Miami Finds Its Grassroots and a Growing Music Festival

For the 6 million-plus folks living in South Florida, finding a music festival to call one's own has been a losing proposition.  The ill-fated Langerado bounced around to several locations before succumbing to the Great Recession. Repeated attempts to bring Langerado back have languished. 


However, a new festival is making a strong bid to correct all that.  The Virginia Key Grassroots Festival features an eclectic, foot-stomping lineup for February 9th through the 12th on Virginia Key in south Miami.  Music varies from roots rock, bluegrass, hip hop, blues, zydeco, funk, world and just about everything in between.  Headliners include: Chaka Khan, The Del McCoury Band, Arrested Development, Fishbone, Jim Lauderdale, Beausoleil and Donna the Buffalo.  


The festival location, on an island in Biscayne Bay, is damn near perfect for its beauty.  The festival will also feature camping on site for those wishing for the true grungy festival experience. 


For the denizens at After Hours headquarters, Del McCoury really caught our eye along with the scheduled Saturday performance of the sacred steel aficionados The Lee Boys.  Several years ago, The Lee Boys filled in for Robert Randolph at Langerado and blew the flaps off the tent. 


Four-day tickets will set you back set you back a Benjamin while single-day tickets run $30 to $35.