By Rhythm Foundation Staff

Fête de la Musique, a global celebration of music on the summer solstice, comes to Big Night in Little Haiti this month. The inspiration behind Fete, which began in Paris in 1982, is to welcome summer with free music. Prior to the main stage concert by popular young Haitian kompa group Gabel, there will be an open stage for the public to make music. The June edition takes place Friday, June 20 at the Little Haiti Cultural Center.

Fête de la Musique celebrations continue into the weekend with a myriad of activities enlivening the music clubs and venues of Miami, especially those surrounding Little Haiti. Free live music shows are scheduled at local venues including Gramps, The Embassy, La Chat Noir, and several others.

Gabel Gabel began with a bang in 2006 –prestigious Kompa Magazine named the young Haitian group “New Band of the Year”. They have lived up to the promise – their fourth studio album will be released this June; they have 12 music videos, have played at two karnavals and are touring throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the US. The group has nine members; Katalog on vocals, Flav on vocals, Bob Doll as Maestro and guitar, Ray as the rhythm guitarist, T-Pachou on keyboards, DJ Dodo on bass, Cha Cha on percussionist and gong, Jay Lay Back on congas and tambourine, and Becken on drums.

Open Stage Central to the celebration of Fête de la Musique is the idea that anyone can make music to welcome summer. In France, and across the world, musicians perform in venues, parks, streets and even in unconventional places like hospitals and educational establishments. The Miami edition will welcome musicians to the open stage at the Little Haiti Cultural Center from 6 to 8 pm. Some very talented artists have already signed up! Details can be found at BigNightLittleHaiti.com.

Gallery Exhibit: Haitian Heritage Month Exhibit: Haiti by Design presented with the Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance. On display May 9 – June 30, 2014. The night will feature delicious kreyol cuisine from Leela’s Lakay, ice cold Prestige Beer and a true taste of Haiti in the form of Clairin Rum at the bar, plus much more. The hands-on art activities for kids are sponsored by Positive Impact Foundation / Kose Famn and the Bass Museum of Art.

Little Haiti Cultural Center Friday June 20, 6PM –10PM In the Plaza Free concert by Gabel Between sets, DJ Mack

Arts and crafts vendors, food and drinks for purchase

In the gallery through June 30, 2014 – Haitian Heritage Month Exhibit- Haiti by Design presented with the Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance

Family Art Corner hosted by Positive Impact Foundation and Bass Museum of Art

Participating sites for Fete de la Musique June 21 The Embassy, 4700 NE 2 Avenue, Miami

10 PM, June 21 – Free show, Music TBA

Gramps, 176 NW 24 Street, Miami

9 PM, June 21 – Free show featuring Pillar Points

Le Chat Noir, 2 S Miami Ave, Miami

10 PM – 1 AM, June 21 – Free show featuring Rose Max and Ramatis Moraes

  Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance, 225 NE 59 Street, Miami

7 pm – 10 PM, June 20 – Free open studio

View a wonderful collection crafts, books and pre-colonial maps and prints of Hispaniola

7^th Circuit Studios, 228 NE 59 Street, Miami

7 pm – 10 PM, June 20 – Free open studio

10 PM After show party with Moksha Roots All Stars ($10)

Big Night in Little Haiti is a free monthly event, scheduled each Third Friday. Details at BigNightLittleHaiti.com or 305-960-2969.

Big Night in Little Haiti is produced by The Rhythm Foundation and the Little Haiti Cultural Center. Major support is provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, through the Knight Arts Challenge Grant. Additional support is received from Prestige Beer, Clairin Rum, Koze Famn media group, BonBagayLakay.com, WSRF 1580AM, AmericanAirlines, The Miami Foundation, City of Miami, Florida International University’s Latin American and Caribbean Center, Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council, the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.