Courtesy of The Rhythm Foundation

The 13th annual TransAtlantic Festival comes back to North Beach’s Bandshell on April 10th and April 11th, 2015. Produced by The Rhythm Foundation, the event explores modern world music from Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and North America and prides itself in booking artists that collide between traditional and modern music.

“We focus on bands that mix traditional world music with the world of electronica,” said Director of the Rhythm Foundation Laura Quinlan. “A lot of the bands work between two places or cultures. For example, Ana Tijoux is Chilean girl who grew up in Paris and Budos Band is an afro beat band from New York. It is tribute to our position here on Miami Beach, which is a cross roads or meeting ground for people from the Americas or Europe.”

Quinlan who grew up in North Beach, when it was a “very sleepy town,” said that the Festival’s start coincided with a wave of South Americans moving to the area. With this influx of new residents, came a love of street life, good food and live music that made the Festival thrive. Excepting roughly a thousand people, the Festival attracts people from South Beach, North Beach and the tri-county area.

Courtesy of The Rhythm Foundation

“A lot of people are discovering North Beach for the first time that come to the Festival,” she said. “It’s fun for us to use this Festival to welcome people. With plenty of free parking, locally owned restaurants and beautiful beaches this city is a win-win for everyone.”

Which performer is Quinlan looking forward to seeing the most? “That’s like asking a mother, which child she likes best,” she chuckled. “It’s funny after 13 years of doing this Festival it’s more about the body of work. I’m really excited about all of them and because of the structure of the Bandshell it really invites a collaborative experience between the performers.”

[Read also: Improvements Underway at the North Shore Bandshell]

The lineup of the 2015 Festival includes:

Wild Belle: American indie band Wild Belle is comprised of siblings Elliot and Natalie Bergman, who grew up like modern-day Von Trapps. The group is known for singing and making music in a house filled with jazz, soul, old school reggae and African sounds.

Budos Band: Budos Band describe themselves as “Staten Island instrumental afro-soul.” Their influences include Cairo Jazz Band, J.C. Davis, Mulatu Astatke, and Black Sabbath.

Ana Tijoux: Ana Tijoux’s sound is lush, golden-era hip-hop production rooted in traditional Latin instrumentation. Rolling Stone named her performance at SXSW on of the best concerts of this year’s festival, while the New York Times has called her “South America’s answer to Lauryn Hill: equally skillful at singing and rapping.”

Puerto Candelaria: Puerto Candelaria is comprised of six talented musicians from Medellin, Colombia. The group came together in 2000, guided by composer Juancho Valencia, to create a new sound based on popular Colombian rhythms like the beloved cumbia, fueled by a dance beat and a mighty horn section.

My Deer: My Deer was formed by former Sirens & Sealions songwriter Johanna Viscaino and guitar player Yannick Calleiro. The two Miami based artists share a passion for indie pop, disco and ambient music.

Blue Jay: Bluejay is a mix of indie, tribal, folk, and pop. Their live shows are enchanting with a well-balanced mix of pop hooks and compelling tribal beats.

Courtesy of The Rhythm Foundation

North Beach resident Nancy Chan is most excited to see Budos Band at the Festival. “They’re a great time and play a fantastic show,” she said. “I hope more bands like Budos come to North Beach. The town is changing and I’m glad I’m a part of it.”

The Rhythm Foundation, a Miami-based non-profit cultural organization, is a leading presenter of world music in the US. It was founded in 1988 with the goal of increasing international awareness through live music. The Rhythm Foundation has presented more than 700 concerts, events and festivals by established and innovative artists from around the world. Special focus is given to those cultures connecting to South Florida audiences – music from Brazil, Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe. The range of programs covers music at the heart of global culture today to the traditional music of the world. The organization has received numerous awards in its 27 years.

The weekend pass to attend is $27. Single passes are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, visit www.TransAtlanticFestival.com or call (305) 672-5202.