The festival marks its 10th edition this year, reflecting on developments since 2014 through a revisit of spaces and key figures.
This extends to music, with the program once again featuring some guests from previous editions, alongside well-established acts in the national scene, and both Portuguese and international talents, the organization announced today in a statement.
“In this celebration of ten editions, we have the nostalgia of presenting, in a new form, artists who have shaped the festival’s history, revisiting city locations with the same significance, yet ensuring we remain forward-looking,” stated program director Mariana Lois.
A Porta continues to prioritize diversity, asserting that “there should be no fear in blending different musical genres.”
An example of this is the festival’s opening night on June 2, featuring the fado of Sérgio Onze and the “psychedelic vibes, funky guitars, and tropical beats” of Noko Woi, the Barcelona-based band fronted by Salvador Sobral.
On June 5, A Porta presents Filipe Sambado, Evaya, and Surma + Larie, showcasing the results of an artistic residency.
Commemorating 21 years of the album “Feeding the Machine,” X-Wife will perform in Leiria on June 6, alongside the electronic sounds of Belgian Antoine Pierre in the Vaague project, and appearances by Cremalheira do Apocalipse, Unsafe Space Garden, and Nigerian singer-songwriter Aunty Rayzor.
Performances on June 7 include those by Caio, Veronica Fusaro, Ana Lua Caiano, Rossana, Scúru Fitchádu, Travo, Maquina, and Von Di, while the closing event on June 8 will feature the blend of Brazilian, African, and Jamaican sounds of Gardênia & Tecnofoguete.
Concerts will be held across stages at the former Pousada da Juventude de Leiria, Villa Portela, and Centro Cívico. The festival will also extend to Rua Direita and its side streets, the Atlas restaurant-bar, and vacant shops at the Centro Comercial D. Dinis for the Casa Plástica exhibition.
Several artists have been invited to showcase their work in visual arts, with a special residency developed by Alexandra Saldanha, vocalist of Unsafe Space Garden, Maria Pinheiro (known as Carlos Roxo), and Neuza Matias, who will create for the Pousada da Juventude.
Other exhibitions announced include “Leiria and the People of Leiria,” with which Ricardo Graça celebrates 20 years of photography focusing on the city and its inhabitants, and a commemorative showcase of the festival’s ten editions.
The festival’s conclusion will feature the premiere of a performance designed by the creative residency Porta por Miúdos. This involves young people aged 8 to 14 exploring the transformations and challenges of Rua Direita, a central and historic street in Leiria, through journalism and theater, in an exercise aimed at reflecting on and imagining the future of this thoroughfare.
