Ten Concerts Where You Can Hide From Miami Music Week 2016

There are six days in March when the 305 is inundated with every DJ and dance-music lover this side of the equator. They call it Miami Music Week, but for the music lovers who don't know EDM from WTF, you don't have to spend the entire week with your head buried in the sand.

Every night in Miami, some venue is hosting a live-music act of a genre you approve of, and this week is no different. So for those of you who can't tell Afrojack from Apple Jacks, here are ten places where you can hide during Miami Music Week and listen to some good tunes in the process.

10. Jazz in the Gardens with Usher, Janelle Monáe, Aretha Franklin, and more. Friday, March 18, through Sunday, March 20, at Sun Life Stadium, 347 Don Shula Dr., Miami Gardens. Tickets cost $65 to $1,200 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. 

The name is a bit of a misnomer, but "R&B in SunLife Stadium" doesn't have the same ring to it. The 11th-annual edition of the Miami Gardens music festival features some heavy hitters. Saturday night is more old school, with Michael McDonald, Kool & the Gang, and the queen of soul herself, Aretha Franklin. Sunday night has some younger sounds, with Usher and the great Janelle Monáe.

9. Femme Fest 2016 with Dirty Thoughts, the Varona Collective, Snow Moon, and more. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Churchill's Pub, 5501 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-757-1807; churchillspub.com. Admission is free. 

South Florida's diviest bar will as always provide live music just about every night of the week. Tuesday features metal and thrash by Nervosa. Wednesday has local electronica duo Eons. Thursday celebrates St. Patrick's Day with Boston punk rockers Mickey Rickshaw. And Saturday is Femme Fest, a night devoted to celebrating music by Miami's female rockers.
8. Vance Joy. 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-7300; fillmoremb.com. Tickets cost $30 to $50 via livenation.com. 

The famed concert venue features two shows this week. Tuesday night hosts gospel veteran Kirk Franklin, who hit the charts with God's Property in the ’90s. And Wednesday night belongs to Australian rocker Vance Joy, whose catchy single "Riptide" has probably been stuck in your head for months now.

7. Rihanna. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 786-777-1000; aaarena.com. Tickets cost $31 to $176 via ticketmaster.com.

The superstar diva's Anti World Tour hits the American Airlines Arena on Tuesday night with opener Travis Scott in tow. Coming off one of the best albums of her career, Ri-Ri is sure to bring the thunder.

6. Suénalo. 9 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Ball & Chain, 1513 SW Eighth St., Miami; 305-643-7820; ballandchainmiami.com. Admission is free.

The refurbished, classy Calle Ocho joint has the Afro Latin funk of local band Suénalo on Friday, and Saturday night features the Latin Grammy-nominated Palo. You can relive Calle Ocho festival all over again. 


5. Resonant Rogues. Wednesday, March 16, at Lagniappe, 3425 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-576-0108; lagniappehouse.com. Admission is free. 

Everyone's favorite midtown wine bar will be soundtracked by Asheville band Resonant Rogues on Wednesday, who mix Gypsy roots with Americana folk. Thursday night features the bluegrass of the Wynwoods. Local blues band Juke will play Friday night, and Saturday belongs to the jazz of the John Daversa Small Band. Local jazz hero Zach Larmer and his band will be playing tonight.
4. The Frost School of Music Department of Studio Music and Jazz. 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 18, at 10950 SW 211th St., Miami; 786-573-5316; smdcac.org. Tickets cost $25 via smdcac.org.

You can enjoy a night of big band music by UM faculty and staff Friday night with the Frost School of Music Presents a Night of Big Band Music. This might just be the polar opposite of EDM.
3. Ritmo Latino. 9 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Titanic Brewery, 5813 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Coral Gables; 305-667-2537; titanicbrewery.com. Admission is free. 

The University of Miami hangout Titanic Brewery has the blues rock of Whipping Post on Friday night, and Saturday night belongs to Ritmo Latino, who will be putting a Miami spin on all your favorite classic-rock songs.
2. KC & the Sunshine Band. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at the Hard Rock Live, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood; 866-502-7523. tickets cost $49 to $69 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. 

If you want to sing along to "Bad to the Bone," George Thorogood and the Destroyers will be hard rocking Wednesday night, while Miami disco legends KC & the Sunshine Band be playing the hits the way you like it Saturday night. 

1. Global Cuba Fest. 8 p.m. Thursday and Saturday night at the Miami Light Project, 404 NW 26th St., Miami; 305-576-4350; miamilightproject.com. Tickets cost $27 to $50 via eventbrite.com.

Thursday and Saturday night, Daymé Arocena will sing a mix of jazz and Cuban neo-soul at the Light Box at Goldman Warehouse in Wynwood. We're 99 percent sure Skrillex won't be there.