Rio de Janeiro Nightlife Guide for Thursday, March 12, 2026

Gonzaguinha would have turned 80 this year. The son of Luiz Gonzaga and a songwriter who carved his own path — political, romantic, existential — left behind one of the most beloved catalogues in Brazilian popular music before his death in a car accident in 1991 at the age of 45. Tonight, Sol Pellegrini brings his songs back to the Blue Note Rio stage: “O que é, o que é?,” “Começaria tudo outra vez,” “Sangrando,” “Explode coração,” “Grito de alerta” and a repertoire that spans two decades of studio albums. Pellegrini is a vocalist rooted in the MPB tradition — the tribute format allows her to reinterpret Gonzaguinha through her own lens while honouring the arrangements that defined his studio recordings. This is the first of tonight’s two Blue Note sessions. The calçadão and piano bar open from 5 pm Tuesday through Friday — free entry, no ticket required. Salão doors at 7 pm with ticket. Show at 8 pm. Tickets via Eventim. The Blue Note Rio sits on Avenida Atlântica, 1910, in Copacabana — on the boardwalk, at the foot of the beach. The Mês das Mulheres programme features 28 female artists across 30-plus shows through March 29. The Blue Note Rio earned the Selo Igual from the Women’s Music Event for its commitment to gender equity. UBC members receive 50% off throughout March.

The second session at the Blue Note Rio tonight belongs to Taís Feijão. “As Brasilidades de Taís Feijão” is an intimate duo show — voice and percussion — that traces her artistic trajectory through a programme mixing original compositions and reinterpretations of songs that shaped her formation and shaped generations. Alongside percussionist Gabriel Barreto, who has accompanied her for years, Feijão builds a show around the diversity of Brazilian music — samba, bossa, MPB, soul — in a format that strips the arrangements to their core and puts the voice at the centre. Tonight’s special guest is Natascha Falcão, a vocalist in her own right within the Blue Note’s Mês das Mulheres cast. The duo format rewards the Blue Note’s intimate salão — fewer instruments means more space for dynamics, breath and interaction with the room. This is the late session: 10:30 pm. Tickets via Eventim. Tomorrow (Friday): Lara Estelita debuts “Jeito Lindo,” a new show preceded by over one million streams on platforms. Saturday: Betta with a visceral Alanis Morissette tribute.

Thursday is samba night at the Bip Bip — the weekly rotation that has kept this tiny bar on Rua Almirante Gonçalves, 50, alive since 1968: Tuesday choro, Wednesday bossa nova, Thursday and Sunday samba. The samba roda draws a slightly different crowd from the bossa nova evening: more rhythmic, more percussive, with a repertoire that pulls from the partido-alto and samba de terreiro traditions. The format remains the same — musicians unplugged on the pavement, audience listening in respectful silence, cold beer from the fridge, honour-system payment on departure. The roda begins from 8 pm and runs as long as the musicians hold. Five minutes on foot from the Blue Note Rio — the two venues pair naturally. Walk to the Bip Bip before the Sol Pellegrini set, between sessions, or after the Taís Feijão late show. With 65% rain probability tonight, the doorway provides some cover, but carry an umbrella. No cover charge.

Thursday is the Rio Scenarium’s second night of the week — and a step up from Wednesday. The crowd is larger, the double set format on the main Palco Scenarium runs longer, and the DJ set on the Palco Dolores mezzanine kicks off earlier and louder. The three-floor casarão on Rua do Lavradio, 20, in Lapa holds its ten thousand curated antiques in place — grandfather clocks, taxidermied animals, vintage bicycles, gas lamps — while the music moves through samba, MPB, choro and gafieira across the evening. The Rua do Lavradio antiques corridor is a natural extension of the evening walk. Thursday cover is typically R$30–40. Doors from 7 pm, kitchen running full Brazilian fare alongside chope and caipirinhas. The Scenarium stays open until 1 am on Thursdays. Metro Carioca or Cinelândia, ten minutes on foot.

Thursday at the Carioca da Gema steps up from the single-set midweek format to the double-bill structure that runs Thursday through Saturday. The house on Avenida Mem de Sá, 79, has been presenting live samba and MPB since 2000 in a restored two-storey colonial building on the avenue that defines the Lapa musical corridor. Thursday doors open at 18h with the Happy Hour — dose dupla de caipirinha de limão, cerveja Original at R$12.99, 50% off selected petiscos. From 19h30 to 20h30, a free opening set previews the energy of the main programme. The double bill begins from 20h30 — check @barcariocadagema for tonight’s specific artists. The Carioca da Gema launched its Happy Hour programme for the 2026 season, adding an accessible early-evening entry point to the Lapa circuit. Reserve through the Fever app for a table, walk-ins seated from 18h. Three-minute walk from the Beco do Rato along Rua Joaquim Silva. Five minutes from Rio Scenarium via Rua do Lavradio. Metro Cinelândia, ten minutes on foot.

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