quality of the performance. They know you’re in for phenomenal music. The musicians invited by the foundation to perform exemplify artistic excellence. In Quinlan’s words, “We have so many amazing bands. We have them in the indie scene, in Latin music, in Caribbean music, in electronic, jazz, and new music. The Social has been our way to tap into the most exciting, invigorating, world-class work from right here in our backyard.” While some may be put off by the idea of spending a night out watching an artist they’ve never heard before, the Social is a low-risk way of broadening your musical horizons. “I hope that with our long history, people will trust that they’re going to like what they see here. I hope that people will recognize that a Rhythm Foundation produced event will be a quality event,” Quinlan says. And just as a reminder… The whole event is free. So really, what have you got to lose?
As deceptively simple as it seems, The Bandshell’s North Beach Social has become a beacon of community, connection, and musical exploration…all while supporting a fantastic venue. This upcoming season, the Rhythm Foundation is planning on making the Social even more dynamic by tapping into more of Miami’s unique music scenes. On the off-chance you ever find yourself overwhelmed by how to spend a night out, consider corraling your friends and heading to the North Beach Social. I know that’s where I’ll be. And so will the rhythm.
