In the next edition of the celebrated World Music Expo (Womex), two amazing cultural groups from the northeastern state of Pernambuco are going to be representing the Brazilian music scene: Orquestra Contemporânea de Olinda (image above) and Bongar. The event will be held in Cardiff – UK, from October 23rd to 27th.
Anna Poetzsch, WOMEX director of Media & Communications, explains that many Brazilian artists are looking for a place in the Expo every year: “we received over 850 artist proposals this year, including 40 from Brazil. A jury of seven professionals is invited every year to select a handful of those”, she said.
“WOMEX will also feature conferences on Brazilian topics, such as Fora do Eixo (a collective of Brazilian technology and culture experts), the World Cup and the Olympics. Plus, there will be a documentary film about the Renato Borghetti Quarteto (from Southern Brazil)”
The Orquestra Contemporânea de Olinda (OCO) is going to perform on October 24th. They’ll also play in London, Brighton and Liverpool. The group are now working on their third album, which is planned to be released in 2014. Their (eponymous) first work was nominated for the 2009 Latin Grammy and for the Brazilian Music Awards.
Bongar group
Bongar will perform two days later. The group, originally from the historical city of Olinda, is formed by members of the Xamba Nation, a candomble community (an Afro-Brazilian religion).
“It’s great to see that the music from Pernambuco still attracts attention, even after Chico Science. Also, that Afro-Brazilian music still shines”, said the singer Guitinho de Xambá.
Both groups have been influenced by the Manguebeat – a cultural movement led by Chico Science & Nação Zumbi in the 1990s mixing electronic music, folk music and literature.
Brazilian Music at Womex
Marcelo D2, Seu Jorge, Lenine, Karina Buhr, BaianaSystem, Spok Frevo Orquestra, Nação Zumbi, Trio Mocotó, Yamandu Costa, Samba Chula de São Braz, Hermeto Pascoal, and many other Brazilian artists have showcased their work in past editions of WOMEX.
>> Buy tickets by clicking here and check the event schedule here (note that some performances are available only for accredited delegates).
