By Maria López Conde, Senior Contributing Reporter
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The business center of Brazil, São Paulo, may be known for its relentless bumper-to-bumper traffic and rows of office buildings that stretch as far as the eye can see, but Paulistanos also know how to unwind. The concrete jungle’s endless array of cultural offerings are the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle, so for those visiting this month, we round up three of April’s must-see events.
For the third year in a row, some of the biggest names in music will showcase both classics and new hits in the 2014 São Paulo Lollapalooza festival. Originally conceived by alternative rock legend and Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, the two-day spectacle will bring together as many as fifty Brazilian and international acts at the beginning of April.
April 5th’s twelve-hour affair will begin with the soulful sensation from New Zealand, Lorde, and her instant classic, “Royals,” followed by hip hop prince Kid Cudi and The Strokes’ former frontman-gone-solo, the stylish Julian Casablancas. Indie rock fans will be more than pleased with Imagine Dragons and Phoenix, while electronic music connoisseurs will vibrate to the tunes of the UK’s hit DJ duo, Disclosure.
The first night of the festivities will close with a big rock-and-roll bang, courtesy of English band Muse and American legends Nine Inch Nails. With over fifteen million albums sold worldwide, festival veterans Muse will serve up some of their greatest hits: “Time is Running Out” and “Knights of Cydonia.” Industrial pioneers Nine Inch Nails promise nothing other than loud riffs, strong drums and powerful vocals from the legendary Trent Reznor.
The festival’s second day will be filled with a who’s who of today’s indie rock scene with Jake Bugg and Vampire Weekend. Alternative rock kings, The Pixies, will round out the festivities, alongside new wave visionaries from New Order, before indie darlings Arcade Fire and Soundgarden’s grunge rhythms loudly bid festival-goers adieu.
What: 2014 Lollapalooza Festival
When: April 5-6, 2014
Where: Autódromo de Interlagos, São Paulo
Entrance: 2-day pass R$270-R$540, 1-day pass R$145-R$270
The month with the city’s biggest music festival will also include São Paulo’s largest art fair, SP-Arte/2014. Now in its tenth edition and with works from over 140 art galleries, the fair is one of Latin America’s most important events in the art industry and an unmissable destination for artists, curators and art lovers alike.
Expect works from some of the most important galleries in the world, such as Van de Weghe Fine Art’s pieces from artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Alexander Calder and Andy Warhol.
What: SP-Arte/2014
When: April 3-6, 2014
Where: Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/n, Portão 3 – Ibirapuera, São Paulo
Entrance: R$20-R$40
It was the great American writer Ernest Hemingway who once said that “wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world,” so take a cue from the literary genius all the way to São Paulo’s Expovinis Brasil 2014, the city’s international wine exposition. The event – touted as Latin America’s largest exposition of this kind – will feature 432 wine producers from around the world, five thousand different labels and more than sixty thousand bottles for sampling. This is a mandatory event for those in the food industry as well as those who simply enjoy a good glass of (free) wine.
What: Expovinis Brasil 2014
When: April 23-24, 2014
Where: Expo Center Norte – Pavilhão Azul, São Paulo
Entrance: R$30-R$60