Get ready for carnival fever as Brazilica returns this weekend

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Brazilica

Summer is about to get a whole lot hotter and set to the sounds of the samba beat as Brazilica, the UK’s only Brazilian festival and samba carnival, returns to the city this weekend.

Organisers can now reveal full details of music and events which will take place over carnival weekend from Friday July 17–Sunday July 19.

The annual Carnival Queen Competition will kick the weekend off in sensational style on Friday July 17 at Alma De Cuba. Brazilian dancers from far and wide all battle for samba supremacy, which will see each dancer showcase their best routine, most dazzling costume, and of course their sparkling personality and energy. A highlight in the Brazilica calendar, the Carnival Queen competition hosted by DJ Ellie Phillips always proves to be a fun and highly entertaining evening which will get audiences in the samba spirit.

Then, on Saturday July 18, get ready to party as it is Carnival Day which as ever culminates in the spectacular night time Carnival Parade which remains the main festival highlight; the huge samba parade travels through the city from 8pm filling the streets with colour, music and fun. Featuring Samba bands from across the UK and overseas.

There will also be a fantastic variety of free performances from visiting bands taking place in the city centre on Saturday July 18 in Clayton Square. Beat N Drum from Belfast, Samba Funk Factory from France, Oya Batucada from Birmingham and Liverpool’s own Katumba will entertain shoppers over the Brazilica weekend.

Closing this year’s Brazilica, District and Constellations in the Baltic Quarter will host the carnival after parties on Saturday July 18 from 10pm where the samba and Latin- House vibes are set to keep crowds partying until 3am. A night set to be full of surprises, enjoy great music, dance and performances as those on hand say goodbye to Brazilica for another year. Tickets for this amazing Brazilica send-off are just £5 with a wristband to swing between both venues, so be sure to join in for the carnival party of the year!

There is also plenty of fringe events to enjoy on the week leading up to carnival weekend.

New for 2015 and building on the success of the film screenings in previous years, organisers have announced Brazilica Film Festival in association with Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill. Twelve films celebrating Brazilian life and culture will be screened at various venues across the city between Wednesday July 1–Sunday July 19, with the majority of films free to attend.

There will also be a special Graffiti Art Exhibition at FACT running throughout the festival from Wednesday July 1–Sunday July 19 which compliments the screening of Cidade Cinza, one of the films screened as part of the Film Festival.

Inspired by the work of graffiti artists Os Gemeos, Cranio and others, the exhibition presents the style of graffiti shown in the documentary that has made the bohemian suburb of Vila Madalena in Sao Paulo a tourist attraction, and brought some of the artist’s worldwide fame.

Be sure to watch out for the Carnival Parade route which organisers will be announcing shortly.