Photo by Amanda Gesto
Audio By Carbonatix
You walk into a dark room bathed in red light. The bass thumps, and as the dance floor fills, nostalgia arrives from all directions: catchy salsa melodies bleeding into disco grooves, post-punk basslines giving way to new wave synths. It feels like an authentic Miami mixtape. You just walked into Violetas, and on Thursday, October 2, the party makes its debut at its new home, Las Rosas, after a summer hiatus from its original location, Hoy Como Ayer.
For organizer and musician Lauren Palma, mixing genres and communities comes naturally. “I grew up on the ‘chonga to rocker’ pipeline,” Palma recalls. “Booty dancing at middle school spillouts, getting passed around to dance salsa at family parties, then going to shows at the Alley and Kaffe Krystal, and later diving into Miami’s nightlife as a teen. Parties like Spiderpussy at Soho, Poplife at the District and I/O, Revolver at Pawnshop, all of those shaped me.”
Palma later worked at Poplife, Grand Central, and Ultra while staying active in Miami’s underground music scene and playing guitar in the metal band Bleeth. “Mixing genres and communities just feels like second nature,” she says.
That eclecticism became the engine of Violetas. The name, inspired by the baby perfume, adds another layer of nostalgia. At its new location, the party is introducing live performance elements alongside the DJ sets. Opening night features a drag performance and La Lupe tribute by Adore, a live set by Rick Guerre, and back-to-back DJ sets from Palma and Gabo Wabo.
Asked about the venue change, Palma reflects, “The Violetas community will always be the same. That’s the heart of it. But vibe wise, this new chapter lets us get weirder, more creative, and put artists on an actual stage.”
That commitment to evolution is also about honoring the past. From sweaty punk shows at the Grove Pub to the dance floors of the Mutiny, Warsaw, Cameo, and Pawn Shop, Violetas draws from Miami’s legacy of nightlife innovators. Co-organizer Stephany Torres sees it as a matter of respect.
“It’s about respecting our elders. We wouldn’t have reggaeton, house, techno, or indie sleaze without those roots. Violetas is about carrying that lineage forward, honoring what came before while creating something new for this generation. At the same time, it’s also a space for the people we grew up with to come out, dance, and be the culture.”
Palma’s life as Bleeth’s guitarist also shapes her vision. “People are multifaceted,” she says. “Being part of so many different projects helps me encourage others to drop their guard and explore all their tastes. Growing up pre-internet, it was all about your ‘scene’: goth, skater, hip-hop, punk, PLUR kid, and you stayed in that lane. Now everything overlaps. That mix of niches and subgenres is what Violetas taps into. We respect the roots, but we also embrace the blend.”
That blend is reflected in the programming. The team curates acts that align with Violetas’ inclusive and celebratory spirit.
“We spotlight people who align with the ethos of Violetas,” Torres explains. “At the end of the day, we want folks to have a good time, dance, and be present. Our best memories growing up in Miami are tied to music, dancing at Noche Buena with our abuelos, or going to the Vagabond or Electric Pickle and staying on the floor all night. That’s the energy we want to recreate: getting dressed up, meeting up with friends, pre-gaming at someone’s house, then sweating it out together on the dance floor.”
With no cover charge, drink specials, and a lineup spanning live music, drag, and cross-generational DJ sets, Violetas welcomes everyone from Gen Z to abuelas to the dance floor.
Violetas 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday, October 2, at Las Rosas, 2899 NW 7 Ave, Miami; Free with RSVP; 21+.
