SWING & BLUES WEEKEND
IN PORTO
ARE YOU READY FOR 2 DAYS OF PARTY WITH LIVE MUSIC?
2 LOCAL BANDS
THEMED CLASSES WITH LOCAL TEACHERS
BLUES TASTER
1 FRIDAY NIGHT PARTY WITH LIVE MUSIC
1 CARNIVAL THEMED PARTY WITH LIVE MUSIC
1 OUTDOOR SOCIAL
DELICIOUS FOOD AND TIME TO CHILL
We feel super lucky to live in this amazing city by the great Douro river, embraced by the Atlantic Ocean. Grab your jacket and get to know the colorful buildings and the special mist of this cool Portuguese city!
“BUT WHAT IS BOTA GATHERING?”
TICKETS
| SCHEDULE
| SCHEDULE
| WEEKEND’S DETAILS
| WEEKEND’S DETAILS
MR. BIG JOHNNY & THE CITIZEN BLUES
1st local band — friday night
Get ready for a powerhouse blues band based in Porto, blending Portuguese and Brazilian talent with years of experience in the genre. These incredible musicians have shared the stage with legends like Rui Veloso, Chris Jagger, and Mable John.
Their setlist is an irresistible mix of timeless blues classics and soulful originals that honor the genre’s roots while adding a modern twist. Think Robert Johnson, Buddy Guy, and Jimi Hendrix vibes, paired with fresh tunes that ignite the soul. Expect a musical journey through a range of tempos, from smooth and slow to upbeat and lively, perfectly capturing the true essence of the Blues!
Featuring: Mr. Big Johnny (João Fonseca) – Lead Vocals; Edgar Rocha – Guitar; Zé Reis – Bass; André Coelho – Harmonica & Guitar;
2nd local band — saturday night
Caravela Sessions was born from the passion of two musicians for Afro-American music. They blend Brazilian and USA African musical cultures, delivering Swing with a Samba and Bossa Nova twist. Expect those swing tunes we all love, plus a dash of swinging Brazilian musics!
Caravela Sessions also invites other musicians to join the mix, creating unique musical journeys. So, expect a variety of musicians on stage! Get ready to sail on this Caravela full of swing ⛵️💨
MEET THE CAPTAINS:
🎸 Felipe Vargaz is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His work combines samba, jazz, and other Afro-tropical rhythms with world music influences. As a composer, he has contributed to projects like Tropicalissue, Samba Roque Clube, and Samba Sem Fronteiras, recording several albums along the way. As a performer, Vargaz presents solo voice-and-guitar shows, guiding audiences through world music with a special focus on Latin American and Brazilian sounds. His repertoire spans a wide range of styles, from jazz swing and R&B to samba, bossa nova, and his own original compositions.
🥁 João Gil is a self-taught musician with a deep love for playing, composing, and exploring instruments. His passion for jazz led him to become a swing dancer and teacher, immersing himself in the rhythms of Swing and Blues. In addition to being one of the organizers of BG, João Gil is the band leader of Shuffle Collective and the rhythmic backbone of Caravela Sessions!
CARAVELA SESSIONS
SATURDAY NIGHT — A CARNIVAL PARTY
If you’ve never been to a Bota Swing costume party, you’re in for a treat! These nights are packed with colour and creativity 🌈
At midnight, a Soul Train will take over the dance floor — and this is your chance to fully embody your costume and impress the judges with your look and performance during the Soul Train! The best costume & performance combo wins a ticket to the next BG in November! 🏆
(And just to spice things up… the next Bota Gathering will be back in its original format, with workshops and an invited international band 🤫)
So start planning your costume and get ready for the most colorful and exciting Soul Train of the year!
We are trilled to announced our amazing team of Djs!
3 of the most active — and already legendary — local DJs, plus a special guest to keep your body grooving between the band’s sets!
FRIDAY NIGHT: MezGals aka Marina & Sandy + João Gil
SATURDAY NIGHT: Deejay Joe + João Gil
And by the way: not only are they the coolest DJs, they’re also a-ma-zing dancers! Don’t forget to steal them and set the dancefloor on fire!
DJS
FRIDAY TASTER
Blues can lead us to so many dance possibilities! To kick off this festival, we’ll explore ways to enhance connection and rhythm, building a dynamic and expressive blues conversation 🎶
👉 All passes
THEMED CLASS I
LINDY HOP: FOOTWORK & SHAPES
In this workshop, we’ll focus on body styling and movement. Let’s explore the patterns we already know and try out different ways of dancing with them!
Full-pass only | 2 levels available
THEMED CLASS II
MUSICALITY GAMES
“Bum-ba—bumbariba!” — Let’s dive into the world of rhythm and melody! Through creative and fun proposals, we’ll explore our musicality as a dancer who is also a musician 🤫 Expect fun games, from solo moves to partner dancing! — Full-pass only
Everything in this amazing venue downtown Porto
@ Rua de Passos Manuel, 54, Porto
