Who's playing?
Carol Benigno
Carol is a Brazilian accordionist currently living in Portugal. Born into a family of forrozeiros, she has been playing the accordion since she was 10 years old and has performed with several renowned forró artists and groups.
She works academically in Ethnomusicology and Music Education. Carol has released an original album, Lampejo, and has performed at several events and festivals in Europe, including Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, and more.
This will mark Carol’s first performance in Budapest, and she will be joined by a vibrant ensemble featuring Cassio Matheus on zabumba, Lucas Alexandre on triangle, and a special appearance by Matheus Borges, bringing together an authentic forró experience for the audience.
Arrasta Pest
In Budapest, Forró music has been kept alive and evolving for many years by Arrasta Pest. With a sound that balances tradition and freshness, the group brings together the essential elements of the genre while exploring its many expressions and incorporating outside influences into its playing.
As part of the first Budapest Forró Festival, Arrasta Pest takes the stage in a moment that reflects years of dedication to this music and community. A celebration of the journey that brought Forró to the heart of the city.
Arrasta Pest’s name is a playful combination of “arrasta-pé,” one of Forró’s most iconic rhythms, and Budapest, the city where the band was born. Having performed across Budapest and other cities in Hungary, the band has built a loyal and diverse audience.
Desabafo no Pé
The trio Desabafo no Pé is a Forró Pé de Serra project founded in Europe in 2023, bringing together international artists united by a shared passion for the Brazillian northeastern music. On stage, tradition and innovation come together seamlessly, creating a show that honors the roots of forró while presenting it through a contemporary and international lens.
The trio’s lineup reflects the cultural diversity that defines its identity. Zina Bloch (France) leads with the accordion, weaving expressive and immersive melodies, while Mamá Suen (Brazil) anchors the sound with the pulsating rhythm of the zabumba, alongside her warm and powerful vocals. Melissa Morcote (Colombia) sets the groove on the triangle and expands the sonic landscape with transverse flute, diverse percussion instruments, and a distinctive vocal timbre.
Bob Zé
Bob Zé, a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, was born in Northeast Brazil, in the city of Pão de Açúcar, Alagoas. He grew up immersed in forró culture, listening to classics by artists such as Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson do Pandeiro, Trio Nordestino, Genival Lacerda, and others.
In the 1990s, he formed the forró pé de serra group "Bago de Jaca," which offered original songs and reinterpretations of forró classics. The group participated in several festivals, including SESCANÇÃO/ARACAJU, where he presented his song: "Desembesto em Versos."
Living in Hungary for over 6 years, he participated in two festivals in the Czech Republic: Forró Brno Fest and Brasil Fest Brno and in the celebration of Brazilian Day in Bratislava. Currently, Bob Zé continues to invest in his solo career in the forró pé de serra, performing weekly in the Budapest’s nightlife.
DJ Âmy B.
Âmy B. is a leading figure for Brazilian music in Europe. Originally from São Paulo, she is a DJ, vinyl selector, and cultural producer now based in Lyon, where she has lived for over 12 years. She is also the first female DJ in Europe to dedicate her work exclusively to Brazilian music.
Forró has been a central part of her life for more than two decades and remains at the heart of her artistic research. Since 2017, she has been curating Balanço Lyon, the city’s only weekly Forró night, showcasing artists rooted in traditional Brazilian culture. She is also the founder of Carnavália, an association she launched in 2019 to promote Brazilian culture in Lyon.
An experienced performer, she has played at the biggest forró festivals in Europe and in a variety of events throughout Europe and Brazil.
DJ Marinês
Maria Inês, aka DJ Marinês, is a Portuguese-born DJ and vinyl collector based in Turin, recognized as a key figure in the city’s Brazilian music scene. Her journey took a turn in Lisbon, where she discovered a deep connection to Northeast Brazil’s rich culture through Forró dance. Since then, she has grown as a dancer and, inspired by Northeast Brazilian music, began DJing. She started managing Forró di Torino’s music and developed her mixing skills.
Since 2022, she has been the resident DJ for Forró di Torino, also serving as vice-president of the cultural association. Her sets highlight authentic Forró sounds from the ’70s, blended with funk and other Brazilian influences, delivering a vibrant musical journey full of rhythm and passion. Marinês’s music celebrates the soul of Forró, samba, coco, arrastapé, and other traditional Brazilian rhythms, inviting everyone to feel the heartbeat of Brazil.