Hańba!, from Poland, and Ifriqiyya Electrique, from Tunisia, are the last two names to be part of the 15th MED Festival, which takes place from June 29th to July 1st, in the Historic Center of Loulé, with the poster already on display closed.
The presentation of the festival's official poster took place last Saturday, May 26, at the Cine-Teatro Louletano, with Raquel Bulha (SIC) and Edgar Canelas (Antena 1) leading the session with many new features and a show by Omiri .
For the first time in the history of the MED, Poland will be represented "and soon at the highest level", says the Municipality of Loulé.
Haba! It is a bold concept: to imagine that, in the interwar period, when fascist movements in Europe grew in strength, workers reached not only weapons but musical instruments as well. His indignation produced a punk rock played on accordion, banjo, tuba and a drum. Haba! (which translates to Disgrace!) has been described as folk cabaret, But not only that. «Haba! is a band with a strong and sincere message, which is reinforced by their form. old school, but still very valid in contemporary times».
From Tunisia to Loulé, Ifriqiyya Electrique draws on the Banga ritual of worship of the former Haoussa slaves of Black Africa, who settled in Tunisia at the gates of the Sahara. The spirits communicate with computers and electric guitars to recompose this ancient ritual, illustrated by mesmerizing images projected live so that the audience can get lost and scream with Banga's followers.
«Spirits have bodies, they ask to be nourished by music with an evident modernity. Between the salty desert and oasis of southern Tunisia, François R. Cambuzat and Gianna Greco got lost for months, recording and filming for over 300 hours, working and composing with Banga musicians for a ritual of worship and post- single industrial war. It will be, for sure, a spectacle that will mesmerize the Historic Area of Loulé», says the municipality.
In addition to these two confirmations, the following bands and artists will perform on the three main stages – Matriz, Cerca and Castelo – Gato Preto (Ghana/Mozambique/Portugal), Asian Dub Foundation (United Kingdom), 47 Soul (Palestine), Bonga ( Angola), Los Milros (Peru), Sampladélicos DJ Set (Portugal), Teresa Salgueiro (Portugal), Ricardo Martins (Portugal), Hanba (Poland), Ridding a Meteor (Portugal), Melech Mechaya (Portugal), Bruno Pernadas (Portugal) ), Metá Metá (Brazil), Bitori feat. Chando Graciosa (Cape Verde), Sara Tavares (Portugal/Cape Verde), Makossa Brothers DJ Set (Portugal), Selecta Alice DJ Set (Portugal), Tribali (Malta), Dub Inc (France), Ifriqiyya Electrique (Tunisia), Pipers from Lisbon (Portugal), La Pegatina (Spain), Vurro (Spain), Sam Alone&The Gravediggers (Portrugal), Miguel Araújo (Portugal), Morgane JI (Reunion) and Orelha Negra (Portugal).
This year there will be 78 hours of music divided by 57 bands, more than 250 musicians from 18 countries from the four corners of the world, some of them in absolute debut such as Reunion Island or Poland.
Winner of the Iberian Festival Awards in the category of Best Medium Size Festival in the Iberian Peninsula, for the second consecutive year, and Best Tourism Promotion in festivals held in Portugal, the MED Festival shows not only music and a fusion of cultural manifestations ranging from plastic arts to theatre, cinema, poetry, street entertainment, crafts or gastronomy, but also the natural stage of the Historic Area of Loulé, with all its heritage wealth and with the perfect features to experience the Mediterranean culture.
Vítor Aleixo, Mayor of Loulé, highlighted the importance of the MED as a moment of enjoyment but also from the point of view of tourist and economic dynamism.
«Loulé is known throughout the country and in several European countries, where tourists come especially to have fun and participate in the MED Festival. This event is also important from the point of view of the local economy because it allows a good financial income for local restaurants and hotels. We are facing an offer in the segment of quality entertainment, culture, which is of the greatest interest for the city of Loulé and for our region», said the mayor.
During the event's presentation night, the public had the opportunity to watch what will be the first confirmation of the MED Festival poster for 2019: Omiri. Considered one of the most original projects for the reinvention of Portuguese traditional music, the musician managed to get up – and dancing – the spectators who came to this concert hall.
In a surprising synchronization of forms and music from our rural tradition with the language of urban culture, joining this party was Celina da Piedade, who also stepped on the MED stage in 2015, accompanied by her accordion and a voice that sings the South like few others.
Over the years, 500 bands representing 45 countries such as Mali, Syria, Finland, United States, Cuba, Bosnia, Israel, Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, Espana, Peru, Chile, Japan have passed through the MED Festival.
Buena Vista Social Club, Balkan Beat Box, Goran Bregovic, Solomon Burke, Amadou&Mariam, Kimmo Pohjonen, Bajofondo Tango Club, Fanfare Ciocarlia or Dubioza Kolektiv were some of the names of World Music who have already played on this stage from Loulé.
MED main stages program:
28 June
Main Stage:
2h
Sampladélicos DJ Set (Portugal)
00h
Bonga (Angola)
22h
Miguel Araujo (Portugal)
Fence Stage:
1h
Black Orelha (Portugal)
23h
Los Milros (Peru)
21h
Meta Meta (Brazil)
Castle Stage:
1h
Sam Alone & The Gravediggers (Portugal)
23h
Lisbon Pipers (Portugal)
21h
Vurro (Spain)
June 29
Matrix:
2h
Selecta Alice DJ Set (Portugal)
00h
Asian Dub Foundation (UK)
22h
La Pegatina (Spain)
Search:
1h
Black Cat (Ghana/Mozambique/Portugal)
23h
Morgane JI (Meeting)
21h
Sara Tavares (Portugal/Cape Verde)
Castle:
1h
Melech Mechaya (Portugal)
23h
Bruno Pernadas (Portugal)
21h
Ricardo Martins (Portugal)
June 30
Matrix:
2h
Makossa Brothers DJ Set (Portugal)
00h
Dub Inc (France)
22h
Bitori Feat. Chando Graciosa (Cape Verde)
Search:
1h
Tribal (Malta)
23h
47 Soul (Palestine)
21h
Teresa Salgueiro (Portugal)
Castle:
1h
Ifriqiyya Electrique (Tunisia)
23h
Hanba (Poland)
21h
Ridding a Meteor (Portugal)
Comments