Miami Votes for Music: The Underline Secures Levitt BLOC Grant

Thanks to the The Levitt Foundation, a national social impact funder, the Friends of The Underline secured a multi-year grant to present the Levitt BLOC Miami Music Series. Funded by the multi-year matching grant program, 10 free outdoor music series will be held annually at The Underline through 2026, 2027, and 2028. Committed to community-driven projects, the Levitt Foundation selected The Underline following a public voting period and comprehensive review process. The residents of Miami chose The Underline to host the series of concerts.

Leading the charge is CMO of Friends of The Underline Lisle Bowen, a creative strategist with over a decade of experience working with brands such as The Miami Heat, Bacardi, Nike, Chevron, and Moet. Born in New York but raised in the Boca Raton area, he was the Chief Creative Strategist on the Showtime documentary Bonded by Ball: Inside the OBL, which chronicles the inaugural season of the Ones Basketball League, an elite one-on-one competition series created by NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady.

Leading his team, Lisle was there every step of the way throughout the highly competitive three-phase selection process. “First, we submitted a detailed proposal demonstrating our ability to activate underused public space across multiple Miami neighborhoods through free live concerts. After advancing, the second phase centered on public voting. We launched a major digital and social media campaign to rally our community, and out of more than 300 applicants, only the top 50 moved forward. The final phase was an internal review by the Levitt board, where the final grantees were selected,” he describes.

Lisle and Friends of The Underline now have the monumental opportunity to bring the music series to life. The Miami community’s decision to choose The Underline meant that Lisle and his team’s vision set them apart. “What truly sets us apart is our scale and reach. The Underline spans 10 miles and runs through 14 neighborhoods, giving us a rare ability to tap into the diverse cultures of South Florida in a very real way. We also received support from everyday community members all the way up to leaders like Gloria Estefan and Mayor Suarez. That level of grassroots and civic support showed the Levitt Foundation that this series can have real, meaningful impact across the city,” Lisle explains.

For him and his team, winning the public vote meant everything. As Lisle puts it, “It was a powerful signal that the community truly believes in The Underline and wants more accessible cultural experiences in Miami, especially at a time when many events are becoming less affordable for locals. Receiving the Levitt Foundation grant is a monumental opportunity for the Miami community, and The Underline is the perfect host. Metropolitan parks provide the perfect stage for art and community to meet. New York has Shakespeare in the Park. The Underline has the opportunity to become synonymous with music. It allows us to continue delivering free, high-quality cultural experiences as we complete all 10 miles of the park, while also reinforcing that The Underline is not just a park, but a true cultural venue and community canvas.”

For Lisle, parks have always represented a natural community asset. Just like a great public green space, music is something to be enjoyed by all. A city park’s role as a place to gather, whether for picnics or a date, offers a natural evolution to a series of concerts that members of the vibrant Miami community can enjoy. The Levitt Foundation’s support of The Underline is a huge milestone. Lisle notes, “It gives us the rare ability to authentically reflect the diversity, sound, and spirit of South Florida. Few venues in the country can activate that many communities through one continuous public space.”

Free outdoor concerts have a long history in civic placemaking and are powerful community tools. With the cost of living rising, they seem to be more necessary than ever. When asked how he envisions these concerts contributing to neighborhood connection and cultural cohesion, Lisle highlights that “Free, outdoor live music is especially important to Miami right now because the cost of experiences continues to rise, and not everyone can participate in the city’s cultural life the way they once could. At the same time, we are seeing a real shift where people are craving more in-person, communal experiences and spending less time behind screens. Free concerts create a shared moment where people from different backgrounds can come together in real life, not just online.”

Lisle anticipates these concerts becoming real economic catalysts for the neighborhoods they touch. With thousands of people gathering along The Underline, nearby restaurants, bars, retail shops, and vendors will see increased foot traffic before, during, and after each show. Lisle’s team also plans to build fully immersive experiences around most concerts, including curated food, beverage, and retail vendors on site, so local entrepreneurs are directly benefiting as well.

The Levitt BLOC (Building Layers of Community) model is unique compared to other traditional concert series. Lisle describes that what makes the Levitt BLOC model unique is that it is rooted in community building, not just entertainment. “These shows are not dropped into a venue in isolation, they are intentionally layered into neighborhoods, culture, and local identity. That is exactly how we operate at The Underline.” Lisle sees these concerts as strengthening neighborhood connection, showcasing local talent, and turning everyday public space into a cultural gathering point that people feel proud of and connected to.

So what can audiences expect from the music series’ first season lineup? Lisle promises that audiences can expect truly memorable, high-quality musical experiences that feel uniquely Miami. While ticketed in order to accommodate required crowd expectations, these free outdoor concerts will welcome all with a premium experience. Concerts will be presented in a variety of ways. Some will be during the day, others in the evening. From family-friendly get-togethers to full-on raves, The Underline series wants to deliver the best experience for all.

Lisle is planning to design the series to be fun, engaging, and accessible, with a strong focus on spotlighting incredible local talent, along with a few exciting surprises along the way. “Genre-wise, we are prioritizing the sounds that define South Florida. That includes staples like R&B, hip-hop, pop, and jazz, but also culturally rooted genres like Caribbean, Cuban, and other Latin-infused sounds that reflect the neighborhoods The Underline runs through.” Providing an example, he denotes how a neighborhood like Coconut Grove will lean into its historical bohemian roots, while an area like Brickell will lean toward the electronic and pop music scene synonymous with its clubs. The goal is for every concert to feel both authentic and representative of Miami’s cultural DNA.

Miami-based artists will be given visibility and mentorship opportunities through the grant as well. “We are being very intentional with how we approach artist curation because this series is bigger than just booking talent, it is about building a meaningful platform. Right now, we are leaning toward forming a music committee made up of people who have truly helped shape Miami’s music scene.” With the committee’s insight, the team will be able to identify both trending local artists and emerging talent that deserves to be elevated on a larger stage.

Having worked with global powerhouse brands like Nike and Chevron, Lisle’s background in creative production shapes his viewpoint that The Underline can become a stepping stone for upcoming artists. “Miami-based artists will benefit from a robust content and media strategy tied to the series. Every performance is an opportunity for visibility, storytelling, and reach, giving artists assets they can leverage long after their show on The Underline.” As CMO, Lisle plans to launch a full storytelling wave including full coverage content, short-form clips, and an artist spotlight series. One feature will be an outdoor community screen in Brickell, which will livestream concerts. It is innovative and engaging methods like these that can impact the public’s reception of this grant.

The Levitt grant elevates The Underline’s mission to redefine accessible arts programming. For Lisle and The Underline, accessible arts programming means removing barriers, financial, geographic, and cultural, so everyone can experience high-quality art and music in their own neighborhood for free. “Because our park runs through 14 different communities, accessibility is not just about cost, it is about meeting people where they already are. This Levitt grant allows us to deliver a consistent, high-caliber concert series at scale. It transforms The Underline from not just a place where art happens, but into a true cultural platform where local talent is amplified, new audiences are introduced to live music, and community connection happens naturally through shared experiences.”

Looking toward the future and legacy, this three-year partnership sets up The Underline for future cultural investments and grants. Lisle emphasizes that “This three-year partnership is a major launching pad for us. It gives us the momentum, credibility, and infrastructure to continue delivering elevated, creative experiences for the community long after this initial concert series. It also strengthens our ability to attract future cultural grants, sponsors, and partners who want to invest in meaningful public programming.”

As CMO, Lisle has a big-picture vision for The Underline as a cultural engine for the city over the next decade. “I want The Underline to fully embrace being a canvas for the community, shaping how people experience the city through music, art, entertainment, wellness, and culture. And that impact should not be limited to our 10-mile footprint. The goal is for The Underline brand to extend beyond the park and influence experiences across Miami, and ultimately become a global case study for how a public-private partnership can transform an entire city through culture.” The Levitt Foundation x The Underline groundbreaking first concert will be held in April 2026, with the rest of the series scheduled to be revealed through October.

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Chiara Padejka

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Miami Votes for Music: The Underline Secures Levitt BLOC Grant

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