For its 9th annual event, the non-profit GroundUP Music Foundation continues one tradition and starts another with its first-ever edition of “GroundUP Miami Beach: Family Dinner Weekend,” featuring Snarky Puppy and a lineup of legendary guest artists set to take the stage at the iconic Miami Beach Bandshell on February 8-9, 2025.
The two-day event will include nightly Family Dinner sessions featuring Snarky Puppy playing with a diverse array of music icons as guests with the band, including Youssou N’Dour, John Scofield, Eric Gales, Living Colour, Madison McFerrin, Shayna Steele, Gaby Moreno, and Ms. Lisa Fischer.
In addition to the nightly Family Dinner shows, Snarky Puppy will play a full special set each night, and there will also be two additional full music sets on Saturday, February 8, by the John Scofield Trio featuring Vicente Archer & Bill Stewart, and Munir Hossn & Elas, and on Sunday, February 9, by the Bill Frisell Trio featuring Thomas Morgan & Rudy Royston, and C4 Trio.
Before the music starts each day, GroundUP will continue its longstanding tradition of breaking down the barriers between artists and audience by offering four hours of daily intimate and interactive workshops, masterclasses, and panels with members of Snarky Puppy and the weekend’s other featured guest artists, fostering a unique environment of engagement and learning between the performers and attendees. The specific masterclasses and other interactive events will be announced in the coming weeks.
“As we unveil the new format and lineup for GroundUP Miami Beach 2025, we are excited to yet again present unprecedented musical collaborations and hope to offer an even more special and intimate experience for the fans to connect with the artists,” said Paul Lehr, Co-Founder and CEO of GroundUP Music Foundation and Festival, and a Miami Beach native.
Global Music Celebration Across Genre and Generations
The lineup for GroundUP Miami Beach 2025 brings global music to the stage that stretches across genres and generations. “We are thrilled to bring together these musicians for intimate collaborative musical experiences,” said Snarky Puppy bandleader and the festival’s Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Michael League. “Family Dinner Weekend” will be a special feast for everyone who loves music and appreciates truly interactive artistic experiences with an outstanding lineup of artists.”
About the Artists:
There may not be a single more recognizable sound in guitar today than that of John Scofield. An absolute icon of the instrument, he has made his mark working with artists like Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, George Duke, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, and Jaco Pastorius (among many others), all while pursuing his own, constantly evolving vision as a solo artist. Collaborations with artists like Medeski, Martin, and Wood (on the legendary album “A Go Go”) and Gov’t Mule, as well as records like “Überjam,” made him a household name among a wide variety of music fans who otherwise wouldn’t venture into the world of jazz.
No history of the electric guitar could be written without mention of Bill Frisell, one of the most unique voices in the 100-year tradition of the instrument. Combining an instantly recognizable sound with beautifully subtle musicality, Frisell has blended genres and styles for over 40 years, especially Americana and jazz. He was the in-house guitarist for ECM Records in the 80s, forming a huge part of the legendary label’s sound, and a regular member of John Zorn’s avant-garde ensemble, Naked City, one of the most adventurous and unique bands on the New York scene (or anywhere, for that matter). It would be hard to find a guitarist alive today who hasn’t been influenced deeply by Frisell.
The most towering figure in African music over the last 50 years, Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour is a legend in all senses of the word. Since his first appearance as a solo artist in the early 80’s, he has represented and innovated West African musical culture, especially his native Senegalese tradition and language, mbalax and Wolof, respectively, while collaborating with some of the biggest names in music (Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon). In 2023, Rolling Stone named him among the top 100 singers of all time.
One of the most versatile and widely respected singers in the world, Lisa Fischer is one of the true legends of her craft. From early-80’s b-boy hits (“On the Upside”) to touring with the biggest names in music (26 years with the Rolling Stones, 22 with Luther Vandross) to having Billboard #1, Grammy-winning hits as a solo artist (“How Can I Ease The Pain”), her contribution to popular music cannot be overstated.
As if two six-string legends weren’t enough, Snarky Puppy is excited to play host to Eric Gales, widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest living guitarists. He represents the electric guitar’s evolution in every conceivable way, moving deftly between genres with a sense of conviction and mastery that most musicians can only envy. Though he has been a frequent guest with Snarky Puppy when tour schedules coincide, this will be the first time that the two entities have collaborated in the context of Gales’ music.
Living Colour is an American hard rock band from New York City, formed in 1984, whose music is influenced by heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip hop, punk, and alternative rock. The band’s lyrics range from the personal to the political, including social commentary on racism in the United States. Band member Corey Glover is a singer, songwriter and actor is the lead vocalist admired for his versatile voice, and Will Cahoun is known as one of the most unique drummer/percussionist in the world. Collectively, the decorated band that Rolling Stone Magazine has called “funk metal pioneers” redefined the sound of alternative rock in the late 1980s and early 1990s and has received multiple Grammy Awards.
Moving as seamlessly between musical genres as she does between English and Spanish, Guatemalan-born, L.A.-based Gaby Moreno has become one of the defining voices on the singer-songwriter scene today. A winner of both Grammy and Latin Grammy awards as well as an Emmy nominee (for the theme song to NBC’s “Parks and Recreation”), she seems to be everywhere these days. Moreno performed with Snarky Puppy as a featured guest alongside Silvana Estrada, Silva Pérez-Cruz, and Fuensanta in their NPR-televised tribute to Peruvian legend, Susana Baca, in 2023.
Author and performer of the most-covered song on Snarky Puppy’s first Family Dinner album, Shayna Steele will join the band on stage in Miami for only the second time since that Grammy Award-winning recording session over a decade ago. Equally comfortable as a high-powered lead vocalist, backing singer (Rhianna), or Broadway star (Rent, Hairspray!), Steele is a force of nature on stage.
Madison McFerrin, though a longtime friend and New York colleague of Snarky Puppy’s members, will share the stage with the band for the very first time in Miami. Her unique sound has helped her garner praise from the New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, and artists like Questlove, who called her music “Soul-apella.” Madison’s music has been heard on television shows like Broad City and Random Acts of Flyness, and she has performed with music legends De La Soul, Bobby McFerrin, and The Roots.
Fresh off a Latin Grammy win with Brazilian bandolim player (and GroundUP Festival alumnus) Hamilton DeHolanda, the Venezuelan powerhouse, C4 Trio, returns to Miami Beach for an encore performance after their 20__ debut, easily one of the most memorable sets in the festival’s 9-year history. C4 Trio represents Venezuela’s rich cuatro tradition in a way that has allowed it to be transported all over the world, receiving standing ovations after every single show on their 2023 tour as opening act for Snarky Puppy.
Producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Munir Hossn is the son of a rich mix between Brazil, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Talented female instrumentalists join Munir Hossn to bring to life his most recent compositions, an exquisite repertoire that gives shape to his recently released album “Munis Hossn & Elas.” Munir, once again celebrating female musical talent and strength, masterfully combines rhythms and melodies from all corners of the world, highlighting this time the flavors of Brazil, Cuba, and Africa. A unique concert, which takes you from the deepest emotion to not being able to stop moving your feet, songs that you will not get out of your head, so contagious and overwhelming. Tickets are available here.
