Rio Celebrates National Forró Day with Performances in Centro

By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – This Wednesday, December 13th, the Rua do Ouvidor street, in Centro, will host the “Forró de Rabeca” festival, a tribute to the most iconic music genre from Brazil’s Northeast. Starting from 6PM, the free event will celebrate the Forró National Day with eleven bands and DJs until 4AM.

The date is celebrated on December 13th as a tribute to Luiz Gonzaga, one of the greatest accordion players that forró music has ever known.

Born on December 13th, the “King of Baião” (Gonzaga’s nickname, which refers to forró’s “brother” music genre) left an invaluable legacy to the Brazilian Popular Music, including emblematic compositions like “Asa Branca” and “Xote das Meninas”.

Responsible for promoting the festival is the group Forró de Rabeca, Carioca band composed of musicians Daniel Souto (fiddle), Julio Brechó (voice and percussion), Marcelo Bruno (voice and guitar) and Gabriel Gabriel (voice and percussion).

The group will present a more contemporary reading to classic compositions by forró legends, like Luiz Gonzaga, Dominguinhos, Jackson do Pandeiro, Mestre Salustiano and João do Vale.

The line-up will also include bands Baile de Viola, Trio Trinca Ferro, Trio Ventura, Forró Funfá, Abana Pai, Talagada Fina, Baseado em Forró and singers Ubirany Junior and Jaqueline Esteves and Pé de Moleque. DJs Juan M. de Jesus, Felipe Samuray and Bibo Bassini will be spinning Brazilian music genres in the intervals.

What’s more, artist Andrea Boaventura will recite some of her “cordel” works (a typical literary genre from Brazil’s Northeast).

Born in the nineteenth century as a product of European and African rhythms and movements, forró music, today, is popular all over Brazil and even abroad. Besides the traditional forró, known as “pé de serra”, many are the sub-genres that have been created more recently, like the electronic forró and the “undergrad” forró.

What: Festival Forró de Rabeca
When: this Wednesday, December 13th – 6PM to 4AM
Where: Rua do Ouvidor, Centro
Entrance: FREE