III POINTS DAY 1 RECAP: Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Denzel Curry, & Thundercat Kick Off the First Night of Miami's Music Festival with Emotional & Political Performances

The music was loud, the crowd exuberant, and the weather perfect, or as perfect as you can get in South Florida in mid-October, but the real star of the first night of the III Points music festival was the city of Miami itself, its artists, and its people. Standing as king was Denzel Curry, the local boy who paid homage to his neighborhood. He led a powerful lineup of local artists, sprinkled with the most exciting duo in Latin music, Ca7triel & Paco Amoroso, and the disruptive LGBTQ message of Trans Urban Music queen Villano Antillano.

The 2025 edition of III Points is just about Miami and its local artists; it's also about the people. South Florida is one of the most diverse communities in the U.S., and the artists didn't hesitate to make their performances political on the eve of the No Kings protests against President Donald Trump. It all took place in one of Miami's most promising neighborhoods.

Wynwood, the land of all kinds of graffiti, as diverse as the people that walk its streets, hosted multiple performances from artists of all genres. Other artists performing that night included Sean Paul, Tinashe, and Zack Fox.

Kicking off the night were up-and-coming Argentine artists CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso. The musical duo's careers skyrocketed overnight after performing a viral NPR Tiny Desk Concert in October 2024. Earlier this year, they opened for American rapper Kendrick Lamar on the Latin American leg of his tour.

The pair somewhat recreated the vibe of their Tiny Desk Concert, starting off the concert while sitting on two chairs at the front and center of the stage. From there, they performed hits like "EL DÍA DEL AMIGO," "#TETAS," & "Dumbai" surrounded by a large band.

Shortly after, American musician and producer Thundercat took the stage with his signature bass, along with a drummer and keyboardist on either side of him. Throughout his funky performance that had the audience dancing, he paid tribute to the late R&B pioneer, D'Angelo, who passed away from cancer earlier this week at the age of 51.

During the intermission, D'Angelo's 1995 hit "Brown Sugar" was played over the intercom as well as at the end of the show. Thundercat played "Lady" by the late singer, which transitioned into his own hit, "Them Changes." His last words to the crowd were also "Rest in peace, D'Angelo!"

Another highlight of the night was Florida rapper Denzel Curry's late-night performance. A native of the Carol City neighborhood of Miami Gardens, Curry has long been a staple of the Florida rap scene since his explosive debut in the early 2010s. Throughout the concert, images of known locations in Miami Gardens were displayed on the screen behind him.

He carried that explosiveness into last night's show, full of his biggest hits like "Ultimate" and "Walkin'." His performance soon turned political as he led the audience in a chant, shouting, "Fuck ICE!"