Cities are doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 across the world, and those shutdowns have quieted even the most vibrant nightlife scenes. When it’s safe, one of the first cities to see tourism and entertainment flourish again is sure to be Miami.
Miami has always been known for its club scene. The look and feel has evolved over the years, starting with mobster run clubs in the 1950s to the trendy South Beach party scene of today, and the music has evolved as well. While some areas still hold on to their roots, others have embraced the newest trends.
Dance music has been popular in Miami since the 1970s, and by the 1980s the city's infamous reputation for nightlife meant the genre was there to stay.
Lately, EDM (electronic dance music) has also earned a place in the city's music landscape. The pinnacle of Miami EDM is the Ultra Music Festival in the Bayfront Park neighborhood. Since its inception in 1999, the event has grown from a single day to an entire weekend, bringing in nearly $1 billion to the local economy over its lifetime while becoming one of the world's biggest EDM destinations. Afrojack, Aviciii, David Guetta, and Zedd are among the festivals previous headliners. Canceled due to COVID-19 in 2020, the event has a return planned for March of 2021.
Miami is also heavily influenced by its Cuban residents, and its Little Havana is a huge destination for music, shows and — of course — dancing. At its the heart is Calle Ocho, a stretch that hosts classic live music hot spots like the Ball & Chain. The historic bar, originally called Ball & Chain Saloon, opened in 1935 and has passed through several owners, including an alleged mobster who served some jail time. While there may have been some not-so-legal gambling on site in the old days, there were also some superstar acts on stage, like Billie Holiday and Count Basie. The original saloon closed in 1958, and the building lived a few different lives before the original concept was revived in 2014, with owners doing their best to bring back to bring back the original feel.
Spanish pop and hip hop has always thrived in Miami, and recently Latin trap — a genre originating in Puerto Rico with reggaeton roots — has also grown in poularity. As for Inter Miami CF? Their Player Playlist heavily reflects that love of Spanish music, with particular nods to Bad Bunny and J Balvin.
