Five Ways to Celebrate Florida Women in Music This Weekend
Lauren Reskin in front of Sweat Records in Little Haiti.
This weekend is a good one for the Y-chromosome-less set in South Florida. A number of new acts are rising on the circuit that feature females prominently, and meanwhile, other Sunshine State natives continue to make moves in the industry. Here are five events at which you can celebrate that sea change this weekend throughout South Florida.
Friday, June 8
*We’re not sure we want to imagine a Miami music landscape without the tireless booster efforts of Lauren “Lolo” Reskin, co-founder of Sweat Records. Seriously - could you imagine? Better not to think about it, so head out to the Sweat-sponsored, long-running Friday night jam, Fridays at the Vagabond in Miami. Tonight, the club celebrates her birthday, along with a show by several top artists on Ghostly International: Beacon (performing live), Michna (who is a U.M. grad!), and Heathered Pearls. Doors open at 10 p.m. Admission is free before 11 p.m., $5 after, and as always, there are drink specials. Age 21 and up. The Vagabond, 30 NE 14th St., Miami. Call 305-379-0508, or visit thevagabondmiami.com
*The Sugar Art and Fashion Show is a traveling event originally from Atlanta now branching out nationwide, and meant to celebrate female talents across a number of artistic disciplines. Part party, part art show, and part fashion show, the event gathers models, designers, painters, photographers, graffiti artists, musicians, and more for a night of mutual appreciation. Expect music, photo booths, and pop-up shops, with at least 10 booths hocking the wares of local creatives. Admission, which is $20 at the door, includes open bar all night. Click here for a full list of participants. 8 p.m. at Fusse Studios, 327 NE 59th Terr., Miami. Visit sugarartandfashionshow.com
Saturday, June 9
*All the Pretty Cars is a new rock five-piece from Miami that’s not afraid to throw the word “alternative” around when describing its style. But we think what they really mean is that the music is radio-friendly, which isn’t a bad thing; and we’re stoked to see both a frontwoman, Gea Gamboa, and another lady on guitar, Steph Freeman. This act is part of a wider, loose circle around other fairly left-field, high-energy acts from the area. The band plays Saturday at the Speakeasy in Lake Worth for free. The show starts at 10 p.m. Speakeasy Lounge, 129 N. Federal Hwy., Lake Worth. Call 561-791-6242, or visit speakeasylakeworth.com
*Also in the 561 tonight, you can check out the lovely ladies of Cupcake Burlesque, one of the hardest-working troupes running in the area, led by blonde bombshell Jenna Beth. They perform at Respectable Street in West Palm Beach tonight, their only planned gig for the venue this summer. Because that makes it a special occasion, the show comes with a special theme: “Around the World,” with the dancers performing pieces celebrating various exotic lands. The show starts at 9 p.m. and admission is $8 in advance. Respectable Street, 518 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Call 561-832-9999, or visit respectablestreet.com
*We’re kind of nursing a several-years-running fandom of Julia Beverly, the red-headed Orlando girl whose moxie and hustle landed her as one of the most influential media figures in the rap world. As a young 20something in O-Town, Beverly started a photo-heavy magazine she dubbed Ozone, then mostly shot and written by herself, to document the rising southern rap scene. At the time, New York and California still reigned in the industry, and anything with a drawl was largely seen as a countrified joke.
As both a female, and, frankly, a white one, Beverly even stood out in this then-marginalized world, but stuck through to grow the magazine into a nationally distributed glossy. Now Ozone is based in Atlanta, and with Southern rap long dominating the charts, it’s the place to turn for the next big hit-makers from our corner of the States. Beverly celebrates her birthday tonight at SoBe Live, which is sure to be a music celeb-packed slice of madness. Admission is $20 supposedly, but you know how that goes in clubland. Ladies drink free till midnight, though. Doors open at 10 p.m. at SoBe Live, 1203 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. Call 305-725-3353, or visit sobelivesouthbeach.com
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