By: Kat Bein By: Kat Bein | October 19, 2021 | Culture,
When it comes to cool, the good people behind Miami’s cross-genre III Points Music + Art Festival might as well be spirit guides. This team knows how to stack a lineup with top-tier talent that can tickle any musical taste bud.
From hip-hop to rock, electro to jazz and everything between, III Points delivers year in and out. This weekend’s host of headliners is one of the most massive yet, with performances by The Strokes, Wu-Tang Clan, Rufus Du Sol, Eric Prydz, Jamie XX and more.
See also: III Points Music Festival Puts 305 Magic On A Global Stage
Still, what sets III Points apart is the love it shows to local Miami artists, and you’d be remiss if you stepped foot on the grounds without giving the local artists some love. To that end, we’ve selected 10 stand-out locals we know will deliver the goods.
These aren’t the only great Miami acts you’ll find at III Points this year, but we know for sure these awesome bands, DJs and producers won’t let you down.
Friday: 1:30 a.m. at the S3quence Stage
Danny Daze is a Miami born and bred DJ and producer with the daring to do just about anything for the funk, carving a name for himself as a techno titan and electro madman around the world. Phoenecia is Josh Kay and Romulo Del Castillo, two pioneering electronic artists who struck a flag in Miami for experimental IDM in the mid ‘90s. Formerly known as Soul Oddity, the pair serves as integral influences for Daze’s fearless career. As Daze prepares to drop a new album on Phoenecia’s legendary Schematic records, he teams with the duo for his first-ever live performance. It’s destined to be an adventure of synthesized sound, mood and attitude that can never be replicated.
Friday: 9 p.m. at the S3ctor 3 Stage
Catch a weird wave and float down a stream of groovable post-punk power with this throaty, goth-influenced group. Led by front-woman Jenna Balfe and bassist Dennis Fuller, the band’s haunting and rhythmic tunes come to life on stage with a full band of friends and creatives. If you’re a fan of Siouxsie Sioux, The Cure or New Order—the latter of whom Donzii actually opened for during the iconic band’s U.S. residency—you’re going to want to pack on the black eye-liner and shoe-gaze sway to this.
Friday: 9 p.m. at the Toyota Music Den
Venezuelan-born and Miami-raised singer-songwriter Maye is bringing a beautiful breath of fresh air to the international music scene, weaving playful and poignant chill-pop in both English and Spanish. Recent tracks “Versos de Placer” and “Yours” build on classic sounds and styles with an air of vintage coolness, while her angel-silk vocals play smooth over any scene. Don’t miss your chance to wade in the warm water of her sound.
Friday: 12 a.m. at the S3ctor 3 Stage
Get lost in a funky, sweaty, tropical sound from beloved Miami DJ Sister System. Her outstanding selection of cross-genre electronics will spin electro, rave, techno and more into a smooth and progressive hour of power hip enough for the DJ booths of Miami nightlife hot-spots Floyd and Club Space. Find out why this burgeoning star is the talk of the local underground.
Friday: 12:30 a.m. at the Parts Unknown Stage
There are two eras in your life: The time before you’ve seen Otto Von Schirach live and the time after. It’s a performance unlike any other. The Cuban-German-American madman and his wild crew of costumed animals sears a bizarre memory into your brain, never to be forgotten. Representing the Bermuda Triangle and all the strange sensations it’s come to represent, von Schirach performs a ritual of interactive play to a soundtrack of Miami Bass, IDM, dubstep and everything between. Scream along in your best Spanglish and be part of the fun.
Friday: 12:45 at the Toyota Music Den
This is the set for those who wish to drift away on a dreamy river of reverb. This psych-rock wonder blends everything from krautrock to shoe-gaze and garage rock vibes to conjure a special, heady brand of soul-swaying melodies. It’s members represent for El Salvador, Venezuela and Cuba, masterfully mixing their heritage with American sounds for what’s sure to be a cool, laid-back and inspired performance.
Saturday: 5:15 p.m. at the Isotropic Stage
After nearly a decade working in the L.A. music business, this Miami producer has come home—and he’s bringing the party. His psychedelic brand of hypnotic house is sensual and inviting, a potent mixture of ethereal moods, bouncing rhythms and invigorating melodies. It feels worldly with exotic textures and fun samples scattered about. Check out his latest EP, a collaborative effort with L.A.’s rising talent Lubelski, and catch him in the act this weekend.
Saturday: 9 p.m. at the S3quenc3 Stage
When this DJ touches the decks, music becomes more than music. Music becomes a tool of freedom, a weapon of sound, a voice for those who stand strong next to each other in power and grace. Equal parts activist and event promoter, this Haitian-American superwoman is the founder of the Masisi party series and a member of the Discwoman collective. Her blend of techno is brash and brilliant, and her recent set at Boiler Room Miami offers a taste of things to come.
Saturday: 11 p.m. at the S3quenc3 Stage
Taking inspiration from the sounds of nature, the rhythms of Miami streets and his own Colombian, Italian and Russian-American heritage, Nick Leon is one electronic artist with a truly unique point of view. His electrifying productions can pump up a crowd and send your senses on a journey of limitless sonic exploration. Layers of tropical rhythms dance over bird songs and critter chirps. Let Leon lead you somewhere exciting.
Saturday: 1:30 a.m. at the S3quenc3 Stage
Breakbeats, ambient moods, glitched-out techno frivolity and more. That’s what you’ll get during Jonny From Space’s tripped-out funkadelic performance. The DJ and producer does in fact hold down a residency at Club Space, and he also serves as A&R for the III Points-affiliated record label Space Tapes. He released a string of EPs in 2020, making the most of the world’s shared downtime, and he’s ready to unleash the sound of tomorrow on III Points crowds.
III Points returns to Miami's Mana Wynwood venue Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22 and 23. Visit iiipoints.com for tickets and more information.
If you're not attending iii Points or want to keep the festival going after-hours, be sure to check out a Friday night after-party here, featuring some iii Point performing artists.
Photography by: Adi Adinayev