Forro in the Dark...

Brazilian group Forró In The Dark kicks off MoMA Music: BRAZIL, a month of musical performances in MoMA's Sculpture Garden, on July 2.

MoMA Music: Brazil is part of the MoMA Thursday Nights program, in which the Museum stays open until 8:45 p.m. every Thursday in July and August. Visitors can view MoMA's collection and special exhibitions, and enjoy live music and tapas in the Sculpture Garden. July's musical program features Brazilian rhythms ranging from samba to bossa nova and forró. The series is presented in conjunction with the film exhibition Premiere Brazil 2009 (July 16-August 3), which introduces New York audiences to original and accomplished films by Brazilian filmmakers. Music sets will be performed at 5:30 and 7:00 p.m.

Forro in the Dark just played a few tour dates opening for Apostle of Hustle. Those included a June 10th show at the Bowery Ballroom and a June 13th show at Maxwell's. In addition to the MoMa show, the band is scheduled to play a free show at the Stuy Town Oval on July 8th and a day show at the Brooklyn (BKLYN) Yard on July 11th with Nation Beat. Tickets to the July 11th show are on sale. Check out a poster for it below.

As usual, the band is at East Village spot Nublu every Wednesday (though you might want to call ahead to make sure).

Full lineup for the MoMa Thursday nights and all Forro tour dates, below...

Continue reading "MoMA Thursday Nights & other Forro in the Dark shows"

Despite rumors to the contrary, the outdoor Brooklyn venue on the Gowanus canal (at the Issue Project Room's former address) will be open again this summer. Last year it was called The Yard. This year its new name is The BKLYN Yard (388 Carroll St., Brooklyn, NY).

A few events have already been announced (below), and that includes the return of Sunday Best - the dance party happening at the venue every Sunday from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. As an added bonus, this year they've secured the Bell House as a rain location. Full schedule and more details below...

Continue reading "The Yard (now called The BKLYN Yard) is back - initial summer 2009 schedule includes Sunday Best "

Forro in the Dark...

Most of the members of Forro in the Dark hail from Brazil, home of the forro music from which the group derives its name. Though they are purveyors of the Northern Brazilian country rhythms, these days the group has a decidedly New York sound.

According to [percussionist Mauro] Refosco, Forro is a happy, danceable music based on four elements: simple melodies, basic harmonies, driving rhythms and funny lyrics. Those elements are traditionally performed by three instruments: a triangle, an accordion, and a zabumba, a drum pitched somewhere between a low snare and a small bass.

Forro in the Dark differs somewhat from that formula. Instead of the accordion, Jorge Continentos plays the wooden flute called the pifanos, among other wind instruments. They also add various guitars, percussion, and vocals; on their [2006 album Bonfires of Sao Joao], the group brought in the talents of Bebel Gilberto, Miho Hatori and David Byrne. [All Things Considered]

As previously reported, Forro in the Dark is touring with Apostle of Hustle this June. That includes a Bowery Ballroom show on Wednesday, June 10th. Tickets for that are still on sale.

Apostle of Hustle have added more dates to that tour since we posted. Among those is a Saturday, June 13th show at Maxwell's, again with Forro in the Dark co-headlining. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 30th at noon.

Forro's other upcoming shows include a May "Wednesdays" residency at their NYC homebase (and record label), Nublu (62 Ave C b/w 4th & 5th Sts).

Apostle of Hustle will be at Toronto's Olympic Island Festival on Saturday, July 11th with Broken Social Scene, Explosions in the Sky, Beach House and others. Tickets for that are still on sale. AoH's new record, Eats Darkness, comes out May 19th on Arts & Crafts.

All updated tour dates with videos of Forro in the Dark performing with David Byrne and Bebel Gilberto live at Joe's Pub, below...

Continue reading "Forro in the Dark - updated Apostle of Hustle Tour Dates (Maxwell's) & May residency @ Nublu"