Miami goes country with New Music Festival

MIAMI – Miami was already a hub for Latin, hip-hop and electronic music, now it’s going country.

Tickets for the Country Bay Music Festival went on sale on Tuesday. The event is scheduled for November 11-12 at historic Miami Marine Stadium, located southeast of downtown Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay.

“With an incredible cast of country’s best musicians and a picturesque waterfront venue boasting a long history of iconic country music shows including Jimmy Buffet and Kenny Rogers, we are confident that the Country Bay Music Festival will be a must-attend event event for years to come,” event organizer Tony Albelo said in a statement.

Country Bay Music Festival will be headlined by Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Chris Young, Lee Brice and Lainey Wilson. Other cast members include Randy Houser, Chris Lane, LOCASH, Elle King, Restless Road, Blanco Brown, Josh Ross, Hailey Whitters, David J., Kat & Alex and Neon Union.

In addition to hosting one of the largest country music events ever held in Miami, the festival includes a country-themed bar, games, food, line dancing, a mechanical bull and a giant Ferris wheel. The festival also offers fans the opportunity to join the event by boat or yacht with an anchorage access pass.

Virginia Key, the site of Miami Marine Stadium, is a small barrier island in Biscayne Bay and is connected to mainland Miami by a single causeway. The restricted access caused transportation problems for the Ultra Music Festival as the 2019 electronic music event was temporarily relocated from downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park to Miami Marine Stadium. The causeway, which connects Virginia Key to the mainland, also provides access to the island community of Key Biscayne, where officials at the time raised concerns about safety, noise, traffic, and the environment.