Vodou Booze

Your summer has been a series of disappointments and failures, so far indistinguishable from the rest of the year. But that’s only because summer doesn’t really start until Fête de la Musique, the global holiday to kick off the season with live music in the streets. Technically, Fête de la Musique is Saturday, but on this third Friday of the month, the Fête will be celebrated as part of Big Night in Little Haiti at the Little Haiti Cultural Center (212 NE 59th Ter., Miami). This very well could be the last time — until we are swallowed by the rising ocean — that Miami starts something early. As always, there will be loads of Haitian food and drink, this time featuring creole goodness from Leela’s Lakay, Prestige beer, and Clairin. Clairin? It’s a moonshiny, rum-like drink offered to the dead in Vodou ceremonies, and like cremation, if it’s good enough for the dead, it’s good enough for you. Not only that, but artists will also have open studios, and “Haiti by Design,” a show of avant-garde jewelry and fashion, will be on view in the center’s gallery. Look for Wyclef Jean’s collaboration with Spanx, “Hips Don’t Lie, Per Se.” But without the musique, this would risk being a fête de blah. Fortunately, beginning at 6 p.m., there will be two hours of local acts performing in ten-minute blocks. Then compas group Gabel will headline. Frontmen Katalog and Flav carouse with dancers in chicken suits in the their recent “Kók” video; they’re obviously furry-friendly, even if the Miami summers aren’t. What other taboo things will be encouraged in the audience? There are many ways to find out, but doing them until you’re thrown out is one option. Big Night in Little Haiti is free. It’s scheduled to go until 10 p.m., but chill out — it’s a party.
Fri., June 20, 6-10 p.m., 2014