Music types in Brazil and Where to go to Experience

@Pablo888,

During the June festivities (festas juninas = Saints Peter, Anthony and John) all of Brazil shifts gears into a more traditional music mode which is primarily (not solely) focused on "forró." There are various types of forró and I won't delve into that BUT here in the northeast there are two cities that vie for having the biggest or best venues for the period, Caruaru and Campina Grande.

Obviously there is Carnaval and I guarantee that the Paulistas will say that their Carnaval music is the best just as the Rio folks will say that theirs is the best. I've been to most and my top two contenders are Salvador (the heart of the African music scene) and Recife (you can't get more "street party" than Recife.

I plead total ignorance but there is the Festa do Peão de Barretos (Cowboy Festival of Barretos) which has a music component.

There is the Guaramiranga Jazz and Blues Festival near Fortaleza in February.

Close friends would hang me if I didn't mention the annual International Music Festival (FIMUS in July) here in Campina Grande which is low-key but good fare.

Capão in the Chapada Diamantina has a May Blues festival - Chapada Diamantina is a noteworthy destination.

Maracatu Nação - look here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maracatu but it is principally an interior Pernambuco thing.

March has the Lollapalooza festival in São Paulo.

Rock in Rio is in September.

I am unaware of any canonical list of music events/venues - certainly a worthwhile endeavor for folks of Expat to help contribute to as each region has its very own special music events and venues.

Brazilians are prolific music producers. Music is a critically essential part of Brazilian life. I just got back from Salvador where the Afro-beat drums roll into the night, where Caetano Veloso and his sister sold out a big soccer stadium to more than 55k fans (it was awesome) and now I'm back in Paraiba where "forró, pé de serra" (traditional forró) is still king.

I haven't even touched [current] southern regional music genres and........  there's even the whole period specific genres like Bossa Nova, Baião, Brega, Gafieira, Afra, Sertaneja, MPB, Choro, Axé, Samba-enredo, Frevo, Pagode, Heavy  Metal(Sepultura!!!!), Samba, Indígena (make sure to hear Marlui Miranda)....

OMG - so much music.

Not sure what you're looking for but I hope this is a starter for other contributions to the worthy topic.

mberigan

Thank you @mberigan for the feedback.  I am trying to get the "must visit" places for specific music types throughout the year - not necessary looking for the concerts - which can happen at any time and anywhere.

For instance, I heard that Afro-music such as capoeira can be heard daily in Salvador.  Not sure if this is the case - but I would like to know where or what region would be "the place" to be in order to experience the best of that style....

Is there such a thing as the "best" or "specialized" place to experience the various styles?  Or the music just as mixed everywhere?

@mberiggan thanks for the great summary. I can only add that great samba can be found in a nearby bar or pê sujo just about anywhere, any time.

@Pablo888

The film "Moro no Brasil" may give you some ideas.

@alan279

Good suggestion Alan!!

So now I'm trying to figure out how one watches "Moro no Brasil" (I've seen it) so that I can show it to others.

mberigan

@mberigan

Good question, Matt. Unfortunately I don’t have the answer.

A quick search shows that "Moro No Brazil" is on Amazon Prime Video.  Will definitely see this.  Thanks.

FYI.

For those in the SF Bay Area, the Santa Clara County Public Library has a copy of "Moro no Brazil" - note the typo - on streaming for members.