Summer Festival 2023: Olayá

Olayá is a female-led 5-piece flute and percussion band inspired by traditional Northeastern Brazilian bandas de pifanos.

Olayá is a female-led 5-piece flute and percussion band inspired by traditional Northeastern Brazilian bandas de pifanos. Olayá play authentic pifanos (Brazilian bamboo flutes) in close harmony with the addition of vocals, bass and bountiful Brazilian percussion. Their music is heavily rhythmic, contagiously fun and a dose of pure sunshine and joy, with quirky arrangements of traditional Brazilian tunes plus original compositions.

These types of bands have existed in the North of Brazil for hundreds of years but never made it over to the UK. Olayá are intent on bringing the effervescent energy, filling a gap of a musical style that is yet to exist in the UK, and to also illuminate the true versatility of the flute. The songs in this programme tell tales of the tribulations of life in rural Northeast Brazil, such as drought in the Sertão Desert, the perils of fishermen, poverty and migration. Much of the music incorporates the coco rhythm, a dance sung by women from marginalised Brazilian communities.

  • Rosanna Ter-Berg (flutes, vocals, percussion)
  • Rachel Hayter (flutes, vocals, percussion)
  • Inês Loubet (vocals, percussion)
  • Julio de Castro (electric bass, vocals, percussion)
  • Alua Nascimento (vocals, percussion)

Programme

  • Pife Torto
  • Que nem jiló
  • Curumim
  • Canto da Ema / Chochua
  • Pipoca moderna
  • Tupyzinho
  • Deny it all
  • Forro 2 amigos
  • Lamento Sertanejo
  • Baiao arrangement
  • Minha jangada
  • Baiao da penha
  • Assum Preto / Asa Branca

Please note that this event will be held in the Clothworkers Bar and doors will open from 7pm. Book your ticket.

Find out more about Summer Festival 2023: Untold, Unheard and Hidden Stories.