Concert Report: The Road To Miami (Broken Strings Brewery)

By in Concerts

Miami Music Week is just three weekends away so to get in some practice for the big event, we attended “The Road To Miami” concert last night.
It took place at Broken Strings Brewery east of downtown Orlando along Church Street.
But first we had to talk our way past the bouncer guy.
Inside, we found Tara behind the bar wearing official “Road To Miami” fashion gear.
The event started at noon but we couldn’t make it out there until just before 3PM. We were able to catch the last few minutes of a mostly Breaks set from DJ Mer-Made (USA) aka DJ Ms MF.
She was quickly followed on the main stage by West Virginia-based DJ Wet Glitter (USA).
We had never seen her before and she played a wonderful set that mixed EDM, DnB, Breaks, Psytrance and even some Dubstep.
All within her one hour time slot!
And she attracted a crowd.
Besides the main stage, there were two additional areas of music yesterday including here on the Patio stage. Located outdoors, we found DJ Desimone (USA) out here.
Just a handful watching at this early hour.
The third area of music was out in the parking lot appropriately named the Lot stage.
Didn’t get their names but the official timetable called them the “Family Set”. They were having fun playing a mostly EDM set.
DJ Dividend$ (USA) took over at 3PM.
Playing a Latin House set during our passby. Just when we think we’ve met every DJ in Orlando, we meet 10 more!
Back at the Patio stage, DJ Miles Norris (USA) had taken over.
His mostly House set was attracting the early crowd.
But we’d see much-larger crowds here later.
These 1-hour sets move quickly and before you know it, the 4PM tag-team set from DJ Nelly Fre$h (USA) and DJ Cru-Dawg (USA) was in progress.
With Nelson going first.
Mostly Breaks, of course.
While Cru-Dawg went kind of Old Skool on us.
As late-afternoon shade arrived to this stage, the dance floor became more populated.
Back on the main stage, DJ J5 (USA) was now on the controls.
His set had Breaks. His set had DnB.
And a growing crowd was receptive.
When you find this plush in front of a DJ booth, it can only mean one thing.
DJ Roller (USA), of course!
The stage was still in the broiling sun but shade had at least arrived out in the seating area.
Mostly Breaks here on the Lot stage.
Back indoors, DJ Jennifer Marley (USA) was playing House.
Taking turns with DJ Brighton (USA).
The club was getting busy.
And the duo had the dance floor bouncing.
On the patio, first time seeing DJ Bizzee B (USA).
Also playing a mostly Breaks set.
In less than a year, Broken Strings has become Orlando’s de facto home of Breaks.
Out in the parking lot, DJ Supy (USA) playing in the 5PM time slot.
A lot of Breaks with vocals in his set.
You know the music is good when Heather is dancing to it.
The 6PM DJ on the Lot stage was a scratch for those of you keeping score so DJ Desimone was back for another set filling the void.
Notwithstanding his earlier set on the patio, it was our first time seeing him play.
Small contingent of fans.
Back at the Patio stage, a duo set from DJ Berto (USA) and DJ Manti (USA).
Orlando-based Berto delivering Breaks.
Jacksonville-based Manti delivering more Breaks.
And a crowd was developing out here too.
We ran into so many peeps from the music scene. Most we knew but some were new.
Everyone wanted their picture taken with DJ Drizzy (USA).
On the main stage at 6PM, DJ Johnny Park (USA).
Wearing an official DJ Johnny Park tee!
His mostly Breaks set had the club bouncing.
You know the music is good when Heather is dancing to it.
An Orlando area Breaks favorite, DJ Losman (USA) was up next.
He would go back-to-back with DJ Pulse (USA).
Don’t know if they’ve played together previously but they complimented each other well.
Day had turned into night as DJ G-Rated had taken over the Patio.
First time seeing him play too!
With the arrival of darkness, the “Black Sheep Circus” also came alive out in the parking lot.
There was a flag team.
There were aerialists.
There were rings.
There were pole dancers.
There were fireballs!
The lasers began firing so we knew the time had arrived.
For DJ KJ of K5 (USA) dba Akai 7.
A mostly Tech House set from this legend, many songs with vocals.
Bar and dance floor remained busy.
The last couple years he’s evolved away from Breakbeats and over to the House side.
His set had the dance floor bouncing.
On the patio, DJ @Hooker (USA) in the 8PM time slot.
His opening song sounded like he was going to go House on us but no, turned out to be a Breaks song!
Dance floor got busy!
And you know by now if Dorsey is at your stage, you’ve come to the right place!
Around the corner at the Lot stage, DJ El Chino Dreadlion (USA).
The Miami-based DJ’s set was a blend of House with Tribal beats.
Very unique.
If you’d rather not drive to Broken Strings, central Florida’s Lynx bus system Link 20 has a stop directly outside the entrance providing daily service from Lynx Central Station downtown via Kia Center and on to Camping World Stadium.
Final Score: Adidas 5
Nike 3. Thanks for playing.
Spotted right before heading-up onto the main stage…..
DJ Rob Cokeless (USA) and DJ Meags (USA).
Meags going first with a lot of Old Skool remixed to Breaks.
And Rob Cokeless doing the same.
It was a wonderful set.
Dance floor got packed.
Biggest crowd of the night!
If Dorsey is at your stage, you’ve come to the right place. Best set of the night, in our opinion.
Afterwards, Meags and Rob joined out on the tarmac by DJ Amber Jane (USA).
DJ Amber Jane plus DJ Meags together are DJ duo Snack Pack (USA).
It’s been awhile! We last saw them perform together during Miami Music Week 2024 at Savage Labs in Wynwood.
At the Patio stage, tail-end of a set from DJ Karmic Waves (USA).
A mix of Breaks and Electro. Kristin was all over the place last night too!
Karmic Waves is based in St. Petersburg.
And he had a crowd!
He was immediately followed by DJ Ill-Gill (USA).
Mostly Breaks and a bit of House in his set.
During our union-mandated break, found a perfect sitting spot where we could hear the music from all three stages at the same time. Of course, the music from each stage cancelled the others out and we really couldn’t hear anything but noise, lol.
The evening flew by so fast and all-too-soon it was 10PM and DJ Tone-E (USA) had taken over on the patio.
We heard some House or EDM songs remixed to Breaks from this Deltona-based DJ.
There was always a crowd outside in the evening air.
Peeps after dark!
DJ Genesis (USA) was now on the main stage.
Delivering the Breaks that he’s famous for!
Dance floor stayed busy too.
At 11PM, DJ FACTORe (USA) in the club as one half of duo Essential Freaks (USA).
Lots of Breaks or Top 40 tunes remixed to Breaks.
Dance floor stayed busy.
Out on the Lot stage, DJ James Wolfe (USA) was now on the decks.
Breakbeat music, all night long.
Largest crowd of the night out here too.
While out on the Patio stage, DJ Continuous Vibrations (USA) in the 11PM slot.
The music mostly Dubstep and Heavy Bass and perhaps even some Drum & Bass.
He had a crowd.
Might have been the largest crowd of the night on this dance floor.
Last visit of the night for us at the Lot stage to see DJ Slique (USA) and DJ Spark-D (USA).
With Spark-D going first.
And both getting us into the mood for Miami with Booty Breaks.
Both the dance floor and the VIP seating area stayed busy during their set.
One last visit to the Patio stage for DJ Frankie D (USA).
First time seeing this DJ too.
Hope to see many of you down in the 305 and 954 later this month. Last night, inside or outside on all three music stages on the “Road To Miami”, a good time was had by all.