Music: Belfast meets Brazil - Beat Carnival Music

As part of the North Belfast Festival we invite you to join us for a vibrant night of craic and alegria (happiness) with music traditionally performed in informal social settings of Brazil and Belfast.

Dance, sing along and let the music transport you to a world where boundaries disappear and alegria takes centre-stage! Make sure to pack your dancing shoes!

Samba musicians of BEATnDRUM spring lively rhythms from their Roda de Samba - Samba Circle; seasoned members of the Irish traditional music scene, Lonesome George assembled by songwriting duo Joe Campbell-McCardle and Myles McCormack, quicken the heartbeat that is the sound of Belfast; and together, both will blend Belfast and Brazil in a unique-experience, fusion set.

Led and coordinated by Matt Vernon & Damian Mills since 2004, BEATnDRUM are one of Ireland’s largest and most proficient carnival music performance groups. They are primarily a ‘Samba’ percussion performance troupe with experience in large scale performances and collaborations across many genres, from traditional Irish to Electronic and Punk/Rock.

Major show accomplishments include coordinating and training over 100 drummers from across Ireland and leading them in performance at the ‘Land of Giants’ show in 2012 as part of the Uk Cultural Olympiad, training and leading in performance over 100 Irish drummers as part of the ‘Urban Ballets’ 2013 performance, the largest and best parade performance of a European collaboration of Hip Hop dancers and percussionists involving several arts companies in Europe and South Africa. Plus numerous performances and collaborations at major festival and carnival events across Ireland, Uk and Europe..

Many of the core band have been learning from master percussionists and performing numerous genres of carnival music for over 10 years. They have experienced a wide range of musical and physical productions and it will be these musicians that have the skills and energy to create a spectacular percussive performance that is out of this world.