It all began with a collaboration.
Miami singer and songrwiter, and community organizer Andrew Frix, known for his long history of charity events, was the one who made this concert and even this story possible. After hearing about his friend, Argentinian songwriter Gastón Adanto, having an ordeal with ICE detention, Frix decided to bring together artists, friends, and neighbors for a night where music could turn pain into purpose.
When Frix contacted me, I thought he wanted to talk about an event, his new songs, a gig, maybe an album. But when he mentioned ICE detaining a local Miami musician, everything shifted. What unfolded wasn’t just the story of a musician, it was the portrait of a man whose life and art have been braided with endurance, gratitude, and a smile that refuses to fade.
He told me about his beginnings in Miami: playing guitar on Lincoln Road, chasing that pulse of this is where I belong. Later, he showed me old footage that was grainy, alive, full of color. Even then, there was something unmistakable in him: that gentleness, that unbreakable light.
Then came the weeks in detention—first in what inmates call “Alligator Alcatraz,” then in El Paso for a month. Showers were rare, food scarce, time a blur. Yet he smiled even while remembering it, because faith, he said, was the only way through.
“I always believed I was going to get out,” he said softly. “But not everyone does.”
We spoke about language—the usefulness of English, the intimacy of Spanish, and the one that has always sustained him: the language of the heart. His family in Argentina never told him to give up and come home. His faith shone brighter with each passing day, showing his kindness in the form of encouraging words…That’s what kept him going.
Now out on bail, facing legal fees that would overwhelm most people, Gastón is finding his way back through music—with the help of friends like Frix. The concert they’ve built together isn’t just a fundraiser; it’s a celebration of community, resilience, and love.
For Gastón, music was never about money. It was devotion. A way of holding onto himself when everything else was taken. And maybe that’s why—even after everything—his smile hasn’t broken.
For Miami, this night is an invitation. Showing up, buying a ticket, lending your voice in applause—these are more than gestures. They’re declarations of what this city truly is: loyal, tender, and fiercely alive. Through Andrew Frix’s vision and Gastón Adanto’s courage, Miami has the chance to show its heart.
Music for a Cause: Gaston takes place Friday, October 17 at Savage Labs in Miami. Tickets are available by clicking here.
