Festival 2024

We, the Montreal Festival team, sincerely thank everyone for their participation. Down below is the link to the drive where you can access the photos and videos we have to share!

Access the photos

Launch party

Bands

Discover the unmissable bands that will rock the 2024 Montreal Forró Festival:

  • Forró de Mané

Forró de Mané, established in 2022, brings a vibrant fusion of zabumba, triangle, accordion and cavaquinho, led by talents such as Júlia Weiss and Thiago Di Luca. With the addition of Quebec accordionist Pascal Demalsy, the group offers a truly unique experience. With more than 20 shows held in Montreal, including monthly performances at La Sala Rossa for an audience of more than 1,500 people, in addition to participation in local festivals, 12 concerts are scheduled for 2024.

  • Forró entre amis

Forró entre Amis, a story rooted in friendship and music since 2014, bringing to the stage talents such as Carlos Henrique, master percussionist, Juninho Dias, award-winning accordionist, and Flavia Nascimento, a prominent singer. After a temporary separation, they reunite for a series of performances across Quebec and Ontario, providing unique and memorable experiences for audiences.

  • Rastapaix

RastaPaix is a manifestation of passion for Brazilian music and culture, creating a fascinating fusion with forró. Founded by Fabio Stilben and bringing together talents such as Pablo Majlis, Alexandre Monteiro, Bianca Hugue, Anit Ghosh and Aquiles Melo, the group calls itself an 'armée de la paix'. Celebrating Montreal's diversity, they transcend borders, connecting souls through the magic of forró and universal musical influences.

  • DJ Gorrilhas

Márcio Gorrilhas, known as DJ Gorrilhas, is a musician from Rio de Janeiro currently residing in Montréal. With his training in theater and deep passion for Brazilian music, he is a seasoned researcher of music with a distinct  repertoire of Brazilian music.  Starting in 2024, he evolved from dancer to DJ in the Montreal community, bringing a diversity of music representing a range of forró. Don't miss the opportunity to dance to their musical selections, which promote an authentic experience and immersion in the Brazilian world!

Agenda

Teachers

Rafael Piccolotto, Rafael Piccolotto, with a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Composition, Brazilian-born and New York City-based, brings his exceptional dedication to forró as a distinguished musician, conductor, and forró dance instructor to enrich every space he is a part of. With accolades including a Latin Grammy nomination and the notable role of hosting three annual Forró festivals in New York, Piccolotto's participation is a testament to his passion. His dual cultural background infuses each environment with a unique blend of Brazilian vibrancy and New York City sophistication, providing his students with an unforgettable experience.

Maurício Baptista, a Brazilian native currently based in Toronto, has been teaching forró for 11 years. He was a member of the teaching staff at the internationally recognized forró dance school "Pé Descalço" in Belo Horizonte - Brazil - for 3 years, an internationally renowned forró dance school with bases all over the world. He won the "Copa Brasil de Forró" in 2013 and, since 2017, has lived in Toronto, Canada, where he co-founded Aruá Dances, spreading the culture of forró in North America!

Lu Horta, Originally from Sao Paulo, Lu Horta has been a singer, songwriter and member of the group Barbatuques since 1996. She holds a degree in popular music from UNICAMP. She specialized in vocal technique in Paris and Germany, and has also worked as a vocal therapist. As a vocal coach, she contributed to the Netflix series "Most Beautiful Thing" and teaches courses with Ivaldo Bertazzo. She directs shows, composes soundtracks for film and dance, and teaches singing and body percussion. With Barbatuques, she has recorded several bonus albums and DVDs. As a solo artist, she has released a few albums, including "Lu Horta" and "Paraiso Eu", and has taken part in international festivals such as SXSW and Canadian Music Week. She currently resides in Montreal, where she collaborates with various artists, teaches art to teachers, the general public and sings in the alternative Folk Bossa Trio; Dafré, Lu et Loco.

 

São Paulo native Marcelo Effori, alias Loco Sosa, is a highly sought-after drummer and percussionist. He is the founder of the bands Los Pirata and Atønito, and has accompanied artists such as Caetano Veloso, Ney Matogrosso, Arnaldo Antunes, Gilberto Gil, among others. He holds a degree in African and Afro-Cuban percussion, having studied at the Carlos Gomes Conservatory and the Institute of Arts at UNICAMP. Since 2000, he has owned Loco Sosa's Noise Factory studio, where he works as a producer and sound engineer. Currently based in Montreal, he has immersed himself in the Montreal music scene, pursuing studies in audio and video post-production, and playing in the alternative Folk Bossa Trio; Dafré, Lu et Loco.

 

Eric Frata discovered his passion for forró in 2012, immersing himself in the local community. Trained at the renowned Pé Descalço school in São Paulo, he deeply engaged with forró dance and culture. In 2018, upon settling in Canada, he co-founded Forró Québec with Sheila Fleury, pioneering the dissemination of forró culture in Quebec City. Since 2023, Eric has been conducting regular workshops in Montreal, where his expertise has been warmly received. His influence extends beyond borders, as he was invited to teach at the prestigious Forró Weekend in New York in the same year.

 

 

Sheila Fleury, a passionate forró enthusiast since the age of 11, immersed herself in São Paulo's vibrant nightlife, learning the dance in the city's traditional dance halls. Her journey led her to the Pé Descalço school in São Paulo in 2013, where she dedicated herself to mastering forró until 2018 when she relocated to Canada. In 2019, Sheila co-founded Forró Québec, a pivotal initiative in promoting forró culture in Quebec City. Her dedication continues to flourish in Montreal, where she actively hosts workshops and promotes the vibrant forró community. Recently, Forró Québec has merged with Forró Montréal, uniting efforts to further elevate the presence of forró across the city.

 

From Brasilia, Brazil native Gabriel Lincoln da Rocha is recognized for his expertise in international dance styles, such as Forró, Bolero, Samba de Gafieira, Tango and West Coast Swing. His journey as a dance teacher began in Florianópolis, Brazil, in 2008, where he taught for 10 years, founded Cazu Dance Studio from 2013-2015, and was involved in the Santa Cantarina Dance Association where he served on the organizing committee from 2011-2015 for Baila Floripa, Brazil’s largest social dance congress. In 2012 he was certified in Argentinian tango at Bolshoi Brazil and obtained a certification in social dance pedagogy from the University of SPEI in 2013.

 

Florionapolis (Brazil) native Julia Soares Weiss is a versatile artist with experience in dance, theater and circus. She is a Theater graduate from the State University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, where she thereafter traveled throughout the country and the world performing theater plays and circus shows. Currently based in Montreal, Julia co-founded the forró band Forró de Mané in 2022 where she is lead vocalist and triangle player.