Brazilian music festivals you should know about

In 1985, the image of an enormous crowd singing “Love of My Life” to an emotional Freddie Mercury during the first Rock in Rio put Brazil on the map of the world’s biggest—and most vibrant—music festivals. But beyond super productions such as Rock in Rio and Lollapalooza, the country offers a wide range of experiences for Brazilian and international music lovers.

Following the tradition, Brazilian festivals are a way for the people to engage, to demonstrate their political views and to celebrate. But, unlike the mega concerts focused on bringing foreign names to the country, festivals such as Bananada, João Rock and Meca aim to encourage national productions, presenting line ups filled with famous stars and new artists. Indeed, they end up boosting the career of names that, nowadays, are the core of Brazilian indie music scene or shine even in mainstream pop. Find more about them below:

Bananada Festival

Twenty-one years ago a group of friends decided to play rock in Goiania, a midwestern city that, unlike Brasília—Brazil’s rock-oriented capital—is dominated by sertanejo, Brazil’s answer to country music. The result is the Bananada Festival, a unique option for those willing to know more about Brazilian culture outside the Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo axis.

“Rock is Bananadas’s spine. Saying Bananada is only about rock is a misstep, but saying it isn’t about rock is a huge mistake,” said Bananadas organizer Fabrício Nobre in an interview with Vice.

Bananada...