The best up and coming bands in South Florida have been selected to perform for you at Board Up Miami on April 10, 2010.
2010 will feature performances by the Live Music School, Streetkind, DJ Billy Gotti, and Mixed Culture.
About Live! Music School
Live! Music School has been around since 2007. Their goal is for students to benefit from everything their school has to offer and receive a unique music education. This is why they have created a comfortable learning environment that promotes creativity, musicianship, and allows each student to express his/her individuality. Not only do they want their students to become instrumentalists, but to become true artists, composers and performers.
About Streetkind:
Streetkind music was founded and built in South Beach, Miami. The music has been created from lifetime experiences that have been cleverly blended together with art. The magical chemistry between writers Matt Messina, Alex Bodnar (Scott Stapp band), Pedro Guzman (A/R Universal Records,variety magazine top suit) and legendary producer/mixer/engineer, Ron Saint Germain (311, Bad Brains, Living Colour, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers,) make up the infectious sound of an incredibly diverse, but cohesive first Streetkind album, MEDICINE MAN.
Streetkind was founded in 2004 by close friends Matt Messina, David “Maverick” Pollack, and Enrique Margulis. The idea was conceived with the intention to form a record label (Sweetpine Records), and diversify there musical interests. Messina would later meet virtuoso guitarist Alex Bodnar, and galvanize an already expanding wealth of creative output. The two wrote incessantly, and developed a raw and organic catalog that would soon make the hands of Bodnar’s manager, and wife of Ron Saint Germain, Irina Saint Germain.
Streetkind blends fast rhyming verses on top of broken down beats to hint the elements of “hip hop”. There are mysterious and unconventional chordal changes and melodies that leave the listener pleasantly fixed that would suggest an element of “jazz” music. All of these styles of music make up the diverse flavor that’s provides a glue of smoothness to the Streetkind’s work.
About DJ Billy Gotti:
DJ Billy Gotti knows how essential diversity is to his craft. Whether it’s musically or personally, he embraces all that is new or different about a genre of music and appreciates his distinctive background. Born in White Plains, NY and raised in both New York City and South Florida, he traveled the globe with his multicultural parents, spending time in Australia and Italy among other cosmopolitan hotspots.
While much of his background is in the restaurant industry, the DJ was fascinated by the world of dance and music. His father, an Italian immigrant, owned restaurants in New York City and Florida from the time he was a small child, but he always knew he wanted to work in entertainment.He also knew he would never be a prima ballerina! He gave up his dance aspirations in favor of DJing, drawing inspiration from the old school, DJ-centric hip hop groups of the eighties. After being in the industry for eleven years, he has expanded his musical taste and now spins everything from hip-hop, to rock, to electronica And Now One Of the Leading South Florida Video Dj’s.
Gotti’s proclivity for spinning has earned him some amazing accolades, including winning the X102.3 DJ Idol 2008 contest, for which he received a full scholarship to West Palm Beach’s CSB School for Broadcasting. He is set to graduate in January of 2009. He also counts some of the industry’s top DJs as co-performers, including DJ Jungleboy, DJ LS One, DJ Irie, and VJ Tom Laroc among others. DJ Billy Gotti’s many talents do not stop with spinning. Before devoting himself to music, he enjoyed success in both the restaurant industry and the high-end clothing industry. Also an entrepreneur, the musical prodigy owns his own entertainment/event planning company based out of his current hometown of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Ever a fan of diversity, he has plenty of interests outside of his work.
Besides spending time with friends and family, working out, and reading, he also works with his church’s youth group, teaching the kids how to DJ and wakeboard. Additionally, he is affiliated with the Scratch DJ Academy in Miami Beach. DJ Billy Gotti is sure to continue his successful run as a premier DJ, as his heart is in his work and he truly enjoys what he does. “Not a lot of people get to wake up everyday and be excited about their job,” he says. But the major perk of his job is his ability to please a crowd by demonstrating his superior spinning skills, which are sure to launch him into further super-stardom.
About Mixed Culture:
Mixed Culture was formed in 2005 when vocalist Francisco and then guitarist Trevor met with Bruno aka jbroots and Anthony aka kk to form with Eddie culture, a reggae group. Their love for reggae music and musical talents brought them together and in a matter of weeks was in the midst of rehearsing and creating their distinctive sound. The departure of Trevor from the group and the addition of bassist Sebastian aka ramradix and Omar aka jah wise on the keyboard gave a breath of new life to the fledgling Mixed Culture. After enduring an almost fatal accident coming back from a show in Naples, things seemed bleak but ultimately brought these young lions closer together. Shortly after the departure of Omar and Eddie, Andres was introduced into the key position.
Years of hard work and dedication and with the introduction of Jose aka Frankie onto drums have solidified mixed culture as one of the premier upcoming reggae acts in south Florida.
Mixed Culture includes Francisco aka “Sisco” as lead vocals, Bruno aka “JB roots” on lead guitar and vocals, Andres aka “Dre” on keys, Sebastian aka “Ramradix” on bass, and Jose aka “Frankie” on drums.
