MUSIC: British Embassy puts on gigs for fans in Sao Paulo

Mark Hillary is a British writer based in Brazil who’s been working with the British Embassy in Brazil to arrange a number of music concerts featuring British artists during the World Cup. If you’re in Sao Paulo on 19th June, check out the below…

São Paulo can be an intimidating city. With twenty million people, and very few of them understanding English, it can be hard to feel at home – even with winter sunshine that is usually warmer than the summer back in England.

So, if you are travelling to São Paulo for the England v Uruguay game on June 19^th then there are some events going on that day you need to know about that just might make life easier for you.

The #GREATPubRock festival has been organised by the British Embassy to help promote the UK music industry, with some talks and workshops, but the most interesting part of the festival is the gig on the day of the Uruguay game which is going to be a treat for England fans in São Paulo.

At 11am on the morning of the 19^th, the Salve Jorge pub will open for business on the Antônio Prado Square – a fantastic pedestrian area in the old city centre. The bar faces the Brazilian stock exchange, but the 19^th of June is a national holiday so instead of City bankers we expect the square to be filled with England fans. The famous Banespa building is right next to the square and was modelled on the Empire State Building in New York. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altino_Arantes_Building]

The bandstand at the centre of the square will come alive with British artists playing live from noon so you can start the day in a beautiful part of the city with British artists singing live and warming up the fans for the day with Three Lions, World in Motion, Vindaloo, and some appropriate sing-along songs – how about Live Forever by Oasis?

The square is just a few minutes away from the FIFA Fan Fest and a Metro station, so if you want to go to the Fan Fest or head off to the game, it’s easy to come along to see the musicians and then head off to watch the game live or on the FIFA big screens.

The British artists are playing two shows after the game. One is immediately after the final whistle so if you don’t have a ticket then head to the All Black pub for great beer, food, and The MacManus Brothers playing live right after the game.

From 9pm all the artists will be at O’Malley’s pub, playing live until eleven, although the pub will be open until 4am or 5am the next day – in case you plan on celebrating that evening!

Locations, times, and artists details are all listed below. The MacManus Brothers are taking song requests on their Facebook, so if you are planning to come along then go and add a request for your favourite British song on their Facebook wall – they might just do it live in the square or pub, just for you!

The brothers are also launching their new album the following day in São Paulo, so any England fans who are staying in São Paulo on Friday 20^th June should check this Facebook event for details of the launch event at the St George’s Pub: http://j.mp/mmbrothersbrazil

Locations and times:

• Salve Jorge : music Noon (bar open from 11)
• Praça Antônio Prado – Centro (Antônio Prado Square)
• The MacManus Brothers / Dave McCabe / Silent Sleep
• Map: http://j.mp/pracaantonioprado
• Website: http://centro.barsalvejorge.com.br/

The square is pedestrianised so you can’t get a taxi all the way there, however the venue is right in front of the Brazilian Stock Exchange (BOVESPA) so you have an easy to find landmark.

The square is very close to São Bento Metro station (5 minute walk) and also the FIFA Fan Fest (also about 5 minutes walking) so fans who come to the live music event can leave and easily go to the Fan Fest or go to the Metro – if heading to the stadium for the game.

This map shows the Square in the centre (marked with an arrow), to the west you can see the large green area that is where the FIFA Fan Fest is located. To the north is São Bento metro station.

• All Black Pub : 18:00 (or immediately after the final whistle for England v Uruguay)
• The MacManus Brothers
• Map:              http://j.mp/Allblackpub
• Website:       http://www.allblack.com.br/

• O’Malley’s Pub 21:00 – 23:00
• The MacManus Brothers / Dave McCabe / Silent Sleep
• Map: http://j.mp/omalleyspub
• Website: http://www.omalleysbar.net/

The Artists:

The MacManus Brothers – Ronan and Ruairi MacManus come from a family steeped in the musical heritage of Irish migrants to the UK. Their father, Ross MacManus, sang and played trumpet with the Joe Loss orchestra, and their elder brother Declan MacManus is better known by his stage name Elvis Costello. In 2014, Ronan and Ruairi have reunited as a duo and are launching their new album ‘Elephant in the Room’ in São Paulo on June 20th.

Silent Sleep is the current music project of Christopher McIntosh, who played in Liverpool bands 28 Costumes and Hallo…I Love You! until April 2010, when he moved himself to Berlin. He returned to Liverpool at the start of 2012 and set about putting together a band. Their first record came out in 2013 and is called Walk Me to the Sea. 

Dave McCabe is the lead singer of The Zutons, an English indie rock band from Liverpool. They achieved their biggest hits with “Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love?” and “Valerie”, both taken from their second studio album Tired of Hanging Around in 2006. “Valerie” was later covered by Mark Ronson (with the lead vocals provided by Amy Winehouse), who took the song to number 2 in 2007.