Miamibloco Brings 80-Member Samba Percussion Collective to the Miami Beach Bandshell

Can samba percussion collective Miamibloco really fit 80 musicians onstage at the Miami Beach Bandshell for its fifth annual Saideira Social?

SuOm Francis, the collective's cofounder, says the answer is a clear-cut "no," and Miamibloco won't even try. Instead, it's found a workaround for the 80-member Bateria Saideira to play at the outdoor amphitheater. "Last year we had 57 drummers, and we couldn't move," Francis tells New Times. "So, this year, we're playing in front of the stage. We'll be in the pit with the audience, so it'll feel even more like a block party."

Francis founded Miamibloco in 2017, when she noticed cofounder Brian Potts left sets of drums lying around when he went on tour. Instead of letting the instruments sit idle, Potts decided to teach others to play them using methods he learned as a classical percussion student at the University of Miami. At first, it was informal; friends came over to learn basic samba beats. Then, friends of friends joined. Francis remembers a light bulb moment: "How cool would it be if we made samba part of the cultural fabric of Miami?"

To achieve that, Potts explains that Miamibloco offers various levels of public engagement. "We have workshops that anyone can join. We start with teaching you how to make music with other people. Before we learn any technique, you need to get in the frame of mind of making music with others."

Becoming part of Bateria Saideira takes an extra level of commitment. "Everyone playing had to audition and commit to a full run of rehearsals," says Potts. "They had to take the time to learn all the songs for a three-hour performance."

"This show is the culmination of our year," adds Francis. "We practice all year with the teaching ensemble. Everything we learned, we use to back up different artists and instruments."

One of Miamibloco's goals is to mix Brazilian samba beats with the music of other nationalities found in Miami, from Puerto Rico to Cuba to Colombia. This year's Saidera Social features an eclectic range, including Brazilian musicians Gilmar Gomes, Rose Max, and Ramatis Moraes, along with Miami's own Afrobeta. Colombian Latin Grammy nominee Tato Marenco will also debut new arrangements he collaborated on with Miamibloco.

The percussion group is especially excited to perform with Gustavo and Guilherme Oliveira. The two brothers are the bandleaders of Bateria Furiosa, one of the most legendary samba percussion collectives out of Brazil. Each year, the Oliveiras lead a drumming ensemble of 400 people in Rio de Janeiro's Carnival parade. Saturday's Saideira Social will be their first time playing in Miami. "It's a historical moment for our organization to play with them," says Francis.

Though Miamibloco has worked its collective behinds off to make the concert a special event, the drumming never truly ends. "In Brazil, after Carnival, all samba stops," explains Potts, who has made the journey from Miami to Rio more than fifty times. "In that tradition, we do take a little break after Saideira Social. But then we have a little activity in the summer. In late August, we really start to ramp up again."

For Potts, one of the most exciting results of previous Saideira Socials is how they inspire audience members to make their own music. "We always have people who attend the show that immediately sign up for our next Bateria Academy," he says. "I hope next year we have one hundred people playing with us." 

Miamibloco Saideira Social. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at the Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-453-2897; miamibeachbandshell.com. Tickets cost $47 via dice.fm.