Forró Brazuca brings the Brazilian Independence Day celebration to one of its favorite dance halls, Ashkenaz, complete with a forró dance lesson for beginners taught by Marcela Breton, samba dancers from Amor do Samba, and hot recorded Brazilian dance music curated by DJ Lucio K. Known as “Sete de Setembro” (the 7th of September), the celebration marks Brazil’s declaration of independence from Portugal’s rule in 1822.

Forró Brazuca plays the sensuous upbeat sounds of northeastern Brazil like no other band in the Western United States. Inspired by the music of wild accordionist Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson do Pandeiro, Trio Virgulino, and Dominguinhos, Forró Brazuca performs Latin, folk, and roots music at its festive, rollicking best! Formed in early 2007 by four San Francisco-based Brazilians – each from a different region of Brazil – this band has been bringing its accordion-powered dance music (very similar to zydeco and Cajun music, and just as high-energy) to venues all across the Bay Area. They pack dance floors with their forró, xote, and rastapé grooves. Forró Brazuca is accordion player Francelino Alves, bassist Carlos Oliveira (from Pernambuco), drummer Chris Thomas (from Rio), and percussionist/vocalist Paulo Presotto (from São Paulo).