Free event features The Wailers and Kobo Town on the Moss Center’s Backyard Concert Lawn
MIAMI, FL (Oct. 17, 2023) – The Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center is thrilled to announce its free annual event, the community-friendly Backyard Bash IX, featuring a stellar reggae and ska lineup, including the world-famous Grammy-nominated The Wailers and Juno-winning Canadian Caribbean music group, led by Trinidadian singer and songwriter Drew Gonsalves. As the official kickoff of the Moss Center’s 2023-2024 season, the concert takes place Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 7 p.m. on the Backyard Concert Lawn. A Junkanoo band and carnival dancers will open the event before the concert begins. Tickets are free and will be available on October 10, 2023 here.
The free event in Cutler Bay will include various activities, Caribbean-themed attractions, and vendors in a relaxed outdoor setting. To start the night on a high note, opening band Kobo Town will perform its distinct fusion of calypso and reggae. Hailing from Canada, Kobo Town – named after the Trinidadian city in which calypso was born – will transport audiences to the heart of the Caribbean. The band’s fourth album, Carnival of the Ghosts, was noted for its creative take on traditional calypso and Caribbean sounds.
Next on the billing is The Wailers, a world-famous Grammy-nominated band formed in 1963. One of the most influential and iconic reggae groups in history, The Wailers have shared the stage with world legends such as Bob Marley, Julian Marley, and Peter Tosh. The audience will be swept away by their timeless music, incredible rhythms, and unparalleled energy. Guests are invited to stay later into the evening for an “After Party” on the Plaza featuring Shacia Marley of the famed Marley family.
The Backyard Bash is an annual Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center tradition. Now in its ninth year, the event will deliver an unforgettable evening of music, family fun, and cultural immersion yet again. There will be opportunities to purchase tickets for the season’s lineup, which includes Kathleen Madigan’s Boxed Wine and Tiny Banjos, Direct From Sweden: The Music of ABBA, One Night of Queen, two-time Grammy Award-winning Samara Joy, fun family events such as Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live – performed by skilled puppeteers – and dance performances including Dance Theatre of Harlem and Paul Taylor Dance Company. The event is part of the Moss Center’s commitment to providing enriching, diverse, and affordable programming for audiences throughout Miami-Dade County.
The Backyard Bash IX is a free event and recommended for all ages. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. No coolers are permitted, as food and drink are available for purchase. All patrons entering the grounds require tickets – which are available at no cost, regardless of age (including children and infants). Registration for the event opens on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. Free tickets are available by calling (786) 573-5300 or by visiting MossCenter.org.
About The Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center
The Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, informally known as “The Moss Center,” is managed by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, with funding support from the Office of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. The Center is dedicated to presenting and supporting arts and culture and providing access to the arts to the entire Miami-Dade County community. More information about the Center and its programs can be found at www.MossCenter.org.
It is the policy of Miami-Dade County to comply with all the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility is accessible and assistive listening devices are available in the Main Stage Auditorium and the Black Box Theater space. To request materials in accessible format, and/or any accommodation to attend an event at The Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, please contact Stephanie Aponte, 786-573-5314, [email protected], at least five days in advance to initiate your request. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).
About Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs
The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council develop cultural excellence, diversity, access and participation throughout Miami-Dade County by strategically creating and promoting equitable opportunities for artists and cultural organizations, and our residents and visitors who are their audiences. The Department receives funding through the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, The Children’s Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, the State of Florida through the Florida Department of State, Florida Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Peacock Foundation, Inc. and The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation.
Other support and services are provided by TicketWeb for the Culture Shock Miami program, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the South Florida Cultural Consortium and the Tourist Development Council. For more information visit miamidadearts.org.
It is the policy of Miami-Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility is accessible and assistive listening devices are available in the Main Stage Auditorium and the Black Box Theatre space. To request materials in accessible format, sign language interpreters, CART, and/or any accommodation to attend an event at Miami-Dade County Auditorium, please contact the Auditorium at [email protected] or call (305) 547-5414 , at least (5) five days in advance to initiate your request. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service.)
