Bicho Carpinteiro

February 14th at 7 PM

Bicho Carpinteiro is the new project by Vasco Ribeiro Casais (Omiri, Seiva, Dazkarieh) and Rui Rodrigues (Casuar, LOT, Uxu Kalhus). The Synergy of these two Musicians with results in a deep and power folk in which the various musical languages ​​of the Portuguese tradition (fados, chulas, viras, lenga-lengas, etc.) are recreated through the lens of these two artists who fuse them with electronic environments.

João Diogo Leitão

February 14th at 8:15 PM



"por onde fica a primavera"- Guitarist and composer, João Diogo Leitão challenges tradition and aesthetic barriers through an innovative approach to one of the most fascinating traditional Portuguese instruments, the “viola braguesa.” The resulting music is haunting and exists in a genre somewhere between folk music and atmospheric classical expressions. 

Photo Credit: Fábio Barros 

“Lusitanian Ghosts” 

Documentary Film Screening February 14th at 9:30PM



Lusitanian Ghosts, a Canadian Portuguese Swedish neo-folk collective bring new life to the Chordophone using historic instrumentation in a unique fusion with thought-provoking socio-political lyrics. The revival of these lost instruments like the Beiroa, Campaniça, Braguesa, Terceirense and Amarantina, which the Portuguese distinguish as violas is captured in the Canadian premiere screening of the Lusitanian Ghosts feature documentary. 

Retimbrar

February 17th at 7 PM



"One of the most exciting live groups in Portuguese music" (in Blitz), RETIMBRAR is a vigorous movement, performed by an eight-piece orchestra. Known for their interactive outstanding shows, they focus on the use of Portuguese drums and rhythms that pave the way to a repertoire of original pieces rooted in the diversity of the national folklore and its chanting traditions - a new sound they like to name as TugaBeat. Their latest album was in the spotlight of Songlines magazine, World Music Charts Europe and Tranglobal World Music Chart.

Photo Credit: Pedro Ferreira

Joana Alegre

February 17th at 8:15 PM



Having studied classical music and jazz in Portugal, the United States, and Italy, Joane Alegre has built a strong career including singing on Portugal’s The Voice and semi-finalist status in the International Song Contest. She is currently promoting her third studio album ''LUAS'', featuring the singles 'Nó', 'Ciclotímica',- nominated for "Song Of The Year" 2023 at the International Song Contest. She is currently promoting her third studio album ''LUAS'', featuring the singles 'Nó', 'Ciclotímica',- nominated for "Song Of The Year" 2023 at the International Portuguese Music Award, 'Rosa Carne', ‘Copo Cheio’, ‘Lógica Astral’ and ‘Desdita’, with a baroque pop and electronic sound, mixing her Portuguese roots with dreamlike epic spaces and atmospheres.

Photo credit: Ana Rocha Nené

OMIRI February 22nd at 7:00 PM



A compellingly original artist, OMIRI takes samples of traditional songs and original video footage and performs by mixing the sound and video of said performances. These performances are transfixing and mix already-forgotten musical practices, making them permeable and accessible to the culture of our day, synchronizing forms and music of Portuguese rural tradition with the language of the urban culture.

RAIA February 25th at 7 PM



RAIA: Planeta campaniça is a solo project by Portuguese musician Tó-Zé Bexiga. A sound journey around the latitudes of the viola campaniça, between tradition and experimentation with Iberian roots. The viola campaniça is one of the Portuguese violas. Campaniça means 'from the countryside', Campaniça region (Baixo Alentejo). Raia is the borderline between Portugal and Spain, a cultural ecosystem with common dots on both sides. ToZé is alentejano (from Alentejo) and raiano (from the Raia). He is also a member of the Lusitanian Ghosts chordophone collective.

Photo credit: Francisco Cabrita

O Gajo

February 25th at 8:15 PM



João Morais has been playing the rock and punk circuit since 1988. In the spring of 2016, he started solo project O GAJO (meaning: ‘The Dude’) that is inspired by world music references, featuring primarily the Viola Campaniça as his main instrument. After 30 years playing foreign guitars João needed to look for a more Portuguese sound and that’s when he started playing 'Viola Campaniça', a traditional roots instrument that is part of the country's cultural history. His first record came out in May 2017 and since then he has been playing all over Portugal, Brasil and internationally from Finland, Germany, to Macau. A former member of the Lusitanian Ghosts collective, he will perform at Folk Alliance at the Lusitanian private showcase.

Photo credit: Ana Carvalho

Lusitanian Ghosts

February 25th at 9:30 PM

Founded by Canadian Neil Leyton and Micke Ghost (a.k.a. Mikael Lundin), Lusitanian Ghosts were formed as a vehicle for reviving lost instruments, each offering their own string arrangements and tunings, were once on the verge of extinction and are in fact the real "Lusitanian Ghosts" -- Lusitania being an ancient Celtic tribe in what would become the central territory of Portugal. This innovative musical project marries thought-provoking socio-political lyrics with historic instrumentation to create a unique musical fusion that resonates with fans on both an emotional and intellectual level. By skillfully recasting these heritage folk violas into rock n roll songs Lusitanian Ghosts have created moving melodic settings for examining tough topics such as dealing with dark pasts while striving to build a better world.   The occasion marks the band’s new Canada / US digital compilation, "Chordophone Rock n Roll".

Photo Credit: Katja Ruge