By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Rio de Janeiro venue Casa da Matriz began the celebration of its fifteenth anniversary on Tuesday, August 11h. The kick-off event, a special edition of Matriz Live Sessions, marked the beginning of six nights of celebration this week that will include special editions of the popular Karaokê Indie, Veneno, and Sundae Tracks parties, as well as the venue’s orignal party, Brazooka, and an official anniversary party on Saturday, August 15th.
Casa da Matriz began in the mid-1990s when three friends, Daniel Koslinski, Aureo César and Léo Feijó, had a dream to create a new club and space for alternative artists in Rio de Janeiro.
In 1996, the trio found an unfinished studio nestled in the neighborhood of Botafogo. Then, with an initial investment of only R$2,000 for electricity, water, and renovations, the club, which would later be named Casa da Matriz, was born in 1999.
More than just a nightclub, Casa da Matriz aimed to celebrate live shows, theater, and alternative music through many weekly events. Its creation and success later lead to the formation of Grupo Matriz, which in addition to Casa da Matriz, manages Teatro Odisséia in Lapa, Albrg da Matriz in Botafogo, and Choperia Brazooka in Centro.
In 1999 the original Casa da Matriz venue was sold and demolished, but the club survived, moving to a new location also in the neighborhood of Botafogo.
The new venue, a former two-story home was renovated but maintained a cozy, familiar feeling. Inside its doors, the club is decorated with posters, rock and nerd culture memorabilia and there are playable video games on the second floor.
The fifteenth-anniversary parties began on Tuesday, August 11th with a special edition of Matriz Live Sessions, a weekly event featuring live performances by local up-and-coming bands. The weekly Karaokê Indie party, known for its hours of singing and large karaoke selection menu, will follow on Wednesday, August 12th with a special debutant/prom edition.
On Thursday, August 13th there will be a special edition of the Veneno (Poison) party. Going strong for over a decade, the party is known for starting the weekends early in Rio de Janeiro with DJs Tulio and Beto Artista weekly spinning the best of rock and pop on the venue’s first floor while special guests, including the Meninas Veneno on the first Thursdays of the month, spin on the second floor.
Next, the venue will host the Brazooka party on Friday, August 14th. The party inaugurated Casa da Matriz in 2000 and for eleven straight years helped clubgoers discover new music and remixes through regularly hosted theme parties. The party’s original DJ, Janot will return on Friday to help celebrate.
The official anniversary party will take place on Saturday, August 15th and guests will include DJs past and present who have helped make the venue’s events memorable. The line-up will include Pachu, Mario Mamede, Lia Novello, Tito Figueiredo, Larissa Conforto, Fernando Prado, Thiago Burgos, and Pilar Garcez.
Finally on Sunday, August 16th, there will be a special edition of Sundae Tracks. The party’s resident DJ, Melvin will spin on the first floor and DJs Vitinho (Dandara) and Leo (Planar) will spin on the second floor during the night.
What: Casa da Matriz 15th Anniversary Celebrations
When: August 11th – 16th
Where: Rua Henrique de Novaes 107, Botafogo
Entrance: Entrance fees vary.