MIMO Festival Returns to Rio with Free Cultural Attractions

By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – This Friday, November 10th, the MIMO music festival opens its 14th edition in Rio. Taking place in Centro, Zona Sul and Zona Norte, the festival will promote a rich cultural line-up until Sunday, November 12th, including shows with Brazilian and international renowned artists.

Founded in 2004 in Pernambuco (Brazil’s Northeast), MIMO aims to celebrate the independent music from Brazil and the world.

First promoted only as a musical festival, MIMO, today, consists in a dialogue between the most diverse artistic expressions, from poetry to cinema.

MIMO is famous among Cariocas especially for its highly selected cultural line-up, nice atmosphere and free entrance.

The 14th edition of MIMO opens its musical line-up today, November 10th, with the acclaimed French violinist Didier Lockwood. Performing at the Candelária Church, in Centro, at 6:30 PM, the awarded musician will pay tribute to his master and renowned violinist Stéphane Grappelli with an unforgettable jazz show.

The most awaited musical attractions will be starring at the Marina da Glória stage, in Glória. Among the artists playing tonight, a great promise is Konono No. 1, Congolese group that blends traditional rhythms with electronic beats.

Besides this group, which will perform at 10:30 PM, there will be some Brazilian music with singers Alina Paes and Júlia Vargas, folkloric music from Latin America with Colombian group Ondatropica, among other attractions.

Saturday’s highlight, on November 11th, is the Serbian group Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra, which will play at Marina da Glória at 12AM. The orchestra will certainly surprise you with its blend of Balkan music, electronic beats and gypsy references.

Another great bet for Saturday is “Sons de Sobrevivência – Guilherme Kastrup, Simone Sou & Benjamin Taubkin”, a musical collective that presents an unusual contemporary reading of Brazil’s traditional music. The show takes place at the Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Bonsucesso church, in Centro, at 4PM.

On Sunday, November 12th, it is time for the best of Brazil’s rap, with artists Criolo and Russo Passapusso (from band BaianaSystem) starring at Marina da Glória, at 9PM and 6PM, respectively. Also on Sunday, the talented French harpist Laura Perrudin plays jazz, soul, hip hop and even electronic music in her instrument at the Outeiro da Glória church, in Glória, at 3PM.

In addition, MIMO will screen over ten films at Cine Odeon, in Centro – all of them related to Brazil’s musical production. A rich line-up of parallel activities, like workshops, debates and poetry recitals, are also included in the festival.

Having arrived in Rio in 2015, MIMO has already been promoted in cities like Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais), Tiradentes (Minas Gerais), Recife (Pernambuco), João Pessoa (Paraíba) and Paraty (Rio’s State). Its first international edition happened last year in Portugal, in the city of Amarante.

What: MIMO Festival 2017
When: November 10th – November 12th – see event for time details.
Where: see event for venue details.
Entrance: FREE