Miami Girls Rock Camp Celebrates Ten Years With Show at the Ground

What happens when you hand a microphone to a 10-year-old and tell her to speak her mind? If it's Miami Girls Rock Camp, you get ten original bands and a new generation of musicians. 

On Saturday, August 2, Miami Girls Rock Camp (MGRC) will host its annual Finale Concert at the Ground Miami at Club Space. This community event will feature campers ages 8 to 17 performing original songs written during a transformative week of instrument instruction, songwriting, and self-expression.

"This isn't just a concert; it's a community celebration," says MGRC co-director Heather Burdick in conversation with New Times, who co-founded the camp with Stephanie Taylor and Emile Milgrim (Las Nubes, Sweat Records). "We've watched young people, some who've never touched an instrument, step into their power and own the stage. It's truly inspirational."

Launched in 2015, MGRC was built on a sharp but straightforward idea: empower girls and gender-expansive youth to take up space through music. Over one week, campers form bands, write original compositions, and perform for hundreds. The experience is high-impact, heart-opening, and at times tear-inducing, as Burdick recounts from her own introduction to Rock Camp in Austin.

"I was just so blown away by the power of these young people," she says. "I never felt entitled to take up space in music growing up. So this is about telling them, 'You belong here. What you have to say matters.' Confidence follows from that."

This year's concert promises to be a special celebration, since the non-profit is turning ten years old. Attendees can expect power chords, punk ballads, poignant surprises, and a DJ-fueled dance party courtesy of Sweat Records' Lolo Reskin. All ages are welcome.
The camp's impact goes beyond performance. Many graduates return as mentors. According to Burdick, six former campers joined the staff this summer, including one who's been part of MGRC every year since it began.

MGRC remains intentionally inclusive. Tuition is $450, but scholarships are offered to all who need them: "no one is turned away," shares Burdick. Families who can pay more often "sponsor" other campers, and fundraising is vital. This year's raffle, launching Monday, includes prizes like III Points tickets, private drum lessons, and even an electric guitar–packed Hard Rock Hotel bundle. Supporters can participate via the organization's website.

Over the years, artists like Shirley Manson, Cat Power, and Jane Wiedlin have shown support. But the real headliners are the kids on stage. "Every year, someone in the crowd cries," Burdick says. "Sometimes it's a parent. Sometimes it's a stranger. But it's always someone who's just witnessed something beautiful, something real."

Miami Girls Rock Camp Finale Concert. 6 p.m. Saturday, August 2, at the Ground Miami at Club Space, 34 NE 11th St., Miami; thegroundmiami.com.Tickets cost $20 via zeffy.com.