Second most important celebration in Brazilian culture, Festa Junina is a large social gathering of traditional dancing and typical food for the whole family
Los Angeles, May 7, 2019– After Brazil’s world-famous Carnaval, Festa Junina is the second most important popular celebration in Brazilian culture. It takes place at the beginning of June as a Catholic tradition based on the European Midsummer festivities, which celebrate the harvest. Despite its religious origins, the emphasis of Festa Junina is on creating a large social gathering of dancing, drinking, and eating typical food. Brazilian Nites, the largest Brazilian production company in the West Coast, and educators from Brazilian Play and Learn, are teaming up to bring the most authentic Festa Junina to Angelenos on June 9, 2019 from 2pm to 7pm, at Rancho Cordillera del Norte (9015 Wilbur Ave. Northridge, CA 91342).
Headliners Fundo de Quintal (backyard samba) is one of the most important bands of Samba. In 2015, their album Só Felicidade was nominated for the 16th Latin Grammy Awards in the Best Samba/Pagode Album category. They all belong to Cacique de Ramos (Indian Chiefs of Ramos), a suburb of Rio where they started meeting to sing, play drink, and dance in samba jam sessions in the 1970s. Fundo de Quintal has earned numerous gold and platinum records along with ten Sharp awards (Brazil’s former equivalent of the Grammy), seven of them received consecutively as – and it’s not difficult to understand why – the best samba band in Brazil. The group is composed of six musicians – Bira Presidente, Ubirany, Sereno, Ademir Batera, Ronaldinho and Marcio Alexandre. Three additional percussionists show audiences a greater variety of samba instruments. Fundo introduced maverick instruments, such as the banjo, tanta and hand-repique into samba giving it new spice and flavor. As the late Beth Carvalho said “this is the example of the most authentic samba.”
Plus Beto González’ MôForró band, that have been burning up dancefloors since their inception in early 2012. Rooted in tradition with deep reverence for the genre’s history, MôForró integrates a breadth of influences from its bandmembers’ diverse talent and musical backgrounds. As a result, MôForró is breaking new ground establishing forró as a unique part of the multicultural Los Angeles lanscape.
DJ Reyes will be spinning the best of traditional forró, a musical amalgam that makes everyone get up and move. Brazilian actor Erik Marmo will be the Official Host of the festival.
Those attending will be treated to typical Brazilian food from a variety of vendors, which includes barbecue skewer and different dishes such as Pamonha (sweet corn cake) and Canjica (sweet maize porridge). Attendees are encouraged to dress up like farmers to enjoy and dance the Quadrilha as they were in Brazil’s countryside.
Rancho Cordillera del Norte is a charming ranch just a few miles from downtown Los Angeles, featuring a perfect environment to connect kids with outdoor recreation of all kinds. Mariana Leite and Bia Borinn, educators from Brazilian Play and Learn, will be in charge of activities such as arts and crafts, classic outdoor games and Quadrilha, a fun traditional folk dance for the whole family.
This event is sponsored by KPFK, REMO, SLING and Brazuka Tickets.
Festa Junina na Fazenda – Brazilian Country Festival
Sunday, June 9th 2019 – 2pm – 7pm
Tickets $35 – 14 and under FREE
All ages
Rancho Cordillera Del Norte
9015 Wilbur Ave.., Northridge, CA 91342
Information:
Phone: (818) 566 1111