Brazilica takes place this week in Liverpool

THE COUNTDOWN TO BRITAIN’S BIGGEST BRAZILIAN SAMBA CARNIVAL BEGINS

There are just a few days to go until BRAZILICA, the UK’s biggest Brazilian samba carnival dances into Liverpool. 

BRAZILICA, a Rio-style Brazilian samba carnival exploding with life, music and dazzling costumes will take place this weekend Friday 15^th – Sunday 17^th July at the heart of Liverpool City Centre.

After months of planning, the final preparations are now underway for what promises to be Liverpool’s most exciting, exotic and vibrant spectacle of 2011. The last few sequins and feathers being stitched onto hundreds of dazzling, glamorous costumes, the finishing touches are being made to the many colossal floats and organisers are itching to transform Williamson Square into an authentic Brazilian town square, ready for the ultimate FREE fiesta to begin.

Friday 15^th July will see the festival kick off in a grand style with a plethora of events across the city. The Carnival Queen will be crowned at a glittering competition at Bem Brasil, The Rebel Soul and Misturado Carnival Ball will rock LEAF (Bold St) and Alma de Cuba will celebrate the start of the festival with the world famous Alma de Cuba petal drop.

There will also be a serious side to Friday’s programme with Action for Brazil’s Children Trust’s Brazilica Big City Sleep at the Bluecoat. The ABC Trust will hold a sponsored sleep out challenge for the people of Liverpool to help raise awareness and vital funding for their work in Brazil.

Bebel Gilberto, the Grammy nominated Brazilian singer and Patron of the ABC trust, said:  "The biggest Brazilian samba carnival in the UK sounds absolutely fantastic - I wish I could be there. It is made even more wonderful for me to know that Brazilica is partnering with Action for Brazil's Children Trust - a charity that is very close to my heart and works with street children in my home country"

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Saturday 16^th July will see Williamson Square turned into a Brazilian piazza for a completely FREE day of fun for all the family, complete with a BRAZILICA food market and craft hub for everyone to enjoy.  The Latin themed bar will also be open throughout the day, serving beers and delicious PITÚrinha cocktails, or sample some Barefoot Wine from stalls around the festival site.

Before the carnival parade hits the festival site at around 9.30pm, there will be Brazilian themed acts on the Main Stage at Williamson Sq from 12pm including free dance classes from local dance group Movéma, DJ sets from DJ Muvelo and DJ Gary Garamendi, Samba performances from Pulse of the Place from Edinburgh and a massive performance from MD Productions.  (A full programme is included in the Notes to Editors section)

If sport is more your thing then the BRAZILICA Soccer Zone, which will take place on Williamson Sq from 12pm – 6pm is for you. BRAZILICA has teamed up with The Street Child World Cup, Liverpool FC and AFC Liverpool to offer a thrilling afternoon of Brazil’s favourite sport for everyone to enjoy!! 

The highlight of the festival! The BRAZILICA Carnival parade promises to be an unmissable, dazzling spectacle. Over 500 samba dancers, drummers and stunning floats from 14 samba schools from the UK and Brazil will process through the city’s streets. The parade begins at Abercrombie Square at 8.30pm and takes in Hope St, Hardman St, Leece St, Bold St and Church St, ending at the Main Stage on Williamson Square. As the parade reaches Williamson Square, a large number of performers will take to the stage to give you an evening that you’ll never forget, with the outdoor party continuing until 10.30pm!

Richard Galbraith of Paraiso Samba School, who are travelling up from London to take part in the Carnival Parade said: ‘We are delighted to be able to support Brazilica and are especially looking forward to taking part in the carnival parade through Liverpool’s streets. Hats off to Liverpool Carnival Company for creating the greatest annual Samba Carnival in the UK, long may it continue’

Carry on the fiesta from 10pm at Nation with the BRAZILICA after party. Let loose and party along to a plethora of Brazilian, bands, dance acts and DJs including the world renowned DJ Silvao. 

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Sunday 17^th July is far from a chill out Sunday as a massive crowd of people are expected to turn out to keep fit for a good cause at the BRAZILICA Zumbathon® event on Chavasse Park, Liverpool ONE, from 2pm – 5pm, hosted by  Juice FM’s Leanne Campbell to raise funds for The Marie Curie Hospice, Woolton and Liverpool Carnival Company.

End your weekend on a high with Rebel Soul and Misturado with events at Ropewalks Square and Santa Chupitos, Parr St. Come along to round the festival off in style with a night of new and exciting music, cocktails and DJ sets from Audio Voyeur who will be playing a mix of Brazilian music from Brazilian Folk to Batacuda.

Roger Morris, festival producer at Liverpool Carnival Company said ‘Since we started in 2008, the Liverpool Carnival has continued to grow and we’re looking forward to our biggest year ever with BRAZILICA this weekend. It’s so exciting to think that we now have Britain’s biggest Brazilian carnival on our hands and it’s just days away – we can barely sleep with the excitement! The festival is going to be immense and I hope that the people of Liverpool will come along and join in, shake their hips and dance along to the music with us. it’s going to be sambatastic!’

BRAZILICA is an exciting expansion of Liverpool Carnival Company’s hugely successful carnival parade, which has existed since Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year in 2008 and attracted over 30,000 spectators in 2010. With irresistible rhythms, extravagant costumes, sparkling dancers and colossal floats there is guaranteed to be plenty of glitz and glamour for EVERYONE to enjoy.  Are you ready to samba?

Download the full BRAZILICA programme from www.brazilicafestival.com.

WE ARE READY TO SAMBA

More information can be found at www.brazilicafestival.com
Keep up-to-date with Liverpool Carnival Company's events on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/brazilica2011  

BRAZILICA – FESTIVAL DETAILS

FRIDAY 15^TH JULY 2011

The Carnival Queen Competition

Bem Brasil Hanover St | 8pm Onwards | SOLD OUT

Carnival at Alma De Cuba

Seel St | From 10pm |FREE ENTRY

The Rebel Soul & Misturado Brazilica Carnival Ball

LEAF Bold St | 8pm – 2am | £3 entry on the door with a free glass of wine courtesy of Barefoot Wine

Action for Brazil’s Children Trust’s Brazilica Big City Sleep

The Bluecoat | All Night |

'Action for Brazil's Children Trust & Momentum Arts - Cardboard City'

The Bluecoat | Throughout the Weekend | FREE

SATURDAY 17 JULY

WILLIAMSON SQ

The Brazilica Food Market

Williamson Sq | From 12pm

The Brazilica Craft Hub

Williamson Sq | from 12pm

12pm – 4pm

MAIN STAGE

The Juice FM DJs

DJ Muvelo of One Latin Culture

Pulse of the Place

Movema – Afro Brazilian Dance Classes

MD Productions

SOCCER ZONE

12pm – 3pm Football Coaching with AFC Liverpool and Liverpool FC

3pm – 4pmThings get competitive with a family penalty shoot-out.

4pm – 8pm

MAIN STAGE

Dj Gary Garamendi of Latin Revolution

Kael Dance

Afro Samba

The Juice FM DJs

Marc Vormawah and his 10 piece band

SOCCER ZONE

4pm – 6pm - Street Style Football Competition

8pm – 10.30pm

MAIN STAGE

Afro Samba

DJ Gary Garamendi of Latin Revolution

The Samba Parade Arrival (around 9.30pm)

The Juice FM DJs

THE BRAZILICA AFTER PARTY

Nation, Wolstenhome Square| 10pm -3-30am | £5 on the door

SUNDAY 18 JULY

Cultural Crossover

Ropewalks Square | From 12pm | FREE

The BRAZILICA Charity Zumbathon

Chavasse Park –Liverpool One | 2- 5pm | £5 from www.brazilicafestival.com

The Official Closing Party

Santa Chupitos | From 7pm | FREE

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Brazilica Samba Carnival Launches in Liverpool

The programme of events for the UK’s largest samba carnival event, BRAZILICA, was announced last night at the festival’s glittering VIP launch event, which was held at Bem Brasil, Liverpool.

BRAZILICA will be a massive 3 day event taking place across the city from Friday 15^th – Sunday 17^th July. 

BRAZILICA promises to be Liverpool's most exciting, exotic and vibrant spectacle: a Rio-style Brazilian samba carnival exploding with life, music and dazzling costumes through the streets of the city centre.

Roger and Maeve Morris, festival producers at Liverpool Carnival Company said:

“Thank you to everyone who came along and enjoyed a taste of what Brazilica will be when it takes over the city next month.  The festival is going to be immense and we hope that the people of Liverpool will come along and join in, there will be so much to do, it’s going to be sambatastic!’

Since we started in 2008, the Liverpool Carnival has continued to grow and we’re looking forward to our biggest year ever with BRAZILICA in 2011. It’s so exciting to think that we now have Britain’s biggest Brazilian carnival on our hands! “

BRAZILICA will comprise of three exciting days of fiesta:

FRIDAY 15 JULY

Friday 15^th July will see the fiesta kick off in a grand style with a wealth of events happening across the city. The Carnival Queen Competition, which takes place at Bem Brasil will see a plethora of beautiful dancers samba it out for the title of Carnival Queen, who will take the title? Join celebrity judges Ken Dodd, Danielle Lloyd and Marcia da Silva Pinto to find out! All proceeds go to the Action for Brazil Children’s Trust.

Friday will also see The Rebel Soul and Misturado Carnival Ball will also take place at LEAF, Bold St, Featuring live music and dancing from Batala, Liverpool Samba School and Toca Bossa in addition to DJ sets from Audio Voyeur playing a mix of traditional Brazilian Folk, Bossa Nova, Samba and Dance music.

In addition, Alma de Cuba invites you to witness the Carnival atmosphere with the world famous Alma De Cuba petal drop. Dance the night away with music from Alma de Cuba’s resident DJs and sensational Samba dancers.

There will also be a serious side to Friday’s programme with Action for Brazil’s Children Trust’s Brazilica Big City Sleep at the Bluecoat. The ABC Trust will hold a sponsored sleep out challenge for the people of Liverpool to help raise awareness and vital funding for their work in Brazil. Momentum Arts will be on hand at the big sleep to work with participants to create a cardboard city, which will raise awareness for the estimated 7 million children living and working on the streets of Brazil.  The cardboard ‘favela’ will aim to give people an indication of the harsh and brutal reality of the everyday life of these vulnerable children.

SATURDAY 16^TH JULY

Saturday 16^th July will see Williamson Square turned into a Brazilian piazza for a completely FREE day of fun for all the family, complete with a BRAZILICA food market and craft stalls selling Latin foods and goodies, which the whole family are sure to love.  Dine the Latino way with Portuguese sardines, Spanish paella and a range of meats from Bem Brazil You can also try a little feoijada, Brazil’s national dish. The Latin themed bar will also be open throughout the day, serving a range of specialist cocktails and beers including delicious PITÚrinhas. In addition, Barefoot Wines will be on hand with wine samples throughout the day.

If getting active is more you’re thing then make sure you’re around for the BRAZILICA Soccer Zone, which will take place on Williamson Sq  from 12pm – 6pm, promising a range of exciting football related activities for the whole family to get involved in! BRAZILICA, with The Street Child World Cup, Liverpool FC and AFC Liverpool will bring you a thrilling afternoon of Brazil’s favourite sport!  From 12pm – Join the AFC Liverpool & Liverpool FC coaches for a Brazilian style football coaching for boys and girls of all ages.  At 3pm, things get competitive with a family penalty shoot-out. At 4pm you get the opportunity to show-off your talent in a street style football competition with finalists performing on the Main Stage.

If you’d rather dance along with us, then witness some awe inspiring performances from visiting samba schools, dance professionals and live sets from Brazilian and local bands and DJs throughout the day on the Main Stage area. You can take part in Brazilian and South American themed classes, workshops in Capoeira, Brazilian Dance and Zumba with local artists including Movéma.

The BRAZILICA Carnival Parade

The highlight of the festival! The BRAZILICA Carnival parade promises to be an unmissable, dazzling spectacle. Over 500 samba dancers, drummers and stunning floats from 14 samba schools from the UK and Brazil will process through the city’s streets, all in glittering costumes and headdresses, dancing to the samba beat. The parade begins at Abercrombie Square at 8.30pm, ending at the Main Stage on Williamson Square. As the parade reaches Williamson Square, a large number of performers will take to the stage to give you an evening that you’ll never forget, with the out-door fiesta continuing until 11pm!

Look out for the samba schools taking part: Paraiso School of Samba from London,  Republic of Swing, Manchester School of Samba and Cordao de Ouro Capoeira from Manchester, Pulse of the Place Samba Group from Edinburgh, Karamba Samba from Chester and Oxiris Samba Group from Wirral to name but a few. The infamous Sao Paulo based samba group Nene de Vila Matilde will also fly in especially for the parade, so make sure you don’t miss a rare opportunity to catch them in the UK!

Carry on the fiesta until the early hours at the BRAZILICA after party as the festival takes Carnival in Liverpool back to where it all began- Nation, home of the ‘Carnival Club Night,’ voted one of the top 10 nights in the Northwest by Mixmag.  Let loose, mingle with the dancers and party along to the Carnival DJ’s and performers.

SUNDAY 17^TH JULY

Sunday 17^th July is far from a chill out Sunday as a massive crowd of people are expected to turn out to keep fit for a good cause at the BRAZILICA Zumbathon® event on Chavasse Park, Liverpool ONE, from 2pm – 5pm. Ritmo Fitness will lead an energetic three hour charity Zumbathon® one of the biggest in the UK this year. The event will raise funds for The Marie Curie Hospice, Woolton and Liverpool Carnival Company. ‘Ditch the workout and join the party’ in the heart of Liverpool, all for a good cause!

The Rebel Soul, Misturado BRAZILICA Fringe will keep the party going throughout the day with events in Ropewalks Square and Santa Chupitos, Parr St. Come along to round the festival off in style with a night of new and exciting music. End your weekend on a high with one of Santa Chupitos’ exquisite cocktails and a plethora of live performances from Brazilian acts including Music Sistah and Uaná Duo as well as local acts, Audio Asylum and The Ratty Little Fingers. Plus DJ sets from Audio Voyeur who will be playing a mix of Brazilian music from Brazilian Folk to Batacuda. Brazilian and local (acoustic) musicians are invited to come along and join the jam.

The Brazilica Brochure, which includes a full programme of the festival weekend, is now available to download from www.brazilicafestival.com.

                                                        
BRAZILICA will be a massive 3 day event taking place across Liverpool. The festival is an exciting expansion of Liverpool Carnival Company’s hugely successful carnival parade, which has existed since Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year in 2008 and attracted over 30,000 spectators in 2010. It is hoped that this success will be exceeded at BRAZILICA, a feat which is ever more possible thanks to the festival’s partnership with the BID district.

 With irresistible rhythms, extravagant costumes, sparkling dancers and colossal floats there is guaranteed to be plenty of glitz and glamour and EVERYONE is invited to join in the celebration!

As Liverpool’s love of all things Brazilian continues to grow the links and similarities between Liverpool and Brazil are becoming ever clearer. Our mutual love of sport, celebrated footballing histories and strong sense of community spirit mean that we have a lot in common.  BRAZILICA will celebrate this link and all things Brazilian when it stomps into Liverpool this July.

ARE YOU READY TO SAMBA? 

More information can be found at www.brazilicafestival.com
Keep up-to-date with Liverpool Carnival Company's events on Twitter at:  

http://twitter.com/brazilica201

Read More