(MIAMI, February 20, 2013) — Enjoy a free family-style rhythm and blues concert under the stars by Velvet Rope on Friday, March 1, 2013 at Goulds Park. This live musical performance is part of the season’s expanded Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights free concert series presented by the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department and sponsored by the Knight Foundation. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and admission and parking are free.
Velvet Rope is considered one of the hottest new bands to hit South Florida, performing at numerous special events and festivals, as well as some of the most popular clubs and casinos around, including the Hard Rock (Hollywood) and Isle Casinos (Pompano) and Blue Martini Lounge (Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca). This multi-talented and charismatic group includes powerhouse singers Lauren Carter and Donny Stringer, bass player Josh Esther, keyboardist DWaynne Bennett, and drummer Anthony Carter. Lauren is also the group’s bandleader, as well as a composer, lyricist, model, actress and one of the most sought after performers in the southeast. She has performed for the Crown Prince of Morocco, as well as numerous U.S. concerts and sporting events across, which included a nationally-televised performance of the National Anthem. Together the group delivers an unforgettable and fun musical experience that keeps audiences dancing and calling out for more, with a repertoire that everything from Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” and Stevie Wonder’s “Signed Sealed and Delivered” to Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable.”
Goulds Park is located at 21805 SW 114 Ave., Miami. Concert goers are encouraged to bring along a blanket, chairs and snacks to better enjoy the festivities. In the event of rain concerts may be cancelled. For more information about the Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights concert featuring Velvet Rope at Goulds Park, and future concerts in the 2012-2013 Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights concert season, call 305-271-0812, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks.
The Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights 2012-2013 concert season concludes with a Noches Tropicales concert sponsored by Target at Tropical Park featuring Merengue artist Tony Swing on April 5.
In September Miami-Dade Parks kicked off its free “Noches Tropicales” 2012/2013 concert season with a Latin Jazz gala at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium that featured Grammy award-winning and nominated artists Joan Cartwright, Nicole Yarling, Carlos Averhoff, Kiki Sanchez, Elaine Hernandez, Andy Harlow, Niki Orta, Reinier Guerra and Daniel Berroa. The gala and the expanded concert line-up was made possible by a $100,000 grant from the Knight Foundation to expand the Noches Tropicales concert series from its home base at Tropical Park to other venues throughout the County.
The 2012-2013 Noches Tropicales concert series also received a $75,000 grant from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT). The grant is part of Target’s ongoing efforts to build strong, safe and healthy communities across the country. These efforts include Target’s long history of giving 5 percent of its income to communities, which today equals more than $3 million every week. As part of this commitment, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015 to help kids learn, schools teach and parents and caring adults engage. To date Target has provided more than $300,000 in cultural grant funds in support of Noches Tropicales.
Now in its seventh year, Noches Tropicales, inaugurated by Miami-Dade County Commissioner, Sen. Javier D. Souto, has showcased more than 20 evening concerts at Tropical Park that have included traditional Cuban contemporary music and zarzuelas, Argentinean tango, Brazilian Jazz, and a Spanish-language version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. More than 40,000 patrons have attended Noches Tropicales concerts over the years.
