The festival featured a full day of live entertainment, interactive experiences, singing, dancing, and hands-on activities, drawing families from across Miami-Dade County. This year’s lineup included performances by Jam with Jamie, Sounds Sweet Entertainment, PJ Kids, Hip Hop Kidz, Ayala Royal Ballet School, Little Beats Miami, Mr. J Jams, Josefina & JC, and the TBAM Pop Up Choir, creating an energetic atmosphere that kept families engaged throughout the day.

Among the event’s most memorable highlights were performances from three talented young artists selected through the festival’s new Uplifting Young Voices initiative: Alexandria Arango, Soleil River Nation, and Izzy & Nikki. The young performers captivated the audience with their talent and confidence, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists. Attendees were also treated to a surprise performance by child prodigy Jelijah, adding another exciting moment to the day’s entertainment.

Little Jam Fest’s continued growth reflects a rising demand for family-focused experiences that bring communities together through music and the arts. The festival was supported by a number of community partners and sponsors, including Baptist Health, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami Children’s Museum, Team Citron, Tonies, Sunset Pediatrics, Uptown Psychology, The Miami Foundation, and other local organizations committed to supporting children and families across South Florida.

Now in its third year, Little Jam Fest continues to establish itself as one of South Florida’s premier family events, blending music, education, creativity, and community into an experience that resonates with both children and parents alike. 

Plan early for Little Jam Fest 2027, Spots are limited!  https://www.littlejamfest.com

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Bringing a distinctly Miami flavor to the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival — often dubbed “the Rolls Royce of music festivals” — the waterfront celebration blends global artistry with the laid-back vibrancy of The Magic City.

A Playground for Creative Exchange

Montreux Jazz Festival Miami has quickly earned a reputation as more than just a concert series. It’s a playground for creative exchange, where genres blur, legends emerge, and cultural walls disappear.

From surprise collaborations to sprawling late-night jam sessions featuring dozens of artists, each performance feels entirely unrepeatable. The now-famous late night jams — hosted by festival co-founder and 2025 headliner Jon Batiste — have become a calling card for the event. In past years, unannounced appearances from stars like Maxwell, Shania Twain, and Will Smith sent crowds into a frenzy.

Batiste has played an integral role in bringing the spirit of Montreux to South Florida. As the festival’s artistic director, he has helped shape its programming and creative vision from the very beginning — curating lineups that prioritize spontaneity, collaboration, and boundary-pushing performances.

Building on a Sold-Out Success

Following last year’s sold-out edition — which drew coverage from Rolling Stone, Essence, and Forbes — Montreux Miami further cemented its place as one of the most unique and intimate live music experiences in the world.

The 2025 lineup featured powerhouse performances by Batiste, Chaka Khan, Janelle Monáe, WILLOW, Monsieur Periné, Cimafunk, and Latin jazz greats including Chucho Valdés and Paquito D’Rivera.

Now, Montreux Jazz Festival Miami 2026 reaffirms its status as a must-attend cultural moment on the city’s calendar.

Montreux Jazz Festival Miami 2026 Lineup

Friday, Feb. 27

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
New Orleans / Throwdown Jam hosted by Trombone Shorty & Jon Batiste, with special guests

Saturday, Feb. 28

Nile Rodgers & CHIC
TOTO
Adi Oasis

Sunday, March 1

Bomba Estéreo
Pedrito Martinez

With waterfront views, once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, and a genre-spanning lineup that moves effortlessly from jazz and funk to Latin rhythms and rock, Montreux Jazz Festival Miami 2026 promises a weekend where the music doesn’t just play — it ignites.

The post The Grove Gets Jazzy This Weekend appeared first on Coconut Grove Magazine.

Jim Camacho has worked tirelessly to compose an original, captivating score that enhances this imaginative twist on the classic Nutcracker story. Known for his work on The Cavie Islanders & The Troll, The Princess of Vannehooda, and Ghost Ship, Camacho’s ability to blend theatricality with emotional depth shines through in the vibrant music and production of Mouse King. His unique style promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages.

“We’ve taken the heart of The Nutcracker and flipped it on its head—this time, it’s all about the mice!” Camacho said. “With a combination of live action, puppetry, and a dynamic musical score, Mouse King offers something fresh for families looking for a fun and magical holiday experience.”

“I am still so proud and honored that this idea I had ten years ago has and continues to delight families for the holiday season as a South Miami tradition,” says MacNeal.

Camacho says he is “so grateful that 10 years ago the Mandelstam theater took a chance on this show and Mouse King made it from the page to the stage. The kids’ enthusiasm and energy bring this show to life.”

Camacho adds that “With its soaring villains, captivating magical mice, and a heartfelt message, Mouse King brings the key to Christmas to life – and that ‘Key’ is love.” A prolific composer, Camacho also wrote the musicals Fools’ Paradise, which enjoyed a run off-Broadway, The Cavie Islanders and the Troll, and The Guru of Gir, among others.

A Tale of Mice and Magic

For those new to Mouse King, the show offers a thrilling twist on the traditional Nutcracker story. Mouse King introduces the audience to the tale from the perspective of the mice, blending live action, captivating puppets, and dazzling multimedia elements. Written by Noel MacNeal and featuring Camacho’s original music, this adaptation is an imaginative exploration of the beloved holiday classic.

The show features an ensemble cast that includes children from the Miami community, alongside professional puppeteers and guest artists from New York City. The result is a lively, fun-filled, and heartwarming performance that promises to delight both children and adults alike.

Performance Schedule:

• Thursday, December 12, 2024 – 10:00 AM
• Friday, December 13, 2024 – 7:00 PM
• Saturday, December 14, 2024 – 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM
• Sunday, December 15, 2024 – 7:00 PM

Ticket Information: Tickets for Mouse King are now on sale at MouseKingTickets.com. With limited seats available, make sure to secure your spot for this magical holiday event. All children, regardless of age, require a ticket. The show is 60 minutes long with no intermission, perfect for young audiences aged 3 and up.

Meet the Creative Minds Behind Mouse King

Composer and producer Jim Camacho’s work has always been deeply rooted in the belief that music can be both entertaining and meaningful. “In Mouse King, we’re not just telling a story; we’re creating an immersive experience that celebrates the joy and wonder of the holiday season,” said Camacho.

Puppeteer and writer Noel MacNeal adds, “The story of The Nutcracker has enchanted families for generations. With Mouse King, we wanted to offer a new perspective, one that honors the magic of the original while giving audiences a fresh, fun take on this holiday favorite.”

Follow Mouse King on social media to stay up to date on all the latest news and exclusive behind-the-scenes content:

• Twitter: @The_Mouse_King

Experience the holiday magic of Mouse King this season—where the mice finally tell their side of the story!

ABOUT JIM CAMACHO (DIRECTOR, MUSIC & LYRICS)

JIM CAMACHO is a prolific singer-songwriter. He has written and co-written numerous songs for national and international recording artists and over a dozen musicals. His initial foray into the musical theater realm began with FOOLS’ PARADISE, which played to sold out workshops in New York and ran as a full production in Miami. He scored MICKEY HERMAN SAVES THE $#&@ WORLD and contributed music to RPM, both which played at the Adrienne Arsht Center, as well as REMNANTS AND REBUILD which premiered at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, now the Moss Center. Jim’s songs have been featured in several movie and TV soundtracks including TOM DOWD AND THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC and PRETTY LITTLE LIARS. A performer himself, Jim has been featured in a VH1 documentary and has created a YouTube series entitled ADVENTURES IN SONGWRITING, where he interviews guest artists, and together they write and perform an original song in only 30 minutes. Jim’s musical, THE CAVIE ISLANDERS and THE TROLL, will be performed at the Mandelstam Theater in April of 2024. www.JimCamacho.com

ABOUT NOEL MACNEAL (CONCEIVED BOOK & LYRICS)

Creator/writer NOEL MACNEAL started on SESAME STREET working alongside Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and Carroll Spinney. Noel is the author of two how-to books 10-MINUTE PUPPETS and BOX. He came up with the idea of MOUSE KING because he’s loved THE NUTCRACKER ever since his mom took him to see a New York City Ballet performance. Noel began to wonder, “Why are the Prince and the Mouse King fighting?

What’s the other side of this story? What does it look like from the perspective of the mice?” Noel is thrilled and honored that The Mandelstam Theater has brought his concept to life.

ABOUT JAMES WOJTAL JR. (PUPPETEER FOR MOUSERICK AND LARGE NUTCRACKER)

JAMES WOJTAL JR. is an accomplished puppet designer and builder. He has created puppets for countless productions, including SESAME STREET, BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE and MOUSE KING. As a performer he has worked on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, THE SMURF MOVIE, JOHN TARTAGLIA’S IMAGINOCEAN on Broadway, and BOO AT THE ZOO at the Bronx Zoo. When he is not building, he trains puppeteers for Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

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Camacho paired the song with a video shot in Duffy’s Tavern as a loving nod to the venerable Miami pub.

Jim Camacho, South Miami native recently dropped his rousing new single Alcohol You Now, along with a witty, rambunctious video. The song, described by Camacho as “a cowboy serenade of a cautionary tale,” features musical support from an all-star cast: Ana Cristina Cash, Dave Daeger, Ira Dean, Caitlin Evanson, Justin Johnson, Rick Lonow, Jodi Marr, Mike Webb, and Justin Moses.

The track was produced by Grammy winner John Carter Cash – son of country titan Johnny Cash – recorded, engineered, and mixed by Chuck Turner at the Cash Cabin, which was built by Johnny Cash, and mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering.

Alcohol You Now was written during a memorable songwriting session at Will Edwards’ famed Copper Line Ranch in Nashville with Camacho, Edwards, and esteemed country/folk young gun Luke Olson. Inspired by Camacho’s 30-minute songwriting technique from his YouTube series Adventures in Songwriting, the trio “set the timer,” Camacho recalls, “and started writing. Very quickly we stumbled upon the ‘drunk dial’ concept, and we couldn’t stop laughing as we brought the song to life. We knew right away that this track would be a fun one for listeners, and I’m thrilled that it’s now ready to be shared with the world.”

Camacho paired the song with a video shot in Duffy’sTavern as a loving nod to the venerable Miami pub. The video, said Camacho, “was a collaborative journey where all the stars seemed to align. The video brought together a talented team of individuals. Working closely with Juan Davila from Two-Way Creative, a trusted collaborator and favorite director, we created a fun concept that centered around a poor unfortunate drunk-dialing soul and his misadventures. We were lucky to be able to bring in veteran actor Ken Clement as the lead actor from Los Angeles.”

“We were honored to have the song’s producer John Carter Cash make a guest appearance, playing the character of Cephus and a brief cameo by late John Tovar a respected figure in the South Florida music industry who brought Marilyn Manson and The Mavericks to the limelight.”

Camacho’s latest single follows on the heels of Camacho’s 2023 reissue of his critically acclaimed 2009 album, Beachfront Defeat.

ABOUT JIM CAMACHO

Jim Camacho releases new single “Alcohol You Now”

As co-founder (with his brother John) of the iconic Miami band The Goods, Camacho first attracted national attention through a series of albums that allowed the band to record with legendary producer Tom Dowd, as well as sharing stages with the likes of Pearl Jam, The Smithereens, Cracker and Matthew Sweet. The band reaped many accolades along the way.

Since then, Camacho has enjoyed a prolific solo career, including several memorable albums and EPs. In addition, his music has been featured in films, documentaries, and television soundtracks. His high-profile live performances have taken him to a number of prestigious musical venues, such as the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, New York’s Radio City Music Hall, and the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. He has played the U.S. West Coast and the U.K. and also has had the distinction of touring with Alicia Keys, John Legend, Linda Perhacs, and Zascha Moktan.

Camacho has also made his mark in the theatrical world highlighted by well-received original productions as “Fools’ Paradise,” “Mouse King,” “The Cavie Islanders and the Troll,” “The Guru of Gir,” and, most recently, “Digging for Bones,” all acclaimed musicals that found him either producing, directing, writing the book and composing the songs, or all of the above.

Camacho’s prolific prowess extends to spotlighting other artists, as well. His YouTube series Adventures in Songwriting found him working with a series of special guests and then writing a song in tandem with them during the program’s 30-minute timeframe. In 2019, the songs were released as an EP that sported collaborations between Camacho and seminal South Florida talents Fernando Perdomo, Charlie Pickett, Elsten Torres, Rob Elba, and the bands Ex-Norwegian and Deaf Poets. Howard Cohen of the Miami Herald hailed the EP as “good fun and a testament to the power of inspired songwriting.”

For more information on Jim Camacho & his music visit:
www.jimcamacho.com

Link to video Alcohol You Now:

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The inaugural festival was an unqualified success, attracting tens of thousands of country music fans who took in riveting shows from Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, and Sam Hunt (among other artists).

Country Bay Music Festival

The inaugural festival was an unqualified success, attracting tens of thousands of country music fans who took in riveting shows from Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, and Sam Hunt (among other artists).

Miami, FL (June 11, 2024) – Loud And Live, the Miami-based, leading global entertainment, marketing, and live events company, announced today the lineup for the second edition of the Country Bay Music Festival, scheduled to take place November 9-10 at the iconic and picturesque Miami Marine Stadium, located just minutes from downtown Miami in Key Biscayne.

The Zac Brown Band and Carrie Underwood top the impressive – and expanded – festival bill, along with big-name stars Dustin Lynch, Chase Rice, and Diplo presents Thomas Wesley. Also set to perform are some of the hottest acts in country music – Chris Janson, Parmalee, Gabby Barrett, Chayce Beckham, Niko Moon, and Redferrin. Rounding out the festival roster are rising stars, such as Chase Matthew, Willie Jones, RVSHVD, Owen Riegling, and Dee Jay Silver who will be making his return to the grand stage along with Miami-born Orlando Mendez. Also representing South Florida will be Ryan Montgomery and DJ ILLMANIK.

The inaugural festival was an unqualified success, attracting tens of thousands of country music fans who took in riveting shows from Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, and Sam Hunt (among other artists), by land or anchored by bayside, while enjoying scrumptious, down-home cuisine and festive line dancing. Wilson has snared 13 awards: from the Country Music Association (7) and the Academy of Country Music (6). Rhett has recorded 21 chart-topping singles on Billboard’s charts; Hunt is the only male country artist to release four No. 1 singles from a debut album (Montevallo) This year’s installment is sure to deliver another unforgettable two days of non-stop entertainment and celebration of all things country.

“The success of last year’s Country Bay Music Festival was immensely rewarding,” said Nelson Albareda, CEO of Loud And Live. “As a first-year festival, we not only hosted a premier country music festival in Miami featuring stellar artists, but also provided an exceptional experience for our music fans and partner sponsors. The festival reaffirmed our city’s reputation as a vibrant playground and established Miami as a must-visit destination for country music enthusiasts from around the world.”

A must-see group at this year’s festival is the multi-platinum, GRAMMY® Award-winning group Zac Brown Band, who will be bringing their “Chicken Fried” classic to Miami. Throughout their career spanning more than a decade, this hard-gigging band from Atlanta has scored six consecutive albums that reached the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 and five consecutive albums debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart. The group has won three GRAMMY® Awards, including Best New Artist in 2010.

Festival headliner Carrie Underwood hardly needs an introduction, save the fact she is the best-selling female country artist of all time, selling more than 85 million records worldwide. The charismatic Oklahoma native recorded 28 chart-topping singles (14 of which she co-wrote) and is the most-awarded female country artist for singles in RIAA history. She has won over 100 major awards including 8 GRAMMY® Awards, 16 ACM Awards including three for Entertainer of the Year (the first female in history to win twice and the only female ever to win three times), 25 CMT Music Awards (holding the record for the most award wins ever for the show), 7 CMA Awards, and 17 American Music Awards.

A unique festival entry is GRAMMY® Award-winning DJ, producer, and songwriter Diplo, a prominent figure in dance music circles who has jumped headlong into country music via his electro-cowboy persona, Thomas Wesley. Diplo is known for his eclectic, ‘80s-oriented mashups, mixtapes, and live sets. Diplo’s collaborations with pop superstar Justin Bieber, R&B chanteuse Sia and country idol, Morgan Wallen have racked up more than two billion streams on Spotify.

In addition to the main stage performances, festivalgoers can immerse themselves in the country music experience with a variety of activities and food vendors serving up delicious fare. With its stunning waterfront location and vibrant atmosphere, the Miami Marine Stadium provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend of music and dancing.

This year, the festival will feature Country Carnival, which will offer breathtaking views from the southern swings and plenty of fun-filled games, as well as delectable sweets and treats. Apart from the rides, festival attendees can stomp their boots while putting their line dancing skills to the test or challenge the mechanical bull at the revamped Saloon.

The Boots and Beer Garden serves up a chill sports bar vibe while at the GrubMarket you can indulge in a food lover’s paradise with an array of options – juicy burgers, vegan delights, plus a specialty cocktail or an ice-cold seltzer.

Country Bay Music Festival Tickets will be available for purchase beginning this Friday, June 14th at 10am EST, starting at $194.99.
Attendees can receive festival notifications by signing up at https://countrybaymusicfestival.com/tickets/

HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS AND FESTIVAL GENERAL INQUIRIES
Visit official festival website: https://countrybaymusicfestival.com

ABOUT LOUD AND LIVE
Loud And Live, a live events, media, marketing, and entertainment company, fusing music, sports, lifestyle, and content development. Headquartered in Miami with a presence across the United States, Europe, and Latin America, Loud And Live is driven by its passion for creating compelling experiences for global audiences. www.loudlive.com

FOLLOW COUNTRY BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL ON SOCIAL:

Facebook (@countrybaymusicfestival):
https://facebook.com/countrybaymusicfestival

Instagram (@countrybaymusicfestival):
https://instagram.com/countrybaymusicfestival

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