By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Taking place on Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th at Praça da Apoteose, the home of the internationally famous Carnival parade competitions, the Samba in Rio Festival will feature more than fifty musicians and entertainers including Arlindo Cruz, Marcelo D2, Beth Carvalho, Jorge Benjor, Maria Rita, Alcione, Martinho da Vila, and Dudu Nobre among many others.
Running from 3PM to 1AM on both days, the festival, in addition to hosting more than twenty hours of live music, will include a gastronomic fair, percussion workshops, dancing, and exhibitions.
Hoping to become what the Rock in Rio festival is to rock, the Samba in Rio festival will present its all-star samba lineup on a 45 meter wide and 25 meter high stage, designed by acclaimed carnavalesco (Carnival parade designer), Milton Cunha.
“The repertoire of shows will include all genres of samba and their different accents,” the festival’s director Túlio Feliciano said in a released statement. “From samba-canção to samba-enredo to samba de breque to calango to maxixe to jogo to sambas da antiga to raiz to pagode, etc. – all of the shows will be presented by the biggest names in samba and MPB and several generations of samba dancers, who will take turns performing on the stage.”
The festival will begin on Saturday, July 18th at 3PM with “Samba do Trabalhador,” a live performance including Paulão 7 Cordas Arlindo Cruz, Moacyr Luz, Neguinho da Beija Flor, Reinaldo, Waguinho, Sou + Samba, Teresa Cristina, Moyseis Marques, Casuarina, Pedro Miranda, Marquinhos de Oswaldo Cruz, Arlindo Neto, Marquynhos Sensação and Leandro Sapucahy.
A performance by Ivo Meireles and Funk in Lata will follow and then there will be “Sambalanço” with Ivan Paulo Luiz Melodia, Mart’nália, Fernanda Abreu, Pretinho da Serrinha, Rogê, Bebeto, Arlindo Neto and Dirceu Leite.
Next, Maria Rita will perform with Arlindo Neto followed by Alcione with Velha Guarda da Mangueira.Then Dudu Nobre will perform with Nei Lopes and Mariene de Castro; Martinho da Vila will play with Fafá de Belém; and Bloco Preta Gil will close out the first night of the festival.
A performance by Andrezinho and Molejo will start off the second day of the festival, followed by performances by Bom Gosto, Revelação, Sorriso Maroto, Raça Negra, Alexandre Pires, and Jorge Benjor.
Arlindo Cruz will then perform with special guests Beth Carvalho, Marcelo D2, Almir Guineto, Sombrinha, Ana Carolina, Jorge Aragão and Velha Guarda do Império e da Portela. Then Leci Brandão will present “Fundo de Quintal” and Cordão do Bola Preta will close out the festival.
See the the Samba in Rio Festival website for more information about the performers and festival.
What: Samba in Rio Festival
When: Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th, 3PM – 1AM on both days.
Where: Praça da Apoteose, Rua Marquês de Sapucaí, s/n º – Praça Onze, Cidade Nova
Entrance: R$60 – R$120 (VIP), Packages and VIP specials for groups are also available.