Instead of yet another South Beach night, think outside the box. Put on some cowboy boots and head on down to a honky-tonk for an interesting night on the town.
South Florida is not just the home for house music, but also an unexpected venue for country music. From Round Up nightclub in Davie, to outdoor all-day concerts, the Miami area has a lot to offer country music fans.
Distraction profiles some of the best country places around the Miami area, so grab you ten-gallon hat and start exploring.
Round Up Night Club
"Well let me start by saying I hate country with a passion," junior Alicia Beekman said. "The only time I've ever been to Round Up was for a friend's birthday but it was the best time ever."
Located in Davie, about 45 minutes north of campus, Round Up is the top country western club in South Florida. Round Up features line dancing to country music as well as special events like concerts and a mechanical bull.
On weekends, the nightclub is 18 and over. Most students make the trip to Round Up on Fridays for Ladies Night, when girls drink free until 2 a.m. with a $5 dollar cover charge.
Be sure to approach the door with caution because this club is very strict on IDs. The cover charge for those under 21 is $15 and that includes one non-alcoholic beverage. If you get there early around 8 p.m., you can attend the beginner line dance class. If that's not your style, just get on the dance floor with the regulars.
"I loved getting up and dancing because I had no idea was was going on, but it was so cool to watch everyone that did," Beekman said.
Round Up also holds concerts featuring up-and-coming country artists. Some of their approaching club dates include Jake Owen on Oct. 28, Uncle Kracker on Nov. 11, and Easton Corbin on Dec. 9. Past concerts have included stars like Gloriana, Rodney Atkins and Chris Young. All of the concerts are on Thursdays and the tickets range in prise from $15 to $20. Tickets can be bought the day of or online at Roundupnightclub.com
"Concerts are awesome [at Round Up] because they are more intimate," fifth year architecture student Mellisa Walton said. "You are right there and everyone is just singing along having a good time and drinking beer. You just really feel the music playing and you get into it."
Outdoor Country Concerts
All of those nights at Round Up will prepare you for outdoor country concerts, which are in a world of their own compared to other concert events.
"The tailgate is a majority of the concert," junior Mark Khoury said. "They are very elaborate; lots of beer drinking and people walking around interacting. I usually go with a group of five or six, but for tailgates the bigger the group of people the more fun it is."
Most Country concerts are held at the Cruzan amphitheater in West Palm Beach. The drive is about an hour and a half without traffic, making the concert more of an adventure and escape from the bright lights and techno of Miami.
Be sure ti purchase lawn seats. These are usually cheapest and put you in the heart of the action. You can bring in blankets and low lawn chairs, as well as food in a gallon-sized, clear plastic bag and one sealed water bottle per person.
"For an ideal concert you would get there about two to three hours before the concert starts," Khoury said. "You would bring a grill with hamburgers and set up a little tent for yourself and go with around 10 or 15 people."
Ticket prices range from $20 to $40 for lawn seats, with the lower level fixed seating being extra. There are also special packs of four lawn tickets for as low as $75.
If you want to attend one of the biggest country events in South Florida, then you have to go to 99.9 WKIS Kiss Country's 26th annual Chili Cook Off.
The event, housed in Pembroke Pines, is an all-day outdoor concert featuring some of the most popular country artists. The Cook Off is typically in January but a date for the 2011 event had not been set. Last year's concert featured Montgomery Gentry, Sara Evans and Zac Brown Band.
"I feel like anyone who appreciates country music is a certain of person and the just seem to love life," junior Lindsay Moore said. "The atmosphere [at the Chili Cook Off] was so great because everyone was just so happy. Everyone is nice to everyone; it's a fun time no matter what."
South Florida is a great place for any country fan to enjoy a country concert, Because of the warm weather, the area is perfect for outdoor concerts in the winter and it's easy to get addicted to the feel good vibes of country music.
You can relax outside and catch some of your favorite bands at the Chili Cook Off or line-dance your stress away at Round Up nightclub.
And as Blake Shelton sings, "It's all about tonight/ Good times and the music and laughing and grooving to the band."
This article was written for the Fall 2010 issue of Distraction Magazine. This issue was released on October 27, 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment