Jazz up your plans and sink your claws into creativity during MOSAIC – the Month Of Shows, Art, Ideas and Culture. Paws and reflect at historic sites, go wild for outdoor experiences and discover art that hits all the right notes, Get purr-fect deals all May long in The Palm Beaches! MOSAICPBC.com
5/1
RESOURCE DEPOT: 14th Annual Catwalk Student Fashion Show! Meet the Designers at GalleRE REmix
RESPECTABLE STREET: Salem Slot Machine, Shakers, Red Flags
ZEYZEY: La Lom
PROPAGANDA: Naluna, The Hot Seat, Randall & the Vandals
ARTS GARAGE: Damon Fowler
CRAZY UNCLE MIKE’S: Tasty Vibrations
5/2-3
PALM BEACH COUNTY OPEN STUDIOS
Two Days, 125+ Artists, Endless Open Studios to Explore. Discover and collect artwork, experience the creative process first hand and meet all kinds of artists, all weekend long, in the Palm Beaches. Plan your tour at OPENSTUDIOSPBC.com
5/2
MEYER AMP: 561 Music Festival ft ALYK, Like Harvey, Dominic Delaney, Heidi Merrill,
Sandman Sleeps, Shy Blossom, More Better Band, Rogue Theory, Give It Up, Blabscam!, Snake Lounge, Euphobia, Jesse Young, Modern Natives, RJ Preston, Josh Gluck and the Family Tree, Roots Shakedown, Dirty Crumbums, Change Is Great, Brett Staska, Nostaljah, Butch and the Fat Doobs, Bomb the Algorithm, Turbo Kid, The Holidazed, Dr. Geronimo, Part Time Cooks, Creeper Jr., Dimetor, Northlake
MIAMI BEACH BANDSHELL: Miami Oyster Fest
RESOURCE DEPOT: Family Fabric Collage Workshop
CHURCHILL’S PUB: MiamiPalooza ft Joe Alexander, Bullypussy, Chasing Stars, Chris Clark, Czargard, Dirty Nasty Rotten, Moose Harris, Dj Ben Hop, Inner, Limb Breaker, Maximum Friction, Medic, Mike & The Biker, Mother Rucker, Natures Fury, Neowulf, Sol Nomada, Out Of The Ashes, Scattered Light, Shadow Fringe, Two Face Crane, Voodoo Monk, Waffle Shop, Ed Waffle, Resurrection, Cryze, Dishon El Villano, Kidd Zero
PROPAGANDA: Living Fast, Antagonizor, Joyce Joyce, Scream Queens STUDIO 1608: “POV: A Shift in Perspective”
CRAZY UNCLE MIKE’S: The Richie Scarlett Band
ARTS GARAGE: Almighty Queen
5/3
MIAMI BEACH BANDSHELL: Simrit
THE WOLFSONIAN-FIU: SPF Pop-up at PrintFest ’26 CHURCHILL’S PUB: PB&TAT, Wojtek, Headfoam CRAZY UNCLE MIKE’S: Suavecito - Santana Tribute
5/4
CHURCHILL’S PUB: Miami Jazz Jam + Open Mic
5/5
MIAMI BEACH BANDSHELL: Los Mesoneros, Inner Wave
5/6
CRAZY UNCLE MIKE’S: The Flyers
CHURCHILL’S PUB: Drop Out of Life w Gucci Handlesman
5/7
RESPECTABLE STREET: Old Time Sailors
CRAZY UNCLE MIKE’S: Mohini Dey
5/8
MIAMI BEACH BANDSHELL: Son Del Mundo ft Cortadito, Aymee Nuviola, Roberto Torres, Ronkalunga, Sanba Zao, Morikeba Kouyate, Toto Omana, Michelle Fragoso, DJ Le Spam
PROPAGANDA: Blabscam!, Killed by Florida, Trip the Monkey, Bomb the Algorithm, Lavola, Wild Spark, Beeline, Slimers, Give it Up, Tiger Sunset, Kenny Moe, The Moonmen, Cyphensesh, SOL, The Burn Club
CULTURE ROOM: Lords of Acid, Dead on a Sunday CHURCHILL’S PUB: Crimewave
HOLLYWOOD ARTSPARK: Joe Lovano Quartet
CRAZY UNCLE MIKE’S: The Love
– Cure Tribute 5/17
ARSHT CENTER:
PROPAGANDA: Like Harvey, Monarch Hill, Orange Blackheart, Augusto, Derit, Reverse Oreo, More Better Band, Rich Neighbors, The Years After, Loco Zero, Ursa Arcana, Jeremy Sousa, Mother Rucker, Medicine Room, Dominic Delaney
ARTS GARAGE: The Art of Laughter w Rabbi Bob Alper
CRAZY UNCLE MIKE’S: Crazy Fingers
5/18
CHURCHILL’S PUB: Miami Jazz Jam + Open Mic
5/19
CHURCHILL’S PUB: A/V Club ft “The Trial” ARTS GARAGE: Spoken Word Open Mic
Some music doesn’t just travel, it remembers; carrying footprints in its rhythm, histories in its phrasing, and entire migrations tucked between a call and a response. Long before it was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, Son Cubano had already been doing the work, bridging continents, shaping identities, and moving bodies without ever asking permission. Originating in the highlands of eastern Cuba during the late 19th century as a blend of African and Spanish elements, Son has become a living history of Cuban identity. “I believe it has always been evolving and pushing the boundaries of change, even while preserving its parameters,” Jose Elias, better known as Cortadito, tells PureHoney. “We’ve seen it happen through the years with Salsa and Timba, and throughout the world with Congolese Rhumba and Haitian Compas.”
Son Del Mundo, hosted by Cortadito, is a sweeping celebration of “El Día del Son Cubano,” honoring not just a genre, but the global conversation it sparked, bringing together a lineup including Grammy-nominated powerhouse Aymee Nuviola, legendary singer Roberto Torres, and rising sonero Ronkalunga, alongside tributes that trace the music’s diasporic echoes through Congolese rumba and Haitian Compas. UNESCO’s recognition doesn’t fossilize the genre; it affirms what artists and audiences have always known: Son lives through participation, through performance, through the constant act of being reimagined. “We connect with our audiences by making our shows interactive, multi-generational dance parties,” says Cortadito. “It has lived through communities for more than a hundred years and it’s a very relatable form of traditional folk and country music, and it has been embraced worldwide.”
But Son Del Mundo doesn’t stop at recognition, it expands the frame with tributes to figures like Le Grand Kallé and Franco Luambo, and honors reinterpretation, underscoring how the genre didn’t just stay in Cuba, it moved, adapted, and became part of a wider rhythmic language heard across the Atlantic. This celebration makes one thing clear, as Cortadito recognizes the valuable perspective in sound and style each generation brings to the genre, this isn’t just about honoring where the music comes from, but where it continues to go.
Son del Mundo, Día del Son Cubano takes place at 7pm Friday, May 8 at the Miami Beach Bandshell in Miami Beach. miamibeachbandshell.com
AYMEE NUVIOLA
Jess, Game’s Up [detail], 1981, jigsaw puzzle. Courtesy of Anton and Jennifer Segerstrom
MOSAIC
by amanda e. moore
The air smells like salt and possibility. Dawn cracks open over the Atlantic in a riot of flamingo pink and molten gold, spilling across the water like someone tipped over the sun. By evening, the sky goes full cinematic— deep tangerine bleeding into violet, pelicans gliding silhouetted against a horizon so vivid it looks painted. Palm fronds catch the last light. The ocean glimmers.
Whimsy and wonder may be having a moment right now, but here, they’ve never been out of style. This is South Florida. And this May, it becomes the stage for MOSAIC — the Month of Shows, Art, Ideas, and Culture. 30 organizations. 31 days. 35 curated ways to experience Palm Beach County — each one designed to get you out, moving, and plugged into something real.
South Florida teems with culture layered from generations of migration and influence. Haitian and Jamaican. Cuban and Colombian. Brazilian and Bahamian. West African rhythms and Miami bass. Creole spice, Cuban coffee, Caribbean heat. It’s a place where identities overlap and evolve and where creativity is constant. This is one of the greatest melting pots on earth and MOSAIC mirrors that.
Now in its ninth year, MOSAIC turns the county into a choose-your-own cultural map. Go solo or build a full itinerary — everything is designed to be flexible, accessible, and worth your time. It’s the perfect cultural charcuterie board — a chance to taste-test more without overcommitting your budget.
Start with a performance at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Walk the grounds at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. Visit the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society. On May 2–3, Palm Beach County Open Studios gives you access to more than 125 working artists — free and selfguided. Head north and climb the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse for panoramic views. Take advantage of BOGO admission at the Norton Museum of Art, Boca Raton Museum of Art, and Mounts Botanical Garden. Hotels across the county are offering packages, making it easy to turn a day trip into a full stay.
This year’s MOSAIC artwork was created by Lake Worth Beach artist and 2026 Artist Innovation Fellowship recipient George Bayer, whose signature Le Chat series brings a cohort of creative cats to life — painting, playing saxophone, wearing a cultural kimono, wrestling an alligator. It strikes just the right balance of whimsy, adding a playful thread that ties the experience together. Four collectible Le Chat lapel pins are scattered across participating venues, and a MOSAIC Paws-port lets you stamp and track each one — a built-in, county-wide scavenger hunt.Beyond the marquee stops, the real magic is in the in-between. It’s in wandering into a gallery you hadn’t planned on visiting, stumbling onto a live performance you didn’t expect, or striking up a conversation with an artist midcreation. MOSAIC creates the framework, but the experience is yours to shape. You can map out every stop or leave space for spontaneity — either way, the reward is discovery.
Plan a day that moves with you. Start an early coastal walk through Loggerhead Marinelife Center, then pivot inland to places like the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens or the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum. Pause for lunch somewhere local, unhurried, then continue on to the Society of the Four Arts or catch an afternoon program at Arts Garage. Let one experience lead to the next. If something catches your eye, follow it. If something surprises you, stay. That’s the rhythm here. Just show up, stay curious, and let life meet you halfway. By day’s end, you’ll have more than photos— you’ll have one-of-a-kind memories.
As Lauren Perry, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Cultural Tourism at the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, puts it, “a dolphin encounter with your kids or a live performance with friends creates memories that last — often longer than the typical day at the beach.”
“MOSAIC is about access and discovery—giving people a reason to step into places they may not have experienced before, and to see the county through a more creative lens.” Reclaim your whimsy and wonder — MOSAIC is calling.
MOSAIC runs throughout May, with select offerings in June, across Palm Beach County. Explore the full lineup and sign up for exclusive offers at MOSAICPBC.com.
JUPITER INLET LIGHTHOUSE & MUSEUM
PALM BEACH ZOO
GEORGE BAYER
by kelli bodle
Born in Florida but immediately moving to Germany courtesy of his father’s job in the Air Force, George Bayer, the PureHoney artist of the month, started his world travels right out of the womb, living in five of seven continents thus far. “By the time I ran away from home at 15 years old I had moved every six months to a different country, city, or state,” Bayer remembers.
While studying film at the California Institute of the Arts, Bayer started to make music videos in Los Angeles. Explaining the beginning of his adult wanderings, Bayer said, “After watching a film called Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, I fell in love with Ryuichi Sakamoto’s music. I went to Japan on a whim and decided to meet him.”
“I was able to meet him because when I called on the phone to ask, I said, ‘This is George Bayer,’ (which I guess sounds like George Meyer) and they thought I was the producer of The Simpsons. This led to an embarrassing moment when I said I didn’t like the program,” Bayer said. “Ryuichi thought this mistake to be very funny and we eventually became friends. I ended up staying in Japan for six years working on music videos for him.”
This whimsical tale is only one leg of Bayer’s many adventures, too many to fit into one column, but the point here is that, to have a career in the arts, he made himself highly adaptable to a variety of geographies and occupations. His secret? “As an artist, I have always felt that creativity is in the process of creating something…You must imagine something that has never existed before,” he explains. “You close your eyes and listen to a music track from a singer or band who wants you to make a music video for them. You close your eyes and visualize what will bring the song and feeling to life for the viewer.”
Bayer is very viewer-centric when it comes to his work. To encourage young artists, he has the following recommendation, “You need to find ways to engage with the people experiencing your art. When I have an exhibition, I go every day, all day, from the opening event to the closing. I do this so I can help the viewer understand my work, answer questions, and learn from their questions, and most of all learn from my answers.”
Bayer explains, “When you talk out loud about your creativity, you are forced to bring the reasons, motivations, and execution to life. You are forced to come out of your head and understand your own creativity.”
This emphasis on art as a form of communication, survival even, is likely rooted in his childhood (what isn’t, right?). Bayer recalls that, “When I was about seven years old, I had a traumatic experience which caused me not to speak a word for almost 3 1/2 years. I spent all my time listening and watching other people communicate. This gave me a deeper sense of observation and understanding of the world around me. This also gave me the opportunity to express myself through drawing as a form of communication to the outside world and to keep me sane.”
Visit Bayer’s work at the Palm Beach Cultural Council in Lake Worth beginning April 14th and he’ll be more than happy to talk to you all about Taiwan, Russia, China, Japan, or a handful of other countries, other media in which he has worked (print, stage production, fashion shows), or extend a congratulations for his recent selection as the artist used for the MOSAIC (Month of Shows, Art, Ideas and Culture) promotional materials this year.
“Shortly after [being chosen for MOSAIC], I was very, very fortunate to be chosen for several other group exhibitions and to receive one of the 2026 Cultural Council Artist Innovation Fellowships,” he said. At the time he was alerted to his inclusion in MOSAIC he had been living in Singapore. This run of success locally has prompted him to move back to South Florida. “Now, Palm Beach is not only my home, but also my creative hub and a very important part of my creative development and exploration,” he said.
561 MUSIC FESTIVAL
by olivia feldman
In March 2021, Ben Childs and Hector Diaz had the idea to start the 561 Music Podcast to spotlight diverse local music. Five years in, the Killbillies band members couldn’t have predicted that they’d establish an authentic brand enveloping a music school, podcast and festival all into one.
The 561 Music Festival began as a 400-person festival in 2022 at Mathews Brewing Co and exploded to a 5,000-persons last year at the Meyer Amphitheater. Now with three stages, the fest can showcase even more local and regional talent in the same space — on what was formerly prime SunFest weekend. Diaz tells PureHoney they locked down the Meyer last year after SunFest announced that the festival would no longer take place — the first weekend in May — and released their hold. “I called Ben, and said, ‘Are we completely insane if we approach the city to ask if we can have the Meyer for that same date, that same weekend that everybody expects music at?’” Diaz says. “So we did. They approved it. We paid the money, we got the permits, we got everything going.”
For year five, concertgoers can see musical acts on two additional stages besides the massive main one: one at the opposite end of the field and the other at Palm Beach Post Park, just south of the amphitheater. Despite adding more bands to the roster, sponsorships keeps festival admission free. The jam-packed 30-band lineup covers virtually every musical genre under the sun from all across Florida. You have alternative rock (ALYK, Sandman Sleeps), reggae (Roots Shakedown, Nostaljah), garage punk (Blabscam) and even surf country (Brett Staska). If you want a taste of the finer things the fest has to offer, VIP tix are available for $50 and include light bites, a private bar and a swag bag. (use code MOSAIC26 at checkout for BOGO tickets.)
Diaz attributes the festival’s exponential success to its wildly eclectic lineup. “Some festivals are very specific to a genre. Ours is all over the place,” he says. “And that’s part of the charm. There’s nothing like it around here right now.”
561 Music Festival runs 11:30am-10pm Saturday, May 2 at Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach. Admission is free. 561musicfestival.com
Jazz up your plans and sink your claws into creativity during MOSAIC—the Month of Shows, Art, Ideas and Culture. Paws and reflect at historic sites, go wild for outdoor experiences and discover art that hits all the right notes. Get purr-fect deals all May long in The Palm Beaches. MAY 1 - 31
OPEN STUDIOS
by trina gray
An artist’s studio is often described as a sacred space, a place where imagination gives way to artistic discipline and new ideas take physical shape. Unlike viewing art in a museum, where the work can feel distant and contextualized, the studio brings artists directly to their audience, giving viewers an intimate look into the creative process.
Breaking down the barriers between artists and art lovers is the idea behind Open Studios, a massive, two-day art crawl presented by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. Now in its fourth year, the free event, happening May 2 and 3, has grown to over 150 artists. Creators of all kinds — from painters to jewelry makers to sculptors — will have the chance to demonstrate their craft, answer questions, and meet people who otherwise may not have access to their work.
Speaking with PureHoney, Jessica Ransom, the Cultural Council’s artist services director, explains that the event exemplifies what the council’s mission is all about: helping the arts become “a part of everyday life, for everyone.”
“When you’re looking at art in a museum or gallery, there’s a wall because you don’t know the artist or what they were thinking when they created the piece,” she says. “This event offers an opportunity to interact with artists in their own creative environments.”
To make navigating the event easier, the Cultural Council created a map of artist locations, separated into northern, central, and southern regions. You can visit individual studios or larger establishments with multiple artists. Think of it as a treasure hunt, except one where you can curate your own experience.
If you’re in the northern part of the county, consider stopping by Studio on 10th in Lake Park. Renowned mixed-media artist Ilene Gruber Adams is one of five artists who share the space. Since moving to Florida 22 years ago, she has become a fixture in the Palm Beach arts scene, holding leadership roles with multiple art organizations and serving as a longtime advisor to the Cultural Affairs Committee for West Palm Beach. For Open Studios, she’ll have her popular abstract paintings on display, showcasing her signature blend of vibrant colors, geometric lines, and bold forms.
“Having a studio has helped me promote and sell my art, which can be a challenge for some artists,” she says. “That’s why Open Studios is such a great resource — it gives artists a platform to connect with different types of collectors.”
For a truly unique experience, don’t miss Central Palm Beach County’s stained-glass artist Iva Kalikow, whose striking reinterpretations of well-known paintings include Henri Matisse’s “Odalisque, Blue Harmony,” Pablo Picasso’s “Still Life with Guitar,” and Paul Cezanne’s “Flowers in a Vase.” Dotted throughout her home are works inspired by other master artists, including Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers,” its brilliant golden hues reminiscent of a sun-drenched countryside. If you venture into her studio, you’ll see her working on a current project: a series of Georgia O’Keeffe’s flowers for an art show this summer in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
“With Open Studios, you’re getting people who are really interested in what you do because they’re coming to see you specifically,” Kalikow tells PureHoney. “What could be better than that?”
Travel south to the white sandy shores of Delray Beach and you’ll find the Amanda James Gallery & Amanda Johnson Studio. Inside is an eclectic mix of paintings, photographs, textiles, home decor, and hand-painted wares. Portraits featuring women in confident, sensual poses figure prominently throughout the space. Jewel-toned antique rugs complement watermelon pink and deep purple walls. Nature themes blend seamlessly with the abundance of feminine energy.
“I like to think of this space as an artist gypsy caravan,” says Amanda Johnson, who shares the gallery/studio with her husband, James. Also a multidisciplinary artist, he heads up the gallery’s custom-framing department and is an accomplished photographer. This is the couple’s second year participating in Open Studios, and they have already seen their roster of clients grow.
“Events like Open Studios expose potential collectors to different kinds of art and connect artists with clients we typically wouldn’t reach,” Johnson tells PureHoney. “The Cultural Council recognizes this, and I think they do an outstanding job of being the go-between for collectors and artists.”
Open Studios runs noon-5pm Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3. Get details and a downloadable artist lineup and location map at palmbeachculture.com/open-studios/. For more exclusive discounts on cultural events during the month of May, sign up for the Cultural Council’s MOSAIC at palmbeachculture.com/mosaic
KVL MEDIA
IVY
by tim moffatt
IVY started as a trio of green artists (Adam Schlesinger, Andy Chase, and Dominique Durand), looking to make a name for themselves. They became Indie Pop darlings throughout the 1990’s, with their dreamy tunes eventually appearing on numerous movie soundtracks and presumably all over mix tapes. However, after years of the grind of making records and touring, two parts of the trio fell out. After years of not speaking, Adam (moonlighting as the frontman for Fountains of Wayne) and Andy reconnected as if time had stopped. And then Covid happened, permanently putting a period at the end of the band by claiming Schlesinger to the sickness. That period became an ellipsis when Andy and Dominique uncovered a treasure trove of demo recordings Adam had made, dating back to the beginning of their tenure together. The duo, inspired by their friends’ timeliness, brought in Bruce Driscoll, a sometime contributor to IVY and Andy’s bandmate in Camera2, to help flesh out the ideas Adam had preserved. In the wake of tragedy, the band began piecing together ideas for a new record to honor their fallen friend. What emerged was the record “Traces of You”, released in September of 2025, a feat the band couldn’t have imagined shortly before it became a reality. We caught up with IVY to discuss Traces of You and the future of a band that’s not entirely whole but also not done yet.
PH: The music on “Traces of You” are entirely based on demos and older material. Were there certain songs that jumped out at you? Were there specific songs that you didn’t love the first time around, and with a little bit of distance, you realized, “ This is great!”
Andy Chase: Well, the distance we had was anywhere from 14 years to 20+ years because in 2023, when we took stock of what we had, which were demos, sketches, jam sessions, and almost fully finished songs, Dominique and I couldn’t remember why we never finished them. But the objectivity…was fueled by Bruce coming in in 2023 and hearing them and he cherry picked the ones that had potential…we finished 22 songs the first 10 came out on the album “Traces of You” and the other 11 are coming out on our next album…the common thread between those two releases is one that we did them all at the same time and two that Adam, our bandmate who passed away is on all the songs.
PH: Do you have anything planned beyond the next release?
Andy Chase: I don’t know… the 22 we finished weren’t the only 22 we had… we were close to 60 (ideas), but we decided to focus on finishing those 22…I guess after this next album comes out…when that has finished its run, we will take stock of where we’re at. I mean, if we’re inspired to do another record… There are still many more songs from those ideas… we could finish a third new album, but I think now we’re just focused on the shows promoting Traces of You…We’re not really thinking too much beyond that.
PH: Can you describe the live aspect of performing with the semi-new incarnation of Ivy, particularly the history of being everyone’s first foray into music, and the absence of Adam?
Dominique Durand: Oh, that’s a good question… for a long time, even though we were making this new record, we didn’t think we were going to play live…it just felt very strange without Adam…we didn’t think of the live performances and then when we released the record…our fans are asking us you know they were begging us and so we sat down and thought about what we could do and actually we came up with a crazy idea…instead of having a new bass player on my left side, which was Adams side for almost 30 years, we’re going to have Adam’s bass from the record playing on the backing track, and so when we play live…he will be there.
IVY plays Respectable Street with special guests Sweet Bronco, May 10, 18+, doors at 7pm.
ETHEL CAIN
by erik kvarnberg
Ethel Cain is a stage name/character for Hayden Silas Anhedönia, a Tallahassee native and child of a Southern Baptist deacon. Choosing the moniker for its biblical allusion and its matronly feel, Anhedönia has been writing under the name since producing the 2019 EP titled “Carpet Bed.” Deriving influence from Christian music and Florence and the Machine, many of Ethel Cain’s albums feel like she extracted memories from the spanish moss hanging off of an oak tree.
As a character, Ethel Cain’s storyline is expressed through the concept albums Preacher’s Daughter (2022) and Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You (2025). The former contains Cain’s escape from religion and the subsequent kidnapping, abuse, and murder that befalls Cain. The latter tells the story of Cain’s teenage years and her relationship with her boyfriend Willoughby Tucker and the ways her upbringing will always affect her.
Preacher’s Daughter is a dreamy set of 13 songs, filled with rich vocals and a fresh perspective on songwriting. The album contains “American Teenager,” an anti-war pop-ish song that touches on the “American Dream”, gun culture and intergenerational trauma in a way that music critics still appreciate to this day.
Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You fully demonstrates Cain’s evolution as a songwriter in the three years since Preacher’s Daughter. The two leading singles from this album are titled “Nettles” and “Fuck Me Eyes,” with the former track using lap steel and banjo to create a twisted, romantic, Americana atmosphere that captures the character’s innocence. The latter approaches both sexuality and the forcefully imposed perception associated with it.
Between these two releases is the early-2025 album Perverts, an experimental project based around drones and ambient soundscapes. The lead single “Punish” is a somber, ghostly track with rusty swingset noises, detuned piano, and Anhedönia’s gentle and mournful voice. The titular track “Perverts” is a 12-minute drone, with the sounds of a dying radio broadcast and an alien abduction, a perfect track for listeners who like haunting people. Her YouTube channel contains music videos, unreleased music, and long-winded videos talking about video games, anime, and witchcraft.
Ethel Cain performs with 9Million at the Fillmore Theatre in Miami Beach on May 9.
BELLE & SEBASTIAN
by david rolland
Can it really be thirty years since Belle and Sebastian released their record If You’re Feeling Sinister? With its quiet peaceful feeling one can imagine it always existing or at least being a byproduct of the folky 1960’s. But it was in fact 1996 when the Glasgow, Scotland band unleashed their second record into the world (or at least in the UK as it didn’t come out in the US until 1997). To celebrate Belle and Sebastian will perform the entire album along with a second set of songs from the rest of their career on May 17 at the Arsht Center. It’ll be the troupe’s first South Florida concert since a 2014 gig at The Fillmore with SOKO supporting.
The ten tracks on If You’re Feeling Sinister? have the exact opposite vibe that its titular question asks. If anything it embodies a childlike innocence starting with the opening track “The Stars of Track and Field” letting you know the musical proceedings will go at its own laid back pace reminiscent of Nick Drake or Donovan or some other lost troubadour of the British Isles. Things get a bit more rambunctious with “Me and the Major” where the tempo might not speed up enough for a mosh pit, but could certainly encourage some jigs at a hootenanny. Throughout its running time songs seem to alternate between dreamy lullabies like “The Fox in the Snow” or “The Boy Done Wrong” with selections that could start a lowkey living room dance party like “Get Me Away from Here, I’m Dying” and “Like Dylan in the Movies”
It makes too much sense that the songs were worked on in a church hall where frontman Stuart Murdoch was the caretaker that the then seven piece band used as a practice space. Perhaps the most remarkable tidbit about the creation of the record is it only took five days to record and only three more days to master the recordings. But apparently in the 1990’s that was an example of Belle and Sebastian taking their time as their debut Tigermilk was recorded in only three days. Maybe there was something sinister going on with this band? How else to explain the ease of composing such sonic twee perfection?
Belle and Sebastian 7 pm Sunday, May 17 at the Adrienne Arsht Center’s Knight Concert Hall in Miami. arshtcenter.org
