Viradão Carioca means 72 hours of non-stop music in Rio

@whatslater

You’re never far from a party in Rio and this weekend (23rd-25th April) won’t be any different. In fact, it has the best possible start. Wednesday 21st is Tiradentes, a bank holiday to celebrate the hero of the resistance against the Portuguese, who would later be executed. As Friday is a Rio state holiday to celebrate Saint George it is very unlikely anyone will be doing anything on Thursday, meaning most people will be having a bumper five-day weekend!

Not surprising there will be many parties then over the five days. One of the ones that stands out is without doubt Viradão Carioca, a festival that ran for the first time last year. In this edition they have managed to get together a total of 524 acts. Just looking at the website left me in a bit of a tizz, there’s so much going on! Big names include Jorge Ben Jor, Milton Nascimento, Preta Gil and Marcelo D2.

The event attempts to bring music and culture to all parts of Rio and will have activities in the oft-neglected neighbourhoods of Bangu, Maré, Morro da Providencia and Penha. There is something going-on in almost every area of Rio but Ipanema and Barra are without doubt focal points with a gamut of must-see music over the three days.

Best thing about the festival: it’s free! That’s right. With support from Rio’s government the organiser’s have been able to make this edition completely free.

If you around Rio and thinking of attending here are the times and places of some of the highlights:

• Marcelo D2 (Friday, 10:30PM, Praça XV)
• Jorge Ben Jor (Friday, midnight, Rio das Pedras)
• Dana Ivone Lara – classic samba (Friday, 8:30PM, Praça XV)
• Adriana Calconhotto (Saturday, 2pm, Tiradentes)
• As Chicas – contemporary MPB stars (Saturday, 10:30PM, Praça XV)
• Milton Nascimento (Sunday, 5pm, Bangu)
• Lulu Santos – more classic samba (Sunday, 10PM, Rio das Pedras)

See the Viradão Carioca website for more information

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