It’s today. The 30th Samba train will depart central Brazil for Oswaldo Cruz at 6:04 p.m. There is a good reason for the broken clock: a reference to the time when Paolo da Portela and his wobbly companions returned from work. This first train is for guests only. From 6:24pm onwards, simply exchange one kilo of non-perishable food for your ticket. The next times are 6:44pm, 7:04pm and 7:44pm. All gigs have a samba circuit. On board, samba dancers will carry on the percussion tradition born on the grounds of Tia Siata’s home, in Praca Unzi. In the destination, artists such as Lisi Brandão, Roberta Sa, Dodo Nobre, Dorina and Velha Guarda da Portela. They will take turns over three stages held in Rio’s North Zone neighbourhood.
The party starts before the train leaves the station. The warm-up will take place on a stage set up in the center of do Brasil, where Marquinhos de Oswaldo Cruz, the old guard of Mangueira, Salguero, Imperio Serrano, Villa Isabel, and samba artists such as Makli Matos, Jesa Nogueira, Dido Nogueira, Osmar do Brik, Ernesto Pires and Marquinhos Sathan, among others, will perform.
The project, inspired by the train journeys of Paulo da Portela – founder of the Blue and White School, who at the beginning of the 20th century met other samba musicians in carriages – went further than its creator, Marquinhos de Oswaldo Cruz, could have expected. It all started initially with a small number of passengers. Today, he mobilizes an audience estimated at more than one hundred thousand people. This number includes not only those who travel by train, with drums beating wildly in the carriages, but also those who pass through the stages set up at Oswaldo Cruz.
– I hope people arrive with great joy to celebrate these 30 years! It is precisely because of tradition that the samba train still exists today. It is one of the cornerstones of the genre’s defense in Rio, says organizer Marquinhos de Oswaldo Cruz.
For singer Roberta Sa, who will perform next Saturday at Palco Dona Ivoni Lara, on Rua Atilla da Silveira, in Oswaldo Cruz, the invitation came at a special moment, from the artist’s double celebration:
– Participating in Trem do Samba specifically in the year it turns 30, while celebrating 20 years of my career, is very symbolic for me. It is a great honor, deep joy and great appreciation to be part of this festival that is already part of the Rio calendar and Rio culture.
The artist born in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, considers samba, like Rio, welcoming:
— Treme du Samba celebrates this rhythm that always welcomes me with open arms and a smile, just like this city that welcomed me as if I was born here. Being in the moment is really special to me.
Attractions in Oswaldo Cruz stages
Mestre Candia stage – Rua João Vicente
- Samba da Volta
- Nigo Alfaro
- Juninho Thibao
- Marquinhos Deniz
- Dudu Nobar
Doña Evoni Lara Theater – Rua Atilla da Silveira
- Terreiro de Criollo
- Costume Louise de Imperio
- Nielze Carvalho
- Not even from Tia Duca
- Roberta sa
Mestre Monarco stage – Paolo da Portela Square
- Portela’s old guard
- Marcelinho Moreira in honor of Arlindo Cruz
- Lacey Brandao