Live Music entertainment in Brazil
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A
Sacadura
A new addition to Rio’s nightlife, Sacadura is located a few doors down from Trapiche Gamboa in an otherwise fairly deserted stretch of Gamboa. It offers a mix of Música Popular Brasileria (MPB), samba-rock and jazz in a big open venue with exposed masonry and dim lighting. Despite the loud rock pounding from onstage, the crowd was fairly staid when last we stopped by. It’s located north of Centro – take a taxi.
reviewed
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B
Clan Café
Set against the hillside of Corcovado, the unmarked door of Clan Café hides a large open-air patio covered with abundant greenery. Slow-paced waiters shuffle between the many tables as talented musicians fill the air with sound. Tuesday belongs to chorinho, (romantic, intimate samba) while Música Popular Brasileria (MPB) rules on Wednesday, and jazz on Saturday. The music starts around 9pm.
reviewed
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C
Centro Cultural Telemar
One of Rio's intriguing new additions, Centro Cultural Telemar is a six-story ultra-modern exhibition space featuring multimedia installations focusing on architecture, urban design and video art. The top floor auditorium has a regular line-up of film screenings and concerts. The first floor functions as a library where visitors can peruse art books and design mags; a listening station features eclectic music.
reviewed
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D
Lapa Capadócia
Watched over by an enormous statue of São Jorge (St George, an important saint/deity in the Afro-Brazilian pantheon), Lapa Capadócia offers a combination of live music, tasty appetizers and ever-flowing chope (draft beer) to small, chatty crowds. There’s an outdoor space in the back (that may eventually host a small creperie) and an upstairs, though overall the place feels small and intimate.
reviewed
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E
Clube Guanabara
Located on the edge of Guanabara Bay, this laid-back space provides a great setting for live samba and choro (romantic, intimate samba). Musicians gather around a few plastic tables, while young and old dance and mingle over tall bottles of Skol beer. Best of all is the pier at the end of the club, where you can take a break from the music and get an eyeful of the city coastline.
reviewed
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Casa do Gilson
Frequently voted as having Belém’s best live music, to no one’s surprise. Opened in 1987, Gilson’s draws intellectuals and hipsters alike with first-rate samba, choro (improvised samba-like music) and other music, and terrific food and atmosphere to boot – don’t miss the patinha de carenguejo (crab cake). It’s between Ruas Nova and Tambés.
reviewed
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F
Arena Futebol Clube
It’s well worth the taxi fare to the Setor de Clubes Esportivos Sul, southwest of Praça dos Trés Poderes, for this live-music mecca that takes over the football (soccer) club on weekends. Daughters of ministers and politicos sweat out to hip-shaking forró (popular Northeastern music), samba and samba-funk. The best we’ve seen outside Rio.
reviewed
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G
Passarela do Álcool
At night, the Passarela do Álcool has craft stalls and street performers, with live music spilling onto the plazas. Look for fresh-fruit cocktail stands making capeta (guaraná, cocoa powder, cinnamon, sweetened condensed milk and vodka), just the thing to bring a bang to the evening.
reviewed
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H
Trapiche Gamboa
A charming live samba joint, Trapiche Gamboa is set in a multistory colonial edifice in Gamboa (just north of Centro) and has a welcoming vibe, with samba musicians gathering around a table on the ground floor, and dancers spilling out around them. It’s best reached by taxi (around R$25 from the Zona Sul).
reviewed
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I
A Casa Pub
This lively British-cum-Brazilian-style pub sits opposite Musique, with an airy verandah and live music most nights, ranging from samba and axé (a contemporary Afro-Brazilian pop style, incorporating samba, rock, soul and other influences) to forró and rock.
reviewed
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J
Sacrilégio
Sacrilégio is a major spot for catching live bands in an intimate setting. The outdoor garden makes a fine spot for imbibing a few cold chopes while the music filters through the windows. In addition to samba, Sacrilégio hosts choro, forró and MPB bands.
reviewed
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K
Bar Brahma
A Sampa classic near Praça da República with a well-preserved wood-panelled interior, Brahma remains a popular after-work hangout for professionals, and offers up live music (sometimes with cover) most nights after 21:00.
reviewed
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Barzinho
Perched on a small rise above one of Tefé’s main drags – with a tree growing through the floor and out the roof – this is a cool little spot to have a beer or two and listen to live music, mostly of the singer-songwriter variety.
reviewed
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L
Estrela da Lapa
Inside a restored 19th-century mansion, Estrela da Lapa has an eclectic music scene and hosts bands playing choro, blues and hip-hop. On weekends, shows are followed by a DJ who keeps the dance floor going until late.
reviewed
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M
Cachaçaria Paulista
Serving more than 300 kinds of cachaça (high-proof sugarcane alcohol), Brazil's national drink, plus live Brazilian music on weekend nights, this Vila Madalena institution is remarkably relaxed and convivial.
reviewed
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N
Vinícius Piano Bar
Billing itself as the ‘temple of bossa nova,’ Vinícius Piano Bar has been an icon in the neighborhood since the late ’80s. The small, intimate upstairs music space hosts a fine assortment of jazz and bossa nova groups.
reviewed
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Casa de Mãe Iemanja
Named after the Yoruba goddess of the sea (the Festa de Iemanja happens nearby), this Rio Vermelho bistro/cultural center is a great space to hear live music. It's on the coastal road, just up from Largo de Santana.
reviewed
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O
Far Up
Featuring live music most nights of the week, Far Up is a good destination if you’re hanging out in Botafogo. The program leans toward rock and MPB, although the Tuesday night karaoke session mixes things up.
reviewed
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P
Lapa 40 Graus
This impressive multistory music venue and pool hall has tables for lounging on the 1st floor, pool tables on the 2nd floor, and a small stage and dancing on the top floor (admission to shows is R$5 to R$30).
reviewed
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Q
Estação de Pelô
One of many bar/restaurants with live music in the Pelô, this one is particularly charming, with tables spilling onto the small plaza, and vendors and local characters adding to the colorful scene.
reviewed
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R
Foca Bier
This castle-like bar and music venue hosts live Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) and forró bands throughout the week. Come for the outdoor seating and good happy-hour specials from 4pm to 8pm.
reviewed
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S
Taverna Pub
Attached to the Lua Cheia Hostel and resembling a pub inside a medieval castle, this ever-popular tavern has nightly music, from live Brazilian rhythms to ’70s disco and blues. No flip-flops.
reviewed
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Jamaica Bar
Outdoor bars are scattered along Segunda Praia. Current favorites are Music Bar 87, with its live music nightly (usually a bossa nova guitarist), and the reggae-infused Jamaica Bar .
reviewed
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T
Carioca da Gema
One of the first to bring samba back to Lapa, this small, colorful club hosts an excellent line-up of bands and a good mixed crowd that packs the dance floor most nights.
reviewed
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U
Geni
Geni serves up live music, private upstairs rooms, stylish but low-key decor, freshly prepared snacks and an attractive younger crowd - all in a handsome old mansion.
reviewed
