Ney Rios
SANTA BARBARA — “Carnaval Bowl” will kick off the 10th annual Santa Barbara Brazilian “Carnaval Cultural” at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at the So-Ho Music Club, 1121 State St., No. 205, Santa Barbara, organizers reported in a media release.
The opening night event features Ney Rios, a Brazilian musician, composer and singer from Salvador, state of Bahia (often described as the most African city in the Americas) and a former singer with Olodum of Bahia/Brazil, which played with Michael Jackson, Jimmy Cliff and Paul Simon.
He will perform with L.A based Afro-Brazilian band BatukAxe.
“It’s a honor to participate in this 10th Year Celebration and together with all members of BatukAxe performing for the first time in the city that many people known as the California Riviera,”Ney Rios stated in a media release.
The opening event on Feb. 2 will also feature the “Carnaval Queen Contest” presented prior to the concert. Kafi Bella, the 2012 Santa Barbara Brazilian Carnaval queen, is one of the judges for the 2013 competition. The cost for the opening night event is $15.
The festival will continue at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 with “Cinema & Lecture: Tour Around Brazil,” featuring short films about four different regions of Brazil, including the cities of Rio and Salvador, followed by a lecture by a guest speaker. Following the film screening, free Brazilian refreshments will be served. The event will be held at the Santa Barbara Central Public Library, 40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara.
“We’ve always prided ourselves in covering elements of Brazilian culture, either stereotyped or ignored by both the mainstream and Spanish language media. This year, in our 10th anniversary, we have a special mission to show a little bit more of the diversity of Brazilian culture” Lindenberg Junior, Santa Barbara Brazilian Carnaval founder, stated in the release.
The Brazilian “Carnaval Cultural” will conclude at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 with “Carnaval Matinee” at the So-Ho Music Club. People of all ages are welcome to participate and dance through the percussive rhythms of a Rio style samba school and enjoy a Brazilian Culinary Experience — Brazilian food, dessert and drinks will be available. Arrive early for the opportunity to have the Samba dance as well as the Samba percussion introductory class. Tickets at the door are $8 adults, free to youth under 12 years of age. The Santa Barbara Brazilian “Carnaval Cultural” is presented by Contemporanea Instruments of Brazil, Channel 38 Univision and Soul Brasil magazine. Visit www.sbbraziliancarnaval.com for more information.