Heineken TransAtlantic Festival
Rhythm Foundation is a non-profit organization presenting outstanding international artists in South Florida – more than 500 concerts, events and festivals by established and innovative artists from around the world. On Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 the Rhythm Foundation takes the North Beach Bandshell for the 12th Annual Heineken TransAtlantic Festival. Meet this year’s TransAtlantans…
ASTRO
ASTRO [CHILE]
Bold, fresh, and energetic, Chilean electro-band Astro has quickly gained popularity across Latin America for their curious artistic sensibilities which band member Daniel Vargas describes as “experimental pop, rock, and psychedelia.” Named as one of NPR’s favorites of 2012, Astro’s self-titled debut album features sparkling synth tones, infectious hooks, and crossover pop appeal that speaks to fans of dance music across the world. Astro sounds like “Café Tacvba reprogrammed by Animal Collective and MGMT.” Friday, April 4
ESTEMAN
ESTEMAN [COLOMBIA]
Before he became an actual viral video sensation, Colombia’s Esteban Mateus had already created his pop star persona, Esteman. The former “musical theatre geek” and performance artist was exploring issues of celebrity and gender identity when his 2009 hit “No te metas a mi Facebook” (Don’t Hack Into My Facebook), a catchy and ironic song about internet mischief, catapulted him to internet fame. In 2012 he released his first album, 1er Acto (First Act), whose quirky and fun-filled music mixes boleros, ‘50s American pop, rockabilly, country-western, and tropical sounds. Friday, April 4
BOMBINO
BOMBINO [NIGER]
Like the nomadic Tuaregs of the Sahara, Bombino’s electric guitar seamlessly crosses borders. The smoky, incantatory sound of the “desert blues” he produces represents his unbreakable bond to his culture while simultaneously referencing the American rock guitarists he spent countless hours emulating while working as a shepherd outside Tripoli. Bombino became popular across North Africa for giving voice to his people’s yearning for peace and the defense of their rich and historied cultural heritage. His latest release, Nomad, was produced by Grammy Award-winner Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and was named one of the year’s best albums by NPR Music, the CBC, and Rolling Stone, which describes it as “a perfect match of sound and soul that introduces a new guitar hero.” Saturday, April 5
COURTNEY JOHN PROJECT
COURTNEY JOHN PROJECT [JAMAICA]
Rootstronic is a hybrid sonic creation, defined by The Courtney John Project as “one part Kingston Mash-up, one part Euro-electronica and 100% provocative in its approach to contemporary music.” Hailing from the island of Jamaica, this trio of musical explorers have come together to play, refine, and promote their genre-bending music which straddles electronic dance music and roots reggae. Saturday, April 5
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Heineken TransAtlantic Festival: Tickets are $23 each night / $28 at door / $40 for a 2 night festival pass. Pre-party Wednesday, April 2 at Blackbird Ordinary with Eagle Chief and Hunters of the Alps. Purchase tickets and more info at TransAtlanticFestival.com
~ Stef Vidal | Tropicult.com
