The Food Festival will feature an impressive lineup of 24 top chefs, each revealing their culinary secrets with show-cooking experiences
– September 14, 2023
Taking place this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) at Alameda Praça da República, the Arrebita food festival will invite 24 renowned chefs to prepare a variety of delicious dishes for €6.50 each.
“There is no love like the first, and how we missed Portimão, the city that gave birth to a gastronomy festival that is changing Portugal,” according to the organisers.
“In its fourth edition, Arrebita Portimão boasts a cast of 24 top chefs for two days of high-level gastronomy. Alongside acclaimed chefsfrom all over the country, we have the determination of new talent. Once again, we rely on the presence of local producers who will bring and showcase regional products.”
On September 16, the list of renowned chefs includes Gil Fernandes from Michelin-starred restaurant Fortaleza do Guincho in Cascais, Diogo Martins from Zest in Albufeira, Nuno Martins from Numa in Portimão, João Sá from Sála in Lisbon, Ruben Santos from Casa do Gadanha in Estremoz, Hugo Guerra from Lobo Mau in Charneca da Caparica, and João Correia from Altis Avenida in Lisbon.
Chef José Lopes from Carvoeiro’s Michelin-starred Bon Bon restaurant, Luis Brito from A Ver Tavira, Rui Rebelo from Terraço Editorial, Alana Mostachio and Habner Gomes from Matte will be the chefs on Sunday, September 17, with the full list of chefs to be announced soon.
Admission to the event will be free, and it will begin each day at 6pm until 11pm.
The municipality will host emblematic guitar performances next to monuments and cultural spaces, as well as outdoor concerts in Carvoeiro’s Main Square and Estômbar’s natural park
– August 31, 2023
It’s almost time for Lagoa’s International Guitar Festival, which will be held between September 9 and October 1 at a variety of venues in the municipality.
In addition to ensuring a quality artistic offer, from both national and international artists, the event promises to include a little bit of everything.
The public will have the opportunity to choose what performance suits them best each weekend, as the event will be presented along with emblematic venues, monuments, and infrastructures of Lagoa.
The Lagoa International Guitar Festival will host a total of eight different performances, all starting at 5.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
September 9, 5.30pm – 40 Fingers at Carvoeiro Beach Square (free entry)
40 Fingers is a well-known Italian guitar quartet “well-established on Italy’s music scene through their many individual projects”. The group will present original pieces and covers performed with a “fingerpicking technique and skillfully arranged for four guitars”.
September 10, 5.30pm – Sergio Fabian Lavia & Dilene Ferraz and Quartetto SE.GO.VI.O at Quinta dos Vales, Estômbar (€10)
Guitarist Sergio Fabian Lavia & singer Dilene Ferraz’s music “reflects the cultural richness of Argentina and Brazil, forming a set of experiences shaped by traditional sounds merged with more experimental aspects”. In 2011, the duo received the ”Premium Music Awards” for their significant work as composers and performers of Brazilian and Argentine music.
The SE.GO.VI.O quartet, distinguished by “their great international concert experience, as soloists, chamber musicians and orchestras”, and for their “commitment to teaching” in Italian state schools, will perform a “repertoire with emphasis on the expressive possibilities of each instrument: the timbre impact that comes from the encounter of the plucked strings with the bellows instrument and the wind instruments is the ideal terrain to give life to the biting dance sounds”.
September 16, 5.30pm – Diogo Carlos and Furia-Deiana Duo at Convento de S. José Cultural Centre (€10)
Diogo Carlos, an awarded Portuguese guitarist from London’s Royal Academy of Music, has ample experience playing solo, in duos, trios, quartets and with various ensembles, having performed at the London Guitar Festival, Cadogan Hall and many other emblematic stages.
The FURIA – DEIANA DUO is described as a “versatile and fascinating formation that combines the passionate sound of Fabio Furia’s bandoneon with the virtuosity of Alessandro Deiana’s guitar”.
September 17, 5.30pm – Marko Topchii and Ensemble Copain’s Cabana at Sítio das Fontes Municipal Park, Estômbar (€10)
Marko Topchii, a world-renowned classical guitarist of Ukrainian origin, achieved international recognition through his participation in prestigious guitar competitions across the globe. Marko has secured an impressive total of 55 first prizes in various renowned classical guitar contests. His list of accolades includes triumphs at esteemed events such as the Tokyo International Guitar Competition, Francisco Tarrega (Spain), Michele Pittaluga (Alessandria), two Andres Segovia competitions (Spain), JoAnn Falletta (Buffalo, NY), Maurizio Biasini (San Francisco, CA), and numerous others.
Copains’ Cabana is a musical ensemble “bringing together voices, mandolins, guitar, cuatro, double bass and percussion, around Latin American music”. All members have already had opportunities to perform in concerts in France and abroad, and now they are back together for the pleasure of interpreting this repertoire that is both rhythmic and gentle.
September 23, 5.30pm – Quitó de Sousa Antunes and Luciano & Giusy Pompilio Duo at Estômbar Parish Church (free entry)
Portugal’s revered guitarist, Quitó de Sousa Antunes studied music in Paris under Betho Davezac and has won the first prize of the City of Paris, as well as a gold medal at the National Conservatory of Meudon. He has been ”invited countless times to take part in concerts and festivals both in France, Europe, Morocco, and Quebec”.
Luciano Pompilio, also an esteemed guitarist, took 15 first prizes at guitar competitions, reaching the final rounds in over 25 guitar competitions, and has toured Europe, Asia and America. He is also the Artistic Director of the ”Città di Manfredonia” International Guitar Festival and Season Chamber Music ”In Concerto” in San Giovanni Rotondo.
GIUSY POMPILIO is a “young and passionate Opera Singer and student with strong academic background and multiple participation in public events and concerts. Currently studying to obtain a Bachelor of Music in Opera Singing”.
September 24, 5.30pm – Early Guitar Duo and Invisible Strings at Lagoa Parish Church (free entry)
The EARLY GUITAR DUO is a collaborative venture between Romolo Calandruccio and Antonio Aprile, dedicated exclusively to the study and performance of a 19th-century guitar repertoire on original instruments. These performances are based on in-depth research of the period’s performance practices and of the authors, through original sources.
In the recent years, the Early Guitar Duo has performed in the several Music Conservatories: Ottorino Respighi in Latina, Tchaikosky in Nocera Terinese, and at the Mauro Giuliani Birthplace Museum in Bisceglie.
The project Invisible Strings, created by two internationally renowned musicians – thereminist Thorwald Jørgensen and guitarists Josip Dragnić – has been presented in countries like Germany, Luxembourg, Croatia, Montenegro, and Italy. Theremin is the only instrument that is played without physical contact, producing sound on the basis of electromagnetic waves, using two antennas. It was invented in 1919 but it is still rarely played on the concert stages, so every concert with theremin is a real attraction. The project brings some of the most famous pieces by the great composers like De Falla, Ravel, Villa Lobos, and Piazzolla arranged for theremin and guitar, but also contemporary music pieces originally written for this duo.
These two instruments form together a beautiful and interesting combination of the harmonies played by the guitar on six strings and the melodic line played by theremin.
September 30, 5.30pm – Vladislav Bláha & Tanja Drobysh and Luís Coelho “STRING TALES” at Carlos do Carmo Auditorium (€10)
The Vladislav Bláha and Tanja Drobysh duo presents a repertoire that is both vibrant and diverse, incorporating elements from classical, folk, and jazz genres. Additionally, they present adaptations of folk music from South Moravia (Czech Republic), including modified compositions by the English composer John W. Duarte, as well as traditional melodies from Belarus.
Guitarist Luís Coelho has performed on several national and international stages, collaborating with several fadistas (Fado singers) and with contemporary music and dance projects.
October 1, 5.30pm – Noble at Carlos do Carmo Auditorium (€10)
Noble (Pedro Fidalgo) is one of the most prominent artists in Portugal, having reached “monumental success” with his radio hit “Honey”, which acted as a generic for the soap opera “Amar Depois de Amar”, as well as “Beautiful”, the opening track of the most recent album “Secrets”, a new stage in the artist’s career who aspired to show his gratitude for all those who always supported him during his journey to the top of the national sales charts.
For more information about the event, visit the event website or follow on Facebook.
Since its opening in 1985, the venue has been a major presence on the jazz scene in the region, welcoming famous national and international artists
– August 18, 2023
Manoel’s Jazz Club has an outdoor terrace and a rooftop boasting seaviews Photo: MICHAEL BRUXO/OPEN MEDIA GROUP
Manoel’s Jazz Club, the iconic jazz venue which local musician Manuel Guerreiro opened in Monte Carvoeiro in 1985, officially reopened earlier this summer under the management of French couple Sabrina and Thomas Bourhis.
The special occasion was celebrated with a performance by Carvoeiro’s famous percussionist and singer Beto Kalulu alongside his band featuring Joaquim Brandão (bass), Tomé Rocha (drums) and Marcos Vita (keyboard), as well as a special appearance by Enzo d’Aversa (piano).
Beto Kalulu and pianist Enzo d’Aversa (left) – Photo: INÊS LOPES/OPEN MEDIA GROUP
The jazz club is located below Manoel’s Restaurant and Bar, which is open every day from 5pm onwards, serving dinners and cocktails inside the restaurant, at its outdoor terrace and on its rooftop with a view of the sea.
Sabrina and Thomas are well aware of the deep-seated history of the venue, which for decades welcomed nationally and internationally famous jazz musicians, which is why they have decided to maintain its name and a similar theme.
Founder, the late Manuel Guerreiro Photo: MICHAEL BRUXO/OPEN MEDIA GROUP
Their goal is to offer live music every night at 10pm and welcome a wide range of musicians from several genres, not exclusively jazz.
But how did the couple end up taking over one of the Algarve’s best-known jazz venues?
“We have been holidaying in the Algarve for several years and had been planning to move out of France, even before the pandemic,” said Sabrina and Thomas, adding that they visited several towns in the region until their travels led them to Monte Carvoeiro, on the western hill of Carvoeiro.
The couple have around 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, having run a beach bar back in France, and decided to bite the bullet and start a new life in Portugal by reviving the iconic venue.
New owners Thomas and Sabrina Bourhis, with Carvoeiro’s famous percussionist and singer Beto Kalulu Photo: MICHAEL BRUXO/OPEN MEDIA GROUP
“Manuel was a true friend”
Beto Kalulu has been playing an important role in Sabrina and Thomas’ new adventure, helping the couple grasp the history of the venue and also acting as a link to the local community of musicians.
He was a very close friend of Manuel Guerreiro, the talented saxophonist who played a pivotal role in the Algarve’s jazz scene by opening Caldeirão, his first jazz club, in Ferragudo in 1975.
“I opened Caldeirão for my friends; I didn’t do it for commercial purposes,” Manuel Guerreiro is quoted as saying in a pamphlet promoting an exhibitionhonouring him at Portimão Museum, which can be visited until September 3.
Monte Carvoeiro Photo: MICHAEL BRUXO/OPEN MEDIA GROUP
Caldeirão stayed open until 1985, when Manuel Guerreiro was invited by Monte Carvoeiro developer Klaus Müller to open a new jazz club at the resort.
Manoel’s Jazz Club became the place to play for jazz musicians, with jam sessions galore and a long list of acclaimed musicians from all over the globe performing at the venue.
Manuel Guerreiro, who passed away in 2005, also played a key role in helping musicians from ‘Aldeia de Almansor’, a multicultural community of artists who lived in makeshift homes at an abandoned half-built hotel site, until they had to abandon the area when construction resumed (to build the Almansor hotel; now Tivoli Carvoeiro).
“Manuel was very important for the local musicians in Carvoeiro. He was the one who booked concerts for us, and many times would give up his cut of the performance fee in order to help us,” Beto Kalulu told us.
It was this very “mentality of collaboration” that was later replicated at Manoel’s Jazz Club, with musicians often turning up to perform simply for the fun of it.
Article originally published by Michael Bruxo on Portugal Resident.
Armação de Pêra’s beachfront restaurant celebrates summer in style
– August 3, 2023
Vila Vita Parc’s beach restaurant Praia Dourada is hosting its anticipated summer event, which will take place this August 8 and 29.
Starting at 9.30pm and until 4am, guests will have the opportunity to ”dance under the stars to top guest DJs”.
The drinks menu will include the Spicy Pineapple made with Curado Tequila, pineapple, apricot, and jalapenos and the Miss Ginger made with Ginraw Cherry Blossom gin, red fruits, and ginger beer.
“The sandy terrace and adjacent beachfront location provide the perfect backdrop for this fantastic event”, states de resort, recommending guests to try the delicious meals that the restaurant will prepare before the beginning of the festivities.
Dishes on the menu will include mussels with chilli, coriander, and coconut milk; giant prawn with black rice and mango; and fresh sushi and poke bowls featuring locally sourced fish.
“Don’t miss out on this amazing event, come and party with Vila Vita Parc and experience the best that Armação de Pêra has to offer!”
The dress code for the event is blue and white and the entrance is free for everyone.
Silves Medieval Fair returns this August 10 offering visitors unforgettable and mystical experiences
– July 28, 2023 | Photos Silves Municipality
Between August 10 and 20, Silves’ Medieval Fair returns for its 18th edition. Over the course of 11 days, the city once known as Xilb (Silves) is transformed into a Moorish-style city.
A central theme of the fair is “The Mosque, Symbol and Power” which highlights the history of its mosque, built and consecrated as a place of worship and symbol of the Islamicization of a territory that became one of the biggest political and cultural centers of Gharb al-Andalus.
There will be a prayer recitation, and a welcome from the Vizier, and the call to prayer will echofrom the tall minaret through Al-Muezzin.
There will be contagious celebrations accompanied by the sounds of music and the movement of vibrant dances reminiscent of the East.
In the Medieval Fair, the mystical atmosphere beginseach dayat 6pm with the Medieval Parade, in which participants dress in period costumes and parade through Medina and Arrabaldes.
At 8pm and 10.30pm at Al-Mut’amid Square, the rebel Yahyâ Ibn Bakr Ibn Zadlaf faces off against the Umayyad army during the War Games.
And at 10.30pm, Oriental Nights, dazzling music, dance, and fire displays will take place at Silves Castle.
More than a hundred exhibitors, including artisans, confectioners, mystics, and merchants, will be present, offering gastronomy, shows, and historical entertainment.
Volunteers wishing to take part in the fair can do so by registering on the Municipality’s websiteuntil July 31.
Registration is open to people over 16, “with availability, motivation, team spirit and responsibility, who wish to collaborate in different areas, supporting entertainment and shows, participating in parades, among others”, says the Municipality, inviting all those wanting to be part of history to sign-up.
The Lagoa Jazz Fest’2023 takes place in Estômbar’s Sítio das Fontes Municipal Park, between July 21-23
– July 18, 2023
From July 21 to 23, jazz nights are back to Lagoa, with the Lagoa Jazz Fest, now in its 18th edition, taking place at the Sítio das Fontes Park in Estômbar.
This year’s special guests include Camille Bertault, recognised by Vanity Fair as the ”new voice of jazz” and by Le Figaro as a “daring talent”. She comes to Lagoa alongside names such as Polly Gibbons, who will perform with the Algarve Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Hugo Alves.
Resuming Lagoa Jazz Fest’s commitment to the diversity of aesthetics and instrumentations, more or less conventional in jazz, this year’s programme features two unavoidable names of the accordion, João Barradas and Vincent Peirani, and Suite Nordeste, a trio of Brazilian musicians admittedly inspired by the mixture of styles and influences between Brazilian popular music, classical music and jazz.
As always, the Lagoa Jazz Fest’2023 presents high quality projects, with the best performers in harp, koto, harmonica, cimbalom, bandoneon, vibraphone, among others.
Between solos, duos, trios, quartets and quintets, as well as big bands, this festival has it all.
Since 2003, more than 250 musicians from countries such as Portugal, Spain, the United States of America, France, Italy, Austria, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Colombia and India have played on the stage of the Lagoa Jazz Fest.
Tickets cost €12 and can be purchased online at Bol, or at the ticket offices of the municipality of Lagoa, at Convento de S. José, Lagoa’s Carlos do Carmo Auditorium, Balcão Único or the usual places, such as CTT, Fnac and Worten.
Visitors with a Cultural Passport, Lagoa Social Card or Rota do Petisco 2022 Passport have a 20% discount.
The event venue opens at 7pm and closes at 1am, with performances in the lounge area starting at 8.30pm and on the main stage at 10pm.
In addition to the performance areas, there will also be a catering area and an exhibitions area.
Programme for the Lagoa Jazz Fest’23:
July 21
Main Stage: Algarve Jazz Orchestra with special guest Polly Gibbons;
Main Stage: ”De Acordeão para Acordeão” with Vincent Peirani and João Barradas, Suite Nordeste Trio with João Ventura (piano, keyboard and vocals), Júnior Maceió (alto, soprano and baritone saxophones, transverse flute and digital aerophone) and Rogério Pitomba (drums, percussion);
Lounge area: Allyson Garrido (vocals) and Fernando de Castro Neves (guitar).
July 23
Main Stage: Camille Bertault 5teto with Camille Bertault (vocals), Fady Farah (piano), Julien Alour (trumpet), Christophe Minck (bass and moog) and Minino Garay (drums and percussion);
Lounge area: Genoveva Faísca (vocals) and Carlos Santos (keyboards).
Additional information:
Lagoa Town Hall informs that it initially announced that singer Jane Monheit would be the guest artist performing with the Algarve Jazz Orchestra. However, due to a one-off health issue, Jane Monheit’s appearance had to be cancelled. The singer will be replaced by Polly Gibbons.
Tickets already purchased for July 21 will remain valid but you can request a refund.
