Puerto Rican singer-songwriter provides some Soulful Latin flavor and a taste of emerging musical talent as part of the festival’s line-up in February 2014
The week of Art Basel set the scene at Cafeina Lounge in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District on Thursday, December 5th, for the official Media Launch of SOULFRITO The Urban Latin Music Festival presented by Hennessy.
During the evening’s invitation-only event, celebrated Puerto Rican songwriter and recording artist, Calma Carmona, took to the stage for her first South Florida appearance and a highly anticipated live acoustic performance in front of a receptive crowd of Miami’s discerning music enthusiasts. Following an initial cocktail reception, courtesy of Hennessy, Butta P from Miami’s popular 99 Jamz radio station introduced Carmona on-stage to an eager applause. The inaugural unplugged performance consisted of her own opening rendition of “Fever” by La Lupe, followed by a series of upbeat Latin soul tracks from her “There’s No Other Girl” live session EP. Miami was given a sneak peak of Carmona’s debut performance three months before she takes to the stage at SOULFRITO The Urban Latin Music Festival in February next year at Sun Life Stadium, as part of an eclectic line-up of emerging talent.
Additional talent featured during the evening included Anané and Louie Vega, the husband and wife duo from New York, who span a mix of house and other soulful underground favorites throughout the evening. The American musician of Puerto Rican ancestry, Louie Vega, is one half of the Masters At Work musical production team. Vega’s father, Luis Vager, was a jazz saxophonist, and his uncle was singer Héctor Lavoe of the Fania All-Stars. All three artists – Carmona along with Anané and Louie Vega – met for the first time and were seen relaxing in the upstairs Hennessy VIP lounge at Cafeina with SOULFRITO founder, Melissa Giles, during press interviews and photography following Carmona’s on-stage performance.
Miami-based muralist, Diana Contreras, gave invited guests an example of today’s most avant-garde street art during the evening’s entertainment. The Peruvian artist, now living in Miami, experimented with charcoal, pastel and spray paint, as she turned a blank canvas in to a design masterpiece by the time the evening came to an end.
Since its inception in 2002, SOULFRITO The Urban Latin Music Festival has been the premier launch pad for emerging and established artists, as well as brands looking to connect with the multicultural U.S Hispanic audience that now forms today’s mainstream market. Founded by Miami-based entrepreneur, Melissa Giles, SOULFRITO made an early contribution towards launching the careers of artists such as Pitbull, Wisin Y Yandel, Aventura and Kat Deluna, among others, and continues to provide an attractive platform for producers and brand partners that wish to engage second, third and fourth generation US-Hispanics and enthusiasts of Urban Latin culture.
Strategic partnerships have been formed ahead of SOULFRITO The Urban Latin Music Festival in February next year at Sun Life Stadium, including with Clear Channel’s Mega 949, who will act as the festival’s exclusive Latin radio partner, along with WEDR 99 Jams, the leading radio station for the 18-34 demographic. In partnership with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, SOULFRITO will be offering a series Travel Package giveaways in feeder markets nationwide and for those looking to attend the festival who are traveling from outside Florida.
SOULFRITO The Urban Latin Music Festival will take place on February 22nd, 2014, at Sun Life Stadium, featuring NAS, Don Omar, Juicy J, Victor Manuelle, Hector “El Torito” Acosta, Sensato, Plan B, Sensato Calma Carmona, DJ Camilo,DJ Enuff and hosted by Adrienne Bailon and Julissa Bermudez. Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster by visiting www.soulfrito.com.
photo credit: courtesy of SOULFRITO
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