Forró National Day: Six different ways to experience the genre in Rio and São Paulo

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – This Thursday (9), Brazil’s National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) officially declared the music genre “forró” an immaterial heritage of the country. Considered a “supergenre” as it encompasses a myriad of other genres (from baião to xote), forró is one of Brazil’s most popular and widely spread music cultures.

While the genre is most commonly associated with Northeastern Brazil (prestigious forró icons Luiz Gonzaga and Dominguinhos come from the region), top-notch forró artists, shows, and balls can easily be found in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Due to the migratory wave throughout the twentieth century from the Northeast to the Southeast, the two main Brazilian capitals have large contingents of Northeastern people – consequently, of talented representatives of the forró culture.

As the Forró National Day will be celebrated on December 13, we have selected some of the best ways to have a good forró night, both in Rio and São Paulo. Check it out below:

1) Rio de Janeiro: A Carnaval-like event with Forró da Taylor – A forró group that inspires street Carnaval vibes, Forró da Taylor has started playing for free at the stairs of the Rua Taylor, in the neighborhood of Glória. The band regularly performs in some cultural venues in Rio’s downtown or Santa Teresa. Check their Instagram page for more info.

2) Rio de Janeiro: Sexteto Sucupira at Fundição Progresso – The authentic Sexteto Sucupira will go on stage at Fundição Progresso, a traditional music venue in Lapa, next Wednesday (15). More than a vibrant forró group, Sexteto Sucupira’s merge of forró with gypsy music elements is outstanding.

3) Rio de Janeiro: Feira de São Cristóvão – Where the Northeastern culture pulsates stronger in Rio. Located in the North Zone neighborhood of São Cristóvão, the Feira is a place to have some generously served Baião de Dois (a typical dish from Ceará, similar to Hoppin John), sing at one of its numerous karaoke bars, and listen and dance to live forró bands. The Feira de São Cristóvão opens from Tuesday to Sunday, with forró shows happening every day.

4) São Paulo: Centro de Tradições Nordestinas – Just like Rio’s Feira de São Cristóvão, the Centro de Tradições Nordestinas, in São Paulo’s neighborhood of Limão (North Zone), is a pavilion dedicated to the roots of Brazil’s Northeastern culture. It opens every day, with typical food stalls and a special music line-up on weekends.

5) São Paulo: Remelexo – One of the most famous forró venues in São Paulo is Relemexo, in Pinheiros (West Zone). The house offers forró dance classes and presents important names from the contemporary forró scene, like Trio Dona Zefa and Raiz do Sana, which will perform at Remelexo next Saturday (18).

6) São Paulo: Canto da Ema – Also located in Pinheiros, Canto da Ema is also the correct address if you look for a bustling forró house in the city. This Saturday (11), Canto da Ema will host the trio Rastapé, which has been quite popular in the 2000s for forró hits like “Colo de Menina”.As the Forró National Day will be celebrated on December 13, we have selected some of the best ways to have a good forró night, both in Rio and São Paulo