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AN OFFICIAL PRODUCTION
#DANCARMARKETING
JUNE 7, 8, 14 AND 15, 2025
IBIRAPUERA PARK, SÃO PAULO
A HISTORIC EDITION
OFFICIAL AFTERMOVIE
11th EDITION 2024
BUDDY GUY • TOM MORELLO • GOO GOO DOLLS • EXTREME
STEVE VAI • THE NU BLU BAND • IRA! • DAY LIMNS
DEAD FISH • ARTUR MENEZES • NANDA MOURA
MALVADA
JUNE 2 to 4, 2023
IBIRAPUERA PARK - SÃO PAULO, SP
The 10th anniversary edition of the Best of Blues and Rock presented the audience with memorable shows by Buddy Guy, the legend of Blues who presented his farewell tour 'Damn Right Farewell Tour', and fellow American Tom Morello. The quality of the sound and light, and the simultaneous projections of the shows, were highly praised by the audience that was present, as well as by the artists who performed.
Over the course of three days, the public could also see performances by other big names in international music, such as the band Extreme, which, in addition to classics such as 'More Than Words', performed new tracks from the album 'Six'.
Steve Vai brought his Hydra (a guitar with 3 necks, one with 12 strings, one with 7 strings and one with four strings, which works like an electric bass), and showed all his virtuosity on Saturday.
Goo Goo Dolls had fans going crazy with songs like 'Iris'. Another big attraction at the event was The Nu Blu Band, led by singer Carlise Guy, daughter of legendary guitarist Buddy Guy.
The Brazilian scene was also represented and included the bands Ira!, Dead Fish and Malvada, the talented Day Limns, the singer and guitarist Nanda Moura, as well as the bluesman Artur Menezes who returned to the festival after his performance in 2017.
THE BRANDS AT THE 10th EDITION OF THE FESTIVAL
BUDDY GUY
“The first time I was there, I was very surprised, because Brazilians knew my music. I knew there were very loving people, but I didn’t imagine so much affection. Then, I fell in love. I love Brazil.”
The statement is from Buddy Guy, a few weeks before landing in the country again for two shows in the 2023 edition of Best of Blues and Rock, in his third participation in the festival.
The artist's first album, “I Left My Blues in San Francisco”, was released in 1967. The most recent, “The Blues Don't Lie”, his 34th studio album, came in 2022. In the same year, Buddy launched his farewell tour, the “Damn Right Farewell Tour”, presented at this edition of the festival to Brazilian fans.
The memory of a previous visit to the country comes from his heiress, singer Carlise Guy, who smiles as she tells how her father invited her to go on stage during the 2014 edition of the Best of Blues show.
This time, “Guy Daughter” also officially performed at the festival with her own project, “The Nu Blu Band”. “Singing was an escape for me, I never saw it as a job. It felt good. I wanted to do more when I saw that it also did good for more people”, says Carlise.
TOM MORELLO
A lot has changed in the world and in Tom Morello's career since his last visit to Brazil, in 2018. The New York guitarist returned to the country with three new studio albums and a failed Rage Against the Machine reunion tour under his belt – the group's series of shows had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and, later, canceled in 2022 due to a leg injury suffered by vocalist Zack de la Rocha.
Morello took the stage twice at Best of Blues and Rock 2023, on June 2nd and 4th. On Sunday, June 4th, Morello surprised the audience by taking the stage during Buddy Guy's performance in a unique tune.
On his other visits to Brazil, Morello found unexpected sources of inspiration in the samba schools: “When we arrived at the samba school, they were rehearsing for Carnival. That was shocking, one of the best musical experiences of my entire life.”
His visit to the country in 2018 (as the main attraction of the Best of Blues) brought yet another reaffirmation of the musician's connection with social movements. During the show, Morello called for justice for Marielle Franco, a Rio de Janeiro councilwoman who was murdered in March of that year, and dedicated “Killing in the Name” to the Brazilian people.
GOO GOO DOLLS
On the final day of Best of Blues and Rock 2023, the band played alongside legends Tom Morello and Buddy Guy. “I’m going to be the worst guitar player at the festival,” joked Rzeznik. “These guys are incredible. It’s a really interesting combination and it’s going to be fun.”
Human relationships have been the theme of Goo Goo Dolls’ last two albums. The first, “Miracle Pill” (2019), brought reflections, albeit superficial, on the frightening evolution of social media. In “Chaos in Bloom” (2022), the band focused on the difficulties of overcoming the isolation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
For vocalist John Rzeznik, there has been no change in “humanity’s ability to digest” new technologies. “What bothers me most about social media is seeing TikTok destroying the music industry for artists,” he says.
Ironically, “Iris,” the band’s biggest hit, went viral on the video-sharing social network, bringing mixed feelings to the Goo Goo Dolls frontman: “I’m grateful whenever something I do gets recognized, but it doesn’t change how I feel about TikTok. It’s like a new generation discovered the music, and that’s what I carry with me. ‘Iris’ resonated with a new audience.”
EXTREME
Extreme was at the 2023 edition of Best of Blues and Rock not only to play their hits from the late 1980s. The group arrived in Brazil moments before releasing an album of new songs for the first time since 2008. According to guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, the band didn't want to go into the studio without real motivations, which caused the long wait of 15 years between albums.
Six, Extreme's new album, was released on June 9, a week after the band's show in São Paulo.
Unlike groups that reject their own classics, Extreme are grateful for the track that took them to another level, the ubiquitous “More Than Words.” “It’s so annoying! Imagine having to play a song with the whole audience singing along with you. How awful that must be” , Bettencourt says, with irony.
“It’s always been one of the highlights of our show. Sometimes people ask me if it was a blessing or a curse, and I always say that ‘More Than Words’ is a hit, that’s why we’ve been able to make other albums and tours, reach thousands of fans and we’re not working at McDonald’s. I’m proud of it.”
STEVE VAI
“I'm always looking for good ideas.”
This is how Steve Vai describes his mindset before facing the recording of Inviolate (2022), an album whose repertoire dictated his performance at Best of Blues and Rock 2023. “Every creative artist responds to inspirations, which can be simple but unique ideas", he says, about the project recorded during the pandemic.
The quest to improve techniques is no surprise to those who follow Steve Vai, known for his virtuosity and inventiveness on the guitar. However, the 62-year-old musician does not seem to be complacent. The fast phrases are not the only highlight of the tracks, which also feature the unprecedented “joint shifting” technique, created by Vai himself.
“I had some melodic ideas that had been sitting around for a while. During lockdown, I made the album and had time to explore. I wanted new songs that would hand me the melodies on a silver platter, and it all started with ‘Candlepower’”, Vai explains.
“In my head, the idea of joint shifting was to bend in all directions and on different strings at the same time. It would take me years to master this, I have only just scratched the surface. I hope that younger hands, with time on their hands, can unravel the technique.”
THE
NU BLU BAND
The name Nu Blu Band hides a surprise: the vocalist, Carlise Guy, is the daughter of none other than Buddy Guy, who needs no introduction.
Carlise could not be anything less than a great singer, after all it is in her blood, and she learned at home. And, of course, Buddy Guy's daughter would not accept just any guitarist to play with her, and Mark Maddox does not disappoint.
The two, plus drummer Dan Henley, lead a sextet with Dave Holloway (keyboards), JR Fuller (bass) and backing vocalist Kenyatta Gaines.
The group plays not only blues, but also a bit of Motown soul and even pop. That's why they coined the term “nu blu,” a corruption of “new blues.”
Carlise and company delivered an amazing show to the audience, who applauded intensely at the end, with the same emotion as the band on stage.
The Nu Blu Band is a regular at Buddy Guy's Legends, one of Chicago's most renowned blues clubs, owned by Guy. On these occasions, the doting father often guest stars.
IRA!
The band Ira! performed on Sunday, the last day of the tenth edition of Best of Blues and Rock. Playing almost exclusively hits from their first albums, they could not have chosen a more São Paulo-style repertoire. Ira! started the show with “Dias de Luta”, “Flerte Fatal” and “Já Estou Farto do Rock'n'Roll”, which gave great prominence to the guitar of Edgard Scandurra, one of the best instrumentalists in Brazil.
When Brazilian rock exploded in the 1980s, Ira! became one of its main exponents. A few decades later, the band remains one of the most beloved and consistent in the country.
Edgard Scandurra's virtuosity and Nasi's deep voice became trademarks of the quartet, which today has Johnny Boy (bass) and Evaristo de Pádua (drums) replacing former members Ricardo Gaspa and André Jung.
Ira! can be considered the first Brazilian group to mix rock and rap, in “Psicoacústica” (1988). This pioneering work generated controversy among fans at the time, but today the album is considered a classic, chosen by Rolling Stone Brazil as one of the 100 greatest albums in Brazilian music.
Due to personal issues, Ira! ended in 2007, but seven years later its “core group” - Nasi and Scandurra - got closer and decided to reformulate the project.
Committed and with renewed energy, the group released albums (the most recent, IRA, came out in 2020) and, in 2023, generated a show in celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of “Psicoacústica”.
DAY LIMNS
Under the sun, young Day Limns made her debut at the festival, opening the stage for the shows on Sunday, the last day of the 2023 edition.
The singer delivered a lively show, with her fans on the edge of the stage singing her greatest hits. Day even returned to the stage during the performance of the band Ira!, singing the verses originally performed by Pitty in the hit “Eu quero sempre mais”.
Day Limns was a finalist on The Voice Brasil in 2017, and today has more than one hundred million views on her YouTube channel, in addition to almost one hundred million other streams on music platforms.
After gaining popularity on YouTube by posting covers of famous songs, she began to compose. This talent made her in demand by other artists, resulting in songs in partnership with Anitta (the hit “Não Perco Meu Tempo”), Luisa Sonza and Rouge, among others.
Born in Goiânia, Day seemed destined to be a country singer. But at the age of eight she discovered Avril Lavigne, and later learned to play the guitar and compose songs in English, while singing in church.
The singer is also a writer. “This is not just a love letter” is the name of her book of short stories and poems.
DEAD FISH
The band Dead Fish made their debut at Best of Blues and Rock 2023 opening the stage for Saturday's shows, under a intense sunlight, with their hardcore repertoire.
Dead Fish has never had to tone down its sound or its stance to be successful. With a constant schedule of shows throughout Brazil and abroad, two MTV awards, a record for crowdfunding, 11 albums, three DVDs and a 32-year career, it continues to be punk as in its early days, putting its finger on the Brazilian's open wounds.
It all started unpretentiously in 1991, when five friends from Vitória (ES) formed a group to play punk rock covers. In 1998, their first album, “Sirva-se”, was released, selling more than 10 thousand copies in just one year – a feat for an independent hardcore album.
The following year, Dead Fish set up their own label, Terceiro Mundo Produções Fonográficas, to release “Sonho Médio”. After changing musicians and cities (settling in São Paulo), the band secured a contract with the record label Deckdisc and released “Zero e Um” (2004), which had unprecedented national repercussion, earning the “Revelation” award from MTV and the recording of the DVD MTV Apresenta Dead Fish.
The pandemic postponed the celebrations for 30 years on the road, so Dead Fish did the “30+1” tour in 2022, with eighty shows.
ARTUR MENEZES
An old acquaintance of the festival (he performed at the 2017 edition alongside Joe Satriani) and with five albums and an EP released, the guitarist, singer and composer from Ceará (Brazil) has been leaving his mark on the global blues rock scene.
Artur put on an impeccable show, bringing to the stage a bit of his psychedelic, heavy and groovy style, mixed with his Brazilian northeastern roots. This mix adds a unique flavor to the mix and further distinguishes his playing style from that of his contemporaries.
The musician also made a selection of rock songs that were a hit with the crowd at Ibirapuera Park on a super sunny Saturday. In the band that played with him was bassist Fernando Rosa, who is a sensation on social media.
In addition to having performed at the most important festivals of the genre in Brazil, Artur Menezes also performs at several blues clubs in the United States and England, as well as Eric Clapton's Crossroads festival.
The strategy of living in Chicago for a few time gave him contacts and the privilege of sharing jam sessions with stars such as Buddy Guy, John Primer, Jimmy Burns, Linsey Alexander, among others.
NANDA MOURA
Nanda Moura opened the stage of the Best of Blues and Rock 2023. The artist was the first to perform, on Friday, warming up the stage for shows by the bands Malvada, Extreme and Tom Morello.
Nanda usually plays an unconventional instrument – a cigar box guitar (whose body imitates an old cigarette box) with only three strings.
Live, she produces a rhythmic and hypnotic sound, reminiscent of John Lee Hooker, one of the masters of the blues. In acoustic numbers, Nanda also wields an acoustic guitar or a dobro (a steel-bodied guitar, widely used in the early decades of the blues).
Her greatest influences are also uncommon in Brazil: masters from the 1920s and 1930s, such as Blind Willie Johnson, Son House, Robert Johnson, Skip James, Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie and Ma Rainey.
The band that accompanies her, formed by Otávio Rocha (guitar), César Lago (bass) and Gil Eduardo (drums), contributes to the strength of the sound.
The first two are members of Blues Etílicos, and the last was the original drummer of the same band, one of the most revered in Brazilian blues.
MALVADA
The band Malvada emerged in 2020 when Angel Sberse (singer who participated in The Voice Brasil), Bruna Tsuruda (guitar), Ma Langer (bass) and Juliana Salgado (drums) decided to create a female band to make a sound based on hard rock, with lyrics in Portuguese, showing that rock is not just for men.
In 2023, the Best of Blues and Rock audience welcomed the band Malvada, who performed between the classic blues of Nanda Moura and the hard rock of the band Extreme.
During the show, Malvada performed the tour for their debut album, “A Noite Vai Ferver,” as well as new songs and covers such as “Summertime” by Janis Joplin. Another honoree was Rita Lee, who had recently left us. The band played “Esse Tal de Roque Enrow,” by the eternal queen of Brazilian rock.
“It is a great joy for Malvada to be representing the women of Brazilian rock at this festival’s tenth anniversary celebration”, celebrates Angel.
OFFICIAL AFTERMOVIE
DIVE INTO #BESTOFBLUESANDROCK THROUGH OUR LENSES
THE STAGE IS OUR PLAYGROUND,
THE PHOTOS ARE OUR TROPHIES
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