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Coala Festival Portugal has unveiled the first headliners for its fourth Portuguese edition, uniting three towering figures who have shaped the history of Brazilian popular music. Zeca Pagodinho, Alcione, and Jorge Aragão are the first confirmed acts for the event, returning to Hipódromo Manuel Possolo, in Cascais, on 29 and 30 May. Performing under the banner "O Maior Encontro do Samba", the show marks the debut of this joint format in Portugal, weaving together three trajectories that have steered the course of samba and pagode over the past five decades.
With a career spanning over 40 years, Zeca Pagodinho remains the ultimate benchmark for traditional samba de raiz and pagode. Alcione – the unmistakable voice behind anthems such as "Não Deixe o Samba Morrer" and "A Loba" – boasts half a century of uninterrupted artistry, commanding a catalogue that cuts across generations. Meanwhile, Jorge Aragão, a founding member of the seminal group Fundo de Quintal, stands out as one of the most prolific songwriters in the Brazilian songbook, having penned fundamental anthems that cemented contemporary pagode.
This gathering "is not merely a concert; it is a celebration of the history and tradition of one of Brazil's most emblematic musical genres," reads the official press release. "The performance brings together the greatest classics" of all three key samba figures, taking audiences on "a journey through several decades" of Brazilian soundscapes.
Since landing in Cascais, Coala Festival has championed a sonic dialogue across Brazil, Portugal, and Africa, previously playing host to both foundational pioneers and forward-thinking acts including Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Ney Matogrosso, Carminho, Slow J, Marina Sena, Ana Frango Elétrico, and Liniker.
Hipódromo Manuel Possolo, Avenida da República, 371 (Cascais). 29-30 May (Sat-Sun). €99-€209