Critic's Notebook

JG Wilkes, half of the legendary Scottish DJ duo Optimo, discusses Electric Pickle and saying goodbye to beloved nightlife institutions.

Every year, Miami Music Week boasts an unfathomable number of pool parties, warehouse raves, and all-night club showcases promising a utopia of beats and beautiful people – for a price. But everyone loves a free party, and just like previous editions, Miami Music Week 2019 brings a fresh batch of bashes…

You’ve heard it from your friends in bands: “Bro, I need to get out of Miami.” Perhaps they’re thinking about the woes of constant low-paying/unpaid gigs or the weekend drone of hopping from Las Rosas to Gramps to Churchill’s, or maybe they’re just dreaming of taking their talents to a new place. Though most Miami musicians don’t skip town, these local artists have moved on to pursue their passion elsewhere.

Like many South Floridians, Matthew Redler found there were more local events he wanted to attend than he could afford. “I was priced out of exploring all the sports and music events Miami had to offer,” the Plantation native and University of Florida student says. Out of that disappointment sprang his eureka moment…

At a holiday party this winter, Miami musicians Nick County and Juan Ledesma commiserated over the city’s lack of multimedia platforms for live performances. They longed for the kind of sleek, curated web content produced by beloved indie institutions such as Seattle’s KEXP and NPR’s Tiny Desk, but for Miami. “Nick…

In 1990, when Miami radio station 99 Jamz (WEDR) erected a 100,000-watt transmitter, its newly boosted signal carried not only across South Florida but also, with enough ingenuity and patience, to the gritty, coastal Havana suburb Alamar. Over the phone on a late-February afternoon, one of the pioneers of hip-hop in Cuba…

The 32-year-old multi-instrumentalist and electronic music producer known onstage as Kill Paris sources sounds from houseplants and has gigged for pork chops and mashed potatoes.

There are artists who sing about partying, artists who sing about gangs, and artists who sing about cats. Then there are the ones who change the world. Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Gary Clark Jr. hopes to be one of the latter. Since 2011, Clark has brandished his passions through searing…

The event was founded in 1993 by Cedella Booker Marley, Julian Marley’s grandmother, as a tribute to her iconic son Bob Marley and to carry on his mission of “teaching the people through music.”

John Williams, composer of indelible scores for films including the Star Wars franchise, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park, will conduct New World Symphony fellows at the organization’s 2019 gala on Saturday, March 2. The event will be screened on the wall outside the New World Center at Soundscape Park for the public to view for free.

A tiny, smoke-filled dive bar inauspiciously christened the Club has gained a steady following of South Florida’s young, alternative, and arts-inclined.

The members of CNCO dress like a boy band. They stare seductively at the camera like a boy band. But unlike their predecessors who sang bubblegum pop, this Latin quintet has taken on reggaeton.

Backroom Sessions partners with the Miami-Dade Fair & Exposition for its new Boulevard Stage.

Miami’s love affair with electronic music spans generations. Synthetic electronic sounds and industrial rhythms have been bouncing around the Magic City for several decades, and in that time, countless locals have stepped forth to share their personal spins on the form. From the thundering booty bass of Uncle Luke and 2 Live Crew to the raunchy electroclash of Avenue D, there’s a long and rich history of Miami-based artists blowing minds and speakers.

Melly’s hit song “Murder on My Mind” went gold last month, moving half a million units — and this past Wednesday, the 19-year-old turned himself in to Miramar Police on two counts of first-degree murder in the October deaths of his friends Anthony Williams, 21, and Christopher Thomas Jr., 19.

Love bites; love is bliss. Especially in Miami, a notoriously rough scene for dating, it can be tough finding that magic formula for making a romantic relationship work, let alone finding someone willing to slide from your DMs into real life. That’s why it’s a little surprising Miami has so…

Fortunately, this year’s ceremony offers the potential for Miami artists to make a strong showing, with nominations for and performances by some of the Magic City’s biggest superstars. Here are the top Miami moments to look for at this year’s Grammy Awards.

III Points and Miami Music Week are gearing up to show off the city as a global hotbed for dance music, so it’s the perfect time to tout some of Miami’s brightest local DJ talent. Whether they’re spinning at an undisclosed warehouse, a daytime rooftop disco, or a dark, smoky nightclub, these dedicated selectors and producers grind it out week after week to make a name for themselves and keep the 305 on the map as a year-round party mecca. Here are Miami’s best DJs right now.

When it comes to fostering creativity and finding a co-working space to get those creative juices flowing, Kendall might be the last place that comes to mind. But the team behind 1FiveTwo is here to change that conception.

Over the past few years, Erika has established herself as a Jessica Rabbit-esque pop diva straddling the worlds of retro jazz standards and modern dance music.

Get ready for another hip-hop takeover, Miami. Rolling Loud announced today an impressive lineup for its 2019 festival, taking place May 10 through 12 at Hard Rock Stadium, including headliners Migos, Travis Scott, and Kid Cudi.

It might sound corny, but Daniel Saud and his Zeta bandmates believe in the American dream. Saud formed the rock band in his hometown of Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, back in 2002 when he was 12 years old. Joined by Juan Chi, Gabriel Duque, and Juan Gonzalez, the quartet…