ArtistInfo

Toninho Almeida

BR
Composer

Multi-instrumentalist author/composer born in Euclide Da Cunha, a small town in Bahia, Brazil, Toninho Almeida has had a passion for artistic expression from a very young age. He arrived in Rio at the age of 17 and was struck by the urban cultural melting pot he discovered - an artist was born! He proved to be an impulsive poet, a versatile actor and a prolific, self-taught guitarist. Next stop Sao Paulo where the decadence of the dictatorship heralds a cultural scene seething with excitement, freedom and consciousness-raising. He publishes poems and goes from one poetry, theatrical and musical scene to another with his compositions. He is opening act for, among others, Gilberto Gil. He reinforces his musical gifts through a rigorous apprenticeship and becomes a professor at the Contemporary Music Academy of Bahia. He flies off to France in 1990 - first Paris, then Lille. He teaches dance, guitar and percussion and, at the same time, starts up numerous musical projects and goes on several tours inspired by the recording of two albums: Violette 41 and Mitade. Five years go by during which Toninho decides to get back to his cultural roots and Brazilian standards (forro, traditional Afro-Brazilian music, pagoda. . . .) From this arises the creation of projects such as Samba de Bamba and Forro Pitu. Filled with renewed energy with a new album in the works Deu Forro No Samba, he reinterprets his own music. Above all, he presents his latest compositions, a new group, new inspiration. Often on the road, Toninho has already performed at: L'Aéronef (Lille) La Barraca Zem (Lille) La Gare Saint-Sauveur (Lille) Le Centre Culturel Guy Gambu (Saint-Marcel) Le Centre Culturel Daniel Balavoine (Arques) Le P'tit Bal Perdu (Paris) Festival Forró Lille Forró Festival Cologne Journées des Danses d'Amérique Latine (Limoges) Festival des Mondes Pluriels (Grande-Synthe) Festival Zum Zum Zum (Londres) Festival Angoleiros do Mar (Paris) Bal à Fives (Lille) Festival Musiques de Traverse (Lille, Roubaix, Saint-Amand) Wazemmes l'accordéon (Lille) Roubaix Accordéon (Roubaix) Deûle en Fête (Lille)

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