22 February 6-12, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | GroundUpgrade GroundUp Music Festival returns to Miami Beach with a new format. BY DAVID ROLLAND S ince 2017, GroundUp Music Fes- tival has been a steady presence in South Florida’s winter calen- dar. The annual event presents a diverse lineup alongside a unique headlining set by the jazz fusion col- lective Snarky Puppy each night. For 2025, GroundUp and Snarky Puppy are returning to the Miami Beach Bandshell under a new name, GroundUp Family Dinner Weekend. Beyond the name change, the festival has also been condensed to two nights, down from the previous three nights. “This is a brand-new incarnation,” says GroundUp organizer and Snarky Puppy bass- ist Michael League over the phone from the Netherlands. “This is not a music festival; it’s more like a two-day extended concert event revolving around our Family Dinner concept.” As far as Snarky Puppy is concerned, its Family Dinner doesn’t include complimentary garlic rolls and a glass of Chianti. Instead, it re- fers to a musical tradition the band has chroni- cled in a series of live albums. “Family Dinner was a late-night concert series where we in- vited guest vocalists to sing with us. We’d choose a few of the artist’s songs and change up the arrangements,” League clarifies. An eclectic group of artists will perform at the Family Dinner at the Bandshell. Among them are the old-school chart-topping alter- native rock band Living Colour, the Senega- lese singer Youssou N’Dour, and jazz guitarist John Scofield. “We’re always looking for di- versity,” League says as to how the bill was put together. “Diverse genres, places, genera- tions, concepts. We’re putting together a meal. We look at what artists complement each other and create a balanced diet for the listener,” he says. Over the years, some of League’s fa- vorite memories from past editions come from left field. “Fuensanta had a late-night set last year that swept ev- eryone away. She was an artist un- known to everyone when she took the stage. By the end, everyone was talking about her,” he says. Other of his fa- vorite memories involve legendary names. “Michael McDonald did an all-acoustic set that was really special. But I feel I could name every artist we ever had and say something special that happened.” Among the highlights of this year’s festi- val, League names just about every act. “Yous- sou N’Dour is one of the most famous African artists over the last 40 years. Lisa Fischer made her name as a backing vocalist to big names like the Rolling Stones and then made amazing music on her own. Madison McFer- rin is amazing. Then, with John Scofield and Bill Frisell, you have some of the greatest gui- tarists in the world. That’s a must-see for any fan of the guitar,” he adds. From League’s description, it sounded like business as usual for GroundUp, including personal highlights such as hearing David Crosby sing harmony and watching Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy play a solo set with only his gui- tar in front of an intimate crowd. “It’ll be similar to previous years,” League concedes. “We’re also doing a GroundUp in Italy this summer and wanted a name change to distinguish the two events. The idea is we could do one festival in Italy, another in Japan, Argentina, and Miami Beach. We’ll make them all different, distinct in format, unique to each place.” It sounds like 2025 will be busy for League and the rest of Snarky Puppy, who are in the Netherlands to record a new album. The year will also feature concerts all across the globe, from South America to Australia — but first, there is a Family Dinner to attend. GroundUp Family Dinner Weekend. 6 p.m. Saturday, February 8, and Sunday, February 9, at Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; groundupmusicfestival.com. Tickets cost $30 to $290 via tixr.com. [email protected] GroundUp Family Dinner Weekend takes over the Miami Beach Bandshell February 8-9. GroundUp Music Foundation photo “DIVERSE GENRES, PLACES, GENERATIONS, CONCEPTS. WE’RE PUTTING TOGETHER A MEAL.” | CROSSFADE | t Music
