The lineup for the festival is being unveiled gradually, with new additions including El Sonidero Insurgente from Argentina, Flanders Recorder Duo from Belgium, Protus Marimba Quartet from Spain, Lá no Xepangara representing Mozambique, Brazil, Guinea Bissau, and Portugal, Adam Ben Ezra from Israel and Portugal, and Daniel Kemish from the United Kingdom.
The historic center of Loulé will also host performances by acts such as Mitsune from Japan, The Congos & The Gladiators from Jamaica, Grèn Sémé from Réunion Island, along with several Portuguese artists including Homem em Catarse, Filipe Sambado, Virgem Suta, Cristina Clara, Nomad, Gil Fesch and Nuno Pinto as Duo de Guitarras, A Cantadeira, Nanook, and Eduardo Ramos.
Marking its 21st edition, the festival, scheduled from June 26 to 29, highlights Cape Verde as this year’s guest country coinciding with the 50th anniversary of its independence. The event will feature 54 concerts, showcasing over 300 musicians from 30 different nationalities across 12 stages.
“These days in Loulé signify a convergence of numerous nationalities, with people coming from various parts of the globe, and this greatly pleases us,” expressed Vitor Aleixo, Mayor of Loulé, in an official communication from the organization.
Carlos Carmo, Director of Festival MED, emphasized that having Cape Verde as the guest country creates an ideal synergy with Loulé, where there is a prominent Cape Verdean community; the connection between the city and the archipelago could not be stronger.
The musical lineup includes a tribute concert to Cape Verdean singer Sara Tavares, who passed away in November 2023. Among others confirmed for performances are Cármen Sousa, Ceuzany, Ferro Gaita, Dino D’Santiago with the Tubarões, and the Cesária Évora Orquestra.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to witness live demonstrations of weaving, pottery, and basketry, savor typical Cape Verdean cuisine and beverages, and enjoy live performances of traditional music played on the batuque and cavaquinho.
The bill also features Salvador Sobral with Spanish artist Sílvia Pérez Cruz, Carminho, O Gajo & As Sanfonas da Ponte Velha, Stereossauro, Ana Lua Caiano, and Pedro Joia, with the latter three debuting a project crafted for the festival.
Additional appearances include Malian Vieux Farka Touré, Trinidad and Tobago’s Jeneile Osborne known as Queen Omega, Puerto Rican artist iLe, Welsh musician Cerys Hafana, and from Portugal, Milhana, A Garota Não, and Valter Lobo.
Other confirmed artists are Systema Solar from Colombia, Barrut from France, Balqeis from Egypt, Fulu Miziki from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sofian Saidi from Algeria, Justin Adams & Mauro Durante from the UK/Italy, Shkoon from Syria/Germany, Alain Pérez y la Orquesta from Cuba, Paulo Flores from Angola, and Tarwa-N-Tiniri from Morocco.
