Batala Portsmouth
Founded in 2001 by Paulo Garcia, a visiting Brasilian student, this is the bands twentieth year of playing gigs all over the south of England. Highlights include Notting Hill Carnival, The International Festival of the Sea, and Pompey Parades for winning promotion and the FA Cup.
Batala play Bahian style Samba-Reggae which, unlike the ubiquitous Rio style groups, has no percussion instruments and uses only drums. The band are part of Grupo Batala, a global drumming family that now has 25 bands in 15 countries and has over 800 members worldwide. The drums, costumes, and equipment for all of the bands are made in Salvador de Bahia under a fair trade agreement. |
Playing at the Green Fair 2023Performing on the Paddock
10am 12.30pm |
Mundo Batala
Batala is a form of Samba Drum music which originates in Salvador de Bahia in North Eastern Brazil. Batala was formed as the European wing of Cortejo Afro (a style of Brazilian Samba) by Giba Gonçalves in Paris in 1997. Giba is the maestro of the Batala sound, which he composed after the style of his home town Salvador, in Brazil. The music has its roots in African traditional music which found its way to Brazil and has been incorporated in to Brazilian culture since.
"I saw you yesterday at the Folkestone Charivari and was blown away. Amazing drumming, fantastic rhythms, tremendous verve and an all-round great vibe - I defy anyone to stand still." - Bob
"May I just congratulate the Batala Band who performed on The Leas at Folkestone today. We thought they were absolutely brilliant. Please come to Folkestone again!" - Sarah
"I have never heard anything so captivating, it was brilliant, I loved the beat, rhythm, and atmosphere, the volume was fantastic and I was drumming with you to the beat in my mind and still have it in my head!!!" - Paul