(Photo: https://new.starvoxent.com)
Portuguese music in Toronto and Montreal: February 14-26, 2025
Exciting Portuguese artists are set to take the stage at the 37th Annual Folk Alliance International (FAI) Conference, happening in Montreal from February 19-23, 2025.
As part of this special Portugal-focused program, these artists will also bring an exclusive concert series to Toronto’s Lighthouse ArtSpace (1 Yonge Street), a venue renowned for its immersive experiences, including the Van Gogh and Disney exhibits. The Toronto performances, scheduled for February 14, 17, 24, 25, and 26, promise a captivating musical journey.
Presented by Starvox Entertainment, a leader in immersive entertainment, this concert series blends live music with stunning projection mapping technology. Audiences will be transported through the breathtaking landscapes of Portugal while experiencing an eclectic mix of folk, indie, pop, and electronic music.
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event! Whether you’re in Toronto or Montreal, it’s a rare chance to witness the fusion of traditional and contemporary Portuguese sounds while supporting international artists on their Canadian journey.
The Importance of These Performances for the Portuguese-Speaking Community
- Ontario is home to the largest Portuguese diaspora in the world, making this event a vital cultural bridge between Portugal and Canada.
- At the heart of this initiative is Neil Leyton, a Toronto-raised musician now based in Lisbon. As the director of Why Portugal, the country’s music export office, he is dedicated to bringing Portuguese music to the global stage.
- One of the highlights of the concert series is Lusitanian Ghosts, a collective led by Leyton that reinvents traditional Portuguese chordophones—medieval string instruments—within a modern rock setting. The series will also premiere a documentary exploring the near-extinction and cultural significance of these instruments.
- Multi-instrumentalist Vasco Ribeiro Casais will captivate audiences with an innovative audiovisual performance, blending traditional Portuguese music with synchronized video elements filmed in Portugal.
- Additionally, the artists will engage with students at the University of Toronto through two master classes, further strengthening cultural and educational ties.
The artists and presentations
Portuguese Music & Documentary Series – February Lineup
Bicho Carpinteiro
📅 February 14 at 7:00 PM
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Musicians Vasco Ribeiro Casais and Rui Rodrigues electrify traditional Portuguese folk instruments, blending them with rock, electronic elements, and traditional rhythms to reimagine Portugal’s musical heritage.
João Diogo Leitão
📅 February 14 at 8:15 PM
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Award-winning classical guitarist João Diogo Leitão pioneers contemporary compositions for the viola braguesa, a traditional Portuguese folk guitar, merging classical training with folk influences to create a unique soundscape.
Documentary – “Lusitanian Ghosts”
📅 February 14 at 9:30 PM
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This documentary follows indie-rock artist Neil Leyton as he gathers musicians to record an album featuring Portugal’s endangered string instruments while exploring their rich history and the artisans behind them.
Retimbrar
📅 February 17 at 7:00 PM
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An eight-member orchestra from Porto, Retimbrar creates TugaBeat—a fusion of traditional Portuguese drums, folk rhythms, and chants that has gained international recognition and prestigious collaborations.
Joana Alegre
📅 February 17 at 8:15 PM
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Joana Alegre crafts dreamy baroque pop, blending Portuguese folk with indie rock and neo-folk influences reminiscent of Aurora and Florence and the Machine.
OMIRI
📅 February 22 at 7:00 PM
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Omiri reinvents Portuguese folk music by combining video recordings of traditional musicians with electronic production and live folk instrument performances, bridging rural traditions with contemporary urban culture.
RAIA
📅 February 25 at 7:00 PM
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António Bexiga’s project RAIA explores the viola campaniça (a two-stringed traditional Portuguese instrument) through experimental compositions that merge folk traditions with modern techniques, incorporating live looping and visual arts.
O Gajo
📅 February 25 at 8:15 PM
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Former punk rocker O Gajo transitions into instrumental storytelling with the viola campaniça, blending traditional Portuguese folk with contemporary influences to expand the possibilities of this ten-string instrument.
Lusitanian Ghosts
📅 February 25 at 9:30 PM
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Lusitanian Ghosts fuse ancient Portuguese folk instruments with rock music to create socially conscious songs, featuring an international collective of musicians playing traditional violas.
P.S. Lucas
📅 February 26 at 7:00 PM
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Azorean singer-songwriter P.S. Lucas, now based in Lisbon, crafts intimate folk songs influenced by masters like Cohen and Callahan, blending modern compositions with elements of his island heritage.
Lavoisier
📅 February 26 at 8:15 PM
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Lavoisier blends indie rock with electronic textures and ethereal Portuguese vocals, creating atmospheric soundscapes that fuse traditional and contemporary elements.
Documentary – “Wanderer Songs” + Special Performance
📅 February 26 at 9:30 PM
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This documentary captures the creation of Wanderer Songs, a modern reinterpretation of José Afonso’s music through performances by contemporary artists curated by his son, Pedro. The project resulted in a live album and an innovative audiovisual concert film, featuring collaborations with artists Nastio Mosquito and Vic Pereiró.
🎶 A month-long celebration of Portuguese music and culture—don’t miss it! 🎶
