Axios Miami

May 09, 2025
🙏 Friday! We made it.
🌥️ Weather: Mostly sunny. Chance of thunderstorms. High 84. Low 79.
🎺 Sounds like: "Várias Queixas" by Gilsons, who rocked the Miami Beach Bandshell last night. (Sommer can confirm!)
🏒 Situational awareness: The Panthers play the Maple Leafs at home tonight down 2-0 in their second-round playoff matchup.
- 📺 7pm on TNT. 🎟️ Tickets $133+.
Today's newsletter is 914 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Miami concert guide
We're approaching that time of year when your social media feeds start to feel like a second-hand concert.
- It seems like everyone is traveling for a music festival, watching a sunset show in a grassy amphitheater, or posting stories from a sold-out arena.
- Luckily, you can join in on the fun too.
Miami's lineup of shows heading into the summer and fall months has something for everyone — from neighborhood shows to star-studded spectacles.
- Here are some of the top concerts coming to Miami.
Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro brings his Cosa Nuestra World Tour to the Kaseya Center for a three-day stay, May 30-June 1.
- Tickets: $158+.
Shakira will be at Hard Rock Stadium for two nights, June 5-6.
- Tickets: around $150+.
Cuban reggaeton duo Gente De Zona celebrates its 25th anniversary June 7 at the Kaseya Center.
- Tickets: $40.
Post Malone is bringing his Big Ass Stadium Tour to Hard Rock Stadium on June 8.
- Tickets: about $100+.
Vampire Weekend is performing at the FPL Solar Amphitheater for its Only God Was Above Us Tour on June 13.
- Tickets: $40+.
Rapper Lil Baby is performing at the Kaseya Center on June 10 with BigXthaPlug, Nle Choppa and Loe Shimmy.
- Tickets: $51+.
Spanish singer Melendi is performing at the Kaseya Center on June 13 and 14.
- Tickets: $175+.
Glass Animals rocks Hard Rock Live on June 18.
- Tickets: $72+.
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band play Hard Rock Live on June 20.
- Tickets: $72+.
Rocker Avril Lavigne performs at Hard Rock Live on June 21.
- Tickets: $165+.
Legendary reggae singer Barrington Levy plays the Miami Beach Bandshell on July 23.
- Tickets: $50+.
Pop music icon Lady Gaga is performing three shows at the Kaseya Center, Aug. 31, Sept. 1 and Sept. 3.
- Tickets: $271+.
Our concert bucket list: Sommer is looking forward to seeing Buscabulla at ZeyZey next month, while Martin wants to check out Hombres G and Enanitos Verdes in July.
2. 🗣️ Q&A with local band Lawn
Miami band Lawn is new to the local scene, so we asked them a couple of questions about their journey.
Responses were edited for clarity
When did you start your band?
- Romeo (singer songwriter), Cooper (bass) and Daniel (guitar) started the band last summer after working together in a different band.
- They decided to leave that project and start their own band so they could explore the indie genre more deeply. Once they found Cliff (drums), Lawn was created.
How would you describe your sound?
- Lawn's sound, which takes inspiration from psychedelic rock and shoegaze, is raw yet danceable. Our new EP "House Party Hero" explores a range of styles, from grunge influences ("Overdoser") to the energizing guitar solo on "Prom Night."
What's the best part of Miami's music scene? What are the challenges?
The best part
- Romeo: The jazz scene. I've seen a lot of great performances at the Fish House and Lagniappe.
- Cliff and Cooper: The diversity of venues and the people that go to them. You've got clubs, bars, waterfront restaurants and rundown warehouses.
- Daniel: It's diverse and growing rapidly. Especially when it comes to Latin and EDM music, Miami is the place to be if you want to see firsthand how those genres are evolving.
The challenges
- The venues that are tailored to the alternative scene can be very competitive, but it does make booking those gigs more rewarding!
You can find Lawn on all streaming platforms and on Instagram and Tiktok
3. Cafecito: 📚 Nuñez leads FIU president search
✅ Florida International University has selected interim president Jeanette Nuñez as the sole candidate to assume the role permanently. (Miami Herald)
- The former lieutenant governor and former state representative will go before the Board of Trustees in June.
🎻 Hip-hop violin band Sons of Mystro is one of 100 South Florida artists trying out for NPR's Tiny Desk Contest, which seeks to highlight independent artists. (WLRN)
- Check out their submission.
4. 🙏 The first American pope
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, was elected as the 267th leader of the Catholic Church yesterday, the second day of voting in the internationally watched papal conclave.
- He will be known to the world as Pope Leo XIV.
Why it matters: Leo is the first American pope and now heads a church with some 1.4 billion members worldwide.
- But his power will transcend the faith community as Leo assumes a role with vast diplomatic and social influence.

The intrigue: Prevost was born in Chicago and was a priest at parishes in the city before serving in Peru and working alongside his predecessor, Pope Francis, in Rome.
- He's also the Catholic Church's first Augustinian pope.
Go deeper: Where the new pope stands
5. 🥪 1 sando rec to go
👋🏽 Laura here from Axios Charlotte. I'm visiting my hometown of Miami this week and met up with Martin and Sommer for some cafecito and lunch at Sur in Little Haiti.
Dig in: We had the Milano sandwich (salami and brie cheese on ciabatta), the veggie sandwich (grilled zucchini, red peppers, caramelized onion on multigrain bread) and a trio of empanadas.
💭 Laura's thought bubble: It was a great sandwich, and it left me full for the rest of the day
Pro tip: Sommer added prosciutto to her veggie sandwich because prosciutto makes everything better (her words).
Martin's empanada review: $3.95 for a small Spanish-sized empanadilla is a little pricey, but each one — I had the corn, hand-cut beef and ham & cheese —was piping hot and packed with filling.
- Because of the size-to-price ratio, I give them a solid 8/10.
Keep reading: If you go
💐 Martin & Sommer are wishing their moms, Gloria and Tere, a very Happy Mother's Day! And wishing all mothers a great day :)
This newsletter was edited by Jeff Weiner.
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