For the past ten years, a courtyard in Little Haiti has served as a steady stage where Haitian music and community life meet. \u201cSounds of Little Haiti,\u201d held at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex every third Friday of each month, has grown from a neighborhood gathering to a platform that draws audiences from across South Florida and visitors who seek a direct window into Haitian culture.<\/p>\n
After celebrating its tenth anniversary last month with Tabou Combo, the long-standing konpa band known for bringing Haitian music to international audiences, organizers will feature singer Alan Cav\u00e9, a prominent voice in Haitian konpa love, on Friday, Oct. 17 as the series continues its new season.<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds of Little Haiti\u201d launched in 2016 following the closure of \u201cBig Night in Little Haiti,\u201d a similar event, which ended due to a lack of funding.<\/p>\n
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Singer Alan Cav\u00e9, a leading voice in Haitian konpa love, will headline the \u201cSounds of Little Haiti\u201d concert on Friday, Oct. 17 as the series continues its tenth season.<\/p>\n
(Courtesy of Sounds of Little Haiti)<\/p>\n
Led by Sandy Dorsainvil, the new series carries forward the tradition of live Haitian music at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. A\u00a0village-style atmosphere not only highlights performances but also includes vendors, local businesses, and community organizations.<\/p>\n
Dorsainvil and Terry Louis, co-producers, describe the series as a monthly point of contact between tradition and change, a meeting place for the diaspora, and an introduction for those who are discovering Haitian culture for the first time.<\/p>\n
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Led by Sandy Dorsainvil, \u201cSounds of Little Haiti\u201d has carried on the tradition of live Haitian music at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex since 2016, following the closure of Big Night in Little Haiti, which ended due to a lack of funding.<\/p>\n
(Courtesy of Sounds of Little Haiti)<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bridge to identity,\u201d says Dorsainvil. \u201cMany Haitian-American youth don\u2019t have daily exposure to Haiti, so \u2018Sounds of Little Haiti\u2019 gives them a space to feel proud, to dance, to hear Creole, to eat griyo (fried pork), and to connect to something bigger than themselves. It keeps the culture alive \u2014 not just remembered, but experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program has showcased established musicians while also presenting Haiti\u2019s modern musical landscape to new listeners. Dorsainvil explains the philosophy: \u201cWe call it \u2018honoring the masters while cultivating the next wave.\u2019 Each lineup is designed to celebrate legacy while creating opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dorsainvil says the decade-long milestone reflects more than event continuity. \u201cFor the Haitian community, it\u2019s validation that our culture, our music, and our stories matter,\u201d she says, adding that the series has become a dependable gathering space. The journey included obstacles that affected cultural programming across Miami. Organizers point to the pandemic, shifts in partnerships, and the passing of co-founder Sandra Morrisseau as moments that required adjustment.<\/p>\n
\u201cSustainability has always been our biggest challenge \u2014 consistent funding, logistics, and weather are unpredictable. We\u2019ve had to rebuild after setbacks. But every time, the community rallies,\u201d says Louis.<\/p>\n
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Terry Louis, co-producer, emphasizes the role of residents in keeping the program active: \u201cThe community is the heartbeat of \u201cSounds of Little Haiti.\u201d Local vendors, artists, families and small businesses show up month after month.\u201d<\/p>\n
(Courtesy of Sounds of Little Haiti)<\/p>\n
He emphasizes the role of residents in keeping the series active. \u201cThe community is the heartbeat of \u2018Sounds of Little Haiti.\u2019 Local vendors, artists, families, and small businesses show up month after month. That unwavering support is what\u2019s kept us going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dorsainvil says they are always looking for ways to grow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re expanding the Route 1804 Foundation\u2019s network of sponsors, developing merchandise and brand collaborations, and exploring new grant opportunities. We\u2019re also investing in documentation and digital storytelling to reach broader audiences and preserve our legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The series now presents itself as a consistent calendar item that highlights Haitian music. Louis also outlines how bookings are made. \u201cWe curate a balance between household names and emerging talent,\u201d he says. \u201cWe consider who\u2019s making waves in Haiti, in the diaspora, and in Miami\u2019s own backyard. It\u2019s important to give new artists exposure while honoring those who paved the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
This month, the featured artist is Alan Cav\u00e9, whose smooth vocals have for decades defined the genre of \u201ckonpa love,\u201d a romantic subgenre of Haitian konpa, marked by slower tempos, smooth melodies, and lyrics that focus on love and relationships.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlan Cav\u00e9 represents timeless konpa love, romantic, soulful, and deeply Haitian,\u201d says Louis. \u201cHis voice transcends generations. Audiences can expect a night of pure nostalgia, elegance, and dance-floor magic, the kind of energy that reminds us why we fell in love with Haitian music in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Cav\u00e9, the invitation to perform in the gathering carries special meaning. \u201cI\u2019m truly proud to be part of an event like \u2018Sounds of Little Haiti,\u2019 a production that has represented our culture for so long,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
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Arly Lariviere, lead singer of Nu Look, one of the Haitian bands invited to perform during the monthly \u201cSounds of Little Haiti\u201d series over the past decade.<\/p>\n
(Courtesy of Sounds of Little Haiti)<\/p>\n
The Haitian-American singer reflected on the reach of his music and its connection across generations. At \u2018Sounds of Little Haiti,\u2019 he expects to see longtime fans of \u201cZin,\u201d his former band that found success in Haiti and the diaspora during the 1990s and 2000s, alongside younger listeners who have followed his solo career since the release of \u201cSe Pa Pou Dat,\u201d one of his most popular albums that was released in 2000.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat means I\u2019ll be performing for almost three generations, a beautiful thing. It\u2019s going to be a movie with a few surprises in store.\u201d<\/p>\n
Known for his poetic lyrics, Cav\u00e9 traced his inspiration to his parents. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be the lyricist I am today without my parents\u2019 influence,\u201d he says. \u201cMy father, Syto Cav\u00e9, is a poet, and my mother was one, too. I truly inherited that gift from both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cav\u00e9 also described how his influences stretched across languages and continents. \u201cI was born (in the United States) and moved back and forth (to Haiti) growing up,\u201d he says. \u201cDuring my adolescent years, I was influenced by French music, and later, as a young dancer who loved pop and R&B, those sounds naturally became part of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
His hit \u201cSe Pa Pou Dat,\u201d roughly translated as \u201cIt\u2019s Been a Long Time,\u201d has become one of the most internationally recognized Haitian songs. It is especially known in Haiti, across the Haitian diaspora, throughout the Caribbean, and in parts of Africa. In November of last year, Cav\u00e9 performed the song at New York\u2019s Madison Square Garden while opening for French Congolese singer Gandhi Alimasi Djuna (Gims).<\/p>\n
\u201cOver time, I\u2019ve realized that music is truly universal \u2014 it has no barriers,\u201d says Cav\u00e9, adding that he is proud that \u201cSe Pa Pou Dat\u201d has become one of the most international Haitian songs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat also inspires me to encourage the younger generation to embrace different genres without hesitation. That openness has been one of the best decisions of my career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cav\u00e9\u2019s presence ties the monthly event to a broader diaspora conversation. The artist records and tours in several languages, and his catalogue has played in spaces that reach beyond Haitian venues. Organizers say that they have the same objective for their series on a citywide scale.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur dream is for \u2018Sounds of Little Haiti\u2019 to become a permanent cultural institution \u2014 a destination like \u2018Jazz in the Gardens\u2019 or \u2018Art Basel,\u2019 but distinctly Haitian,\u201d shares Dorsainvil.<\/p>\n
IF YOU GO<\/p>\n
WHAT:\u00a0\u201cSounds of Little Haiti\u201d<\/p>\n
WHEN:\u00a06 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17 and every third Friday of the month<\/p>\n
WHERE:\u00a0Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 59th Terrace, Miami<\/p>\n
COST:\u00a0$30.52 general admission; $87.61 VIP. Free admission for children 5 years old or under<\/p>\n
INFO:\u00a0(954) 260-8109 or\u00a0Eventbrite<\/a><\/p>\n ArtburstMiami.com<\/a> is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music, and more. Don\u2019t miss a story at www.artburstmiami.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For the past ten years, a courtyard in Little Haiti has served as a steady stage where Haitian…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4964,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[5483,5469,5491,5489,5482,5478,5484,5471,5480,5488,5490,5476,5492,225,227,226,5474,5470,5481,5485,5473,5477,5486,5479,5468,5472,5475,5487],"class_list":["post-4963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hialeah","tag-alan-cav-concert-october-17-miami","tag-alan-cav-live-in-miami","tag-artburst-miami-haitian-music-coverage","tag-caribbean-music-events-miami-2025","tag-haitian-community-events-south-florida","tag-haitian-diaspora-music-festival","tag-haitian-konpa-legends-in-concert","tag-haitian-konpa-music-celebration","tag-haitian-music-and-food-miami","tag-haitian-music-legacy-and-new-talent","tag-haitian-pride-and-cultural-identity","tag-haitian-american-cultural-events-florida","tag-haitian-american-youth-cultural-connection","tag-hialeah","tag-hialeah-headlines","tag-hialeah-news","tag-konpa-love-alan-cav-performance","tag-little-haiti-cultural-complex-events","tag-little-haiti-friday-night-concerts","tag-miami-haitian-cultural-calendar","tag-monthly-haitian-concert-miami","tag-route-1804-foundation-sounds-of-little-haiti","tag-sandy-dorsainvil-haitian-music-series","tag-se-pa-pou-dat-alan-cav-live","tag-sounds-of-little-haiti-2025","tag-south-florida-haitian-music-series","tag-tabou-combo-little-haiti-anniversary","tag-terry-louis-sounds-of-little-haiti"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4963"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4963\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}