Get out your exotic costumes and feather boas; the insanely vibrant and popular Brazilian Day celebration is on September 12 at Moe’s Alley.
Headlining the event is Unidos Da Bahia with legendary members from Olodum, famous for their collaboration with Michael Jackson on the single, “They Don’t Care About Us,” from the King of Pop’s album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I released in 1996.
The super group is joined on the roster with Brazilian innovators, Afro-Brazilian group Timbalada, credited for reintroducing the timbal hand drum, the “Tina Turner of Brazil,” vocalist Dandara with samba reggae drummers, and reggae star, Pato Banton with his new fusion project featuring Brazilian samba drummers.
Alongside the international heavy-hitters will be local favorites SambaDa, who have been representing Santa Cruz at percussion and Carnival festivals all over the country for more than a decade.
On stage these musicians blend Afro-Brazilian, samba reggae, and carnival music from Bahia with electrifyingly fast drumbeats, creating an infectious sound that dares you to keep moving.
In addition to the electrifying music, the graceful flips and turns of The Flying Cirque Capoeira and the lightening quick steps of the ornately costumed samba dancers will leave audiences enthralled.
“Brazilian Day is pretty much the 4th of July of Brazil. This is when they celebrate their independence from Portugal. The whole country celebrates and every street is a party,” says Ariel Del Mundo, event organizer and Hollywood-based producer of some of the best Brazilian musical talent in the United States. Del Mundo has been organizing Carnival-themed parties since 1989.
“We are not seeking to recreate a Brazilian Carnival, this is a Brazilian Carnival,” he says.
Audience costumes are encouraged. Exotic carnival masks will be available at the event for $10.
Info: Brazilian Day 2015. Saturday, September 12. 9 p.m. Moe’s Alley. 21+. Tickets: $20/$22. Photo: Shutterstock / Celso Pupo.
