Summer Festival 2023: Olayá

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)

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.

Programme to include:
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

Rosanna Ter-Berg (flutes, vocals, percussion) is one of the most sought after multi-flautists, experimental improvisers and artistic collaborators in the UK and Europe. She is hailed as ‘supercharged’ (The Guardian) & ‘Outstanding’ (Independent) and plays music spanning contemporary classical to Klezmer and La;n music. She works as a musical director in theatre eg in the West-End on the 3xOlivier Award winning show Emilia.

Rachel Hayter (flutes, vocals, percussion) is a flautist and composer specialising in Brazilian music. After an MA at GSMD, Rachel lived and studied music in Brazil with flute/pifano legends Alexandre Rodrigues and Carlos Malta & performed with many Brazilian musicians such as Nailor Proveta, Edu Neves, Jaque Falche;. She plays with award-winning choro quintet Alvorada and her music appears on BBC Radio 3, Jazz FM and Resonance FM. Rachel has lead Brazilian music courses in both SOAS University and Kings College London.

Inês Loubet (vocals, percussion) is one of London's most exciting vocalists and multi-instrumentalists. Her original compositions navigate through the influences of Jazz, Brazilian music and her native language, Portuguese. Loubet's musical ventures have been praised by the likes of Gilles Peterson and The Line of Best Fit, as well as earned her several international tours, radio appearances at Jazz Fm, Worldwide FM & BBC Radio 3, and performances at The Union Chapel, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire & BBC Late Proms.

Julio de Castro (electric bass, vocals, percussion) is a Brazilian vocalist, bassist, musical producer, arranger & collaborator. Notable artists he has featured with include Gal Costa, Racionais Mc’s, Marina Lima, Só Pra Contrariar, Negritude Jr, Carlos Da Fé, Apocalipse 16. He shares album credits with Abe Laboriel, Dean Parks, Tony Peluso (The Carpenters), Cuca Teixeira, Edu Mar;ns, Sandro Haick, Ta;ana Parra and Paulo Calazans to name a few.

Alua Nascimento (vocals, percussion) is a multi-instrumentalist and ex-member of STOMP. He studied popular Brazilian percussion & vibraphone at Free Music University of Sao Paulo & classical percussion at Sao Paulo's Municipal School of Music. He has collaborated with renowned artists such as DJ Jax Jones, Antonio Forcioni, Sam Lee, Raul de Souza and Geraldo Azevedo. Alua is a founding member of the Choro band ‘Alvorada’, who in 2019 won the Latin UK Award (LUKAS) for “Best Act” and the Focus Brazil Award for “Best Band”. In 2011, with the band Pé de Jurema, he won the Brazilian International Press Award for promoting Brazilian culture around the world.

Go behind the scenes with Olayá here.