Toronto International Samba Reggae Festival Launch

Toronto International Samba Reggae Festival Launch

Get ready to dance all night long!

With special guests joining all the way from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Mestre Memeu and Mateus Vidal of Olodum, Maestrina Adriana Portela of Banda Didá and Marcos Costa of Ilê aiyê.

Opening set by Aline Morales

7:30 pm doors open for dinner and drinks

9 pm - live music begins

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Check out the Lula Dinner Menu

Please note: Tickets are general admission and do not guarantee seating. For seating, please make a dinner reservation at here.

Toronto International Samba Reggae Festival

Mestre Memeu

The leader of Olodum for more than 25 years, Mestre Memeu travels the world teaching and performing the original samba reggae from Bahia.

Marcos Costa

Currently based in Brooklyn, New York, Marcos Costa's career spans continents and festivals including Festival Internacional de Tambores in Brasília, Brazil, and Festival Massa in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. In 2011 he won first prize in the 37th Ilê Aiyê Festival of Black Music with the song, 'Curuzú Nation.'

Combining signature lyrics with Afro-samba, rock, & funk grooves, Marcos Costa's work shines as both a solo artist and an integral member of Ilê Aiyê, and he is recognized for his unique ability to infuse his music with deep soul and an unmistakable trademark style.

Maestrina Adriana Portela

The first woman to have been named Master drummer by the creator of samba reggae Neguinho do Samba and the first woman to lead an all female samba reggae ensemble, Adriana is the leader of Banda Didá a group of Afro Brazilian woman performing samba reggae

Mateus Vidal

Born in Salvador, Mateus Fernando Vidal began a brilliant career that has lasted more than 23 years playing percussion with Olodum. In 2009 he became lead singer for the legendary ensemble and has since performed with the likes of Zezé de Camargo and Luciano, Luiza Possi, Michel Teló, Gilberto Gil, Ivete Sangalo, Daniela Mercury, Carlinhos Brown, Andrew Tosh, Inner Cicle among others.

Thank you to our funders!

This event is made possible by support from The Toronto Arts Council, The Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Creates, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, FACTOR and The Government of Canada.