The festival director, Carlos Carmo, stated that the upcoming concert, featuring the Algarve-born musician of Cape Verdean descent and the iconic Cape Verdean band, will be “special and unique,” highlighting it as a “novel experience” with “the contemporary vision of Dino D’Santiago.”
The 21st edition of the festival invites Cape Verde as a guest country, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of its independence. It will feature 54 concerts, with more than 300 musicians from 30 nationalities across 12 stages.
The band Os Tubarões, known for their morna, coladeira, and funaná, first rose to fame between 1969 and 1994. One of their notable vocalists was the late Ildo Lobo.
Dino D’Santiago, a Portuguese musician, composer, and activist of Cape Verdean heritage, grew up in Bairro dos Pescadores, a former shantytown in Quarteira, where his family settled upon arriving in Portugal.
Carmo also highlighted the Thursday night performance by Ferro Gaita, seen as a cornerstone of Cape Verde music and ambassadors of the country’s traditional funaná genre.
“Our expectations are always very ambitious. We are optimistic about having a good festival and program,” said Carlos Carmo, noting that favorable weather is expected, with warm days and tropical nights.
The Cesária Évora Orchestra, performing on Friday night, comprises original members of the famed Cape Verdean singer’s band, dedicated to preserving her legacy and repertoire.
A tribute concert for Sara Tavares, a Portuguese singer-songwriter of Cape Verdean descent who gained fame in 1994 by winning Chuva de Estrelas and the Festival da Canção, will also be a poignant highlight.
In addition to these performances, Festival MED will feature other artists like double bassist Adam Ben Ezra, bands such as El Sonidero Insurgente, Mitsune, Virgem Suta, and Filipe Sambado.
The historic center of Loulé will also host performances from Japanese group Mitsune, The Congos & The Gladiators from Jamaica, and Grèn Sémé from Reunion Island, alongside Portuguese acts Homem em Catarse, Cristina Clara, Nomad, Gil Fesch and Nuno Pinto – Duo de Guitarras, A Cantadeira, Nanook, and Eduardo Ramos.
The lineup also includes Salvador Sobral performing with Spanish singer Sílvia Pérez Cruz, Carminho, O Gajo & As Sanfonas da Ponte Velha, and Stereossauro, Ana Lua Caiano, and Pedro Joia in a festival-specific project.
Attendees can also look forward to performances by Malian Vieux Farka Touré, Trinidadian Jeneile Osborne, also known as Queen Omega, Puerto Rican artist iLe, Welsh Cerys Hafana, along with Portuguese artists Milhana, A Garota Não, and Valter Lobo.
The festival officially begins on Wednesday at 9:30 PM on the Castle Stage with a free concert by Cape Verdean artist Ceuzany, born in Senegal.
