Party showcases SoFla’s best musicians — and it’s free.
“They say necessity is the mother of invention,” Justin Mangana says with a laugh. He and friends Daniel Mendez and Danny Valerdi didn’t understand why their musician friends weren’t able to book shows in South Florida.
So in 2016, Mangana, Medez and Valerdi started a free monthly show called Miami Paradise. They’ll celebrate the event’s first anniversary Sept. 29 during a party at B-Side nightclub in Miami’s Allapattah neighborhood.
The party will showcase producer Triangles, singer Voila Snow, DJ Coffintexts, alternative rhythm and blues R&B artist Tama Gucci and after-hours DJ Saye.
“The way we book it,” Mangana, 28, says, “[the music’s] kind of a blend. Where we end isn’t necessarily where we start.”
Each month, the free showcase features different musicians. Triangles, also known as Daniel Mendez, is the only regular act. Just as the performers change, Mangana says the venues also rotate. The first Miami Paradise was held at MADE at the Citadel. When the event outgrew that space, Miami Paradise moved to 1306 nightclub. The anniversary party will mark the event’s debut at B-Side, a new club and event space with a warehouse vibe.
“We wanted to explore the idea of a pop-up. … We don’t always want to be at this one kind of place for X amount of time,” Mangana says. “I do think that it kind of gets stale, and at the same time we want people to ... check out different places.”
With Miami Paradise, Mangana and his partners aim to bring together musicians and fans from disparate backgrounds.
“My favorite compliment about Miami Paradise,” Mangana says, “is how diverse our crowd is. I like to think Miami Paradise is the greatest common denominator among all the little niches and underground of Miami.”
Miami Paradise’s anniversary party will begin 10 p.m. Sept. 29 at B-Side, 2898 NW Seventh Ave., in Miami. The lineup includes Triangles, Voila Snow, Coffintexts, Tama Gucci and Saye. No tickets or RSVP is needed for the free event. Search “Miami Paradise” on Facebook.