Discovering the best in Portuguese music at Super Bock Super Rock

17 July 2018, 08:30

With The XX, Stormzy, Justice and Anderson.Paak set to headline, Lisbon's Super Bock Super Rock boasts one of the country's more diverse festival line-ups - but there's plenty to get excited about from around Portugal too. We take a look at ten of the best homegrown artists at the event, which runs from 19-21 July.

1

Keep Razors Sharp

Keep Razors Sharp are Afonso, Rai, Bráulio and Bibi. With a sound between psychedelica, shoegaze and post-rock, their two debut singles I See Your Face and 9th became immediate radio hits, as well as receiving critical acclaim. In 2014 they released the album, Keep Razors Sharp to further triumph. Now they’re back with new material and a fierce live set.

2

Isaura

Isaura’s debut single in December 2014 was "Useless", and the music video received more than 100,000 views on YouTube drawing attention to one of Portugal’s brightest new talents. This was followed by the single "Change It" which also gained great success. She followed this up with the Serendipity EP in May 2015.

After signing a contract with Universal Music, she wrote and sung "O Jardim", the song that represented Portugal in the final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest. And she just released her new album Human. The first two singles I Need Ya and Busy Tone are irresistible electronic pop bangers currently enamouring the Portuguese public.

3

Filipe Sambado & Os Acompanhantes De Luxo

Born in Lisbon, Filipe Sambado began by studying theater, but quickly realized that music was his passion. He grew up listening to hip-hop and rock, having always felt a great need to express himself.

He was a member of Cochaise and is a drummer for the band Chibazqui. As a producer, he worked with artists such as Éme, João Coração and Cão da Morte. After a trilogy of EPs he released Salty Life in 2016, an agile album that speaks of passions, yearnings and uncertainties.

In March of this year, he put out new record Filipe Sambado & os Acompanhantes De Luxo. The first single "Deixem Lá" was a hit and showed that Filipe Sambado never stops.

4

Luis Severo

Originally making music as The Dog of Death and now under his own name, Luis Severo has left his mark on Portuguese music thanks to immaculate songs - classic, but conversely deeply identifying with his generation.

In 2015 he released "Cara d'Anjo" acclaimed by critics as one of the best records of the year. He enjoyed great success in Portugal playing large concerts and heaping public praise.

In 2017 he returned with new record Luís Severo, an emotional trip through the city of Lisbon. "Amor e Verdade" and "Olho de Lince" are two highlights proving the prowess of this young Portuguese musician.

5

ProfJam

As a kid he memorised the lyrics of Eminem and Jay-Z without effort. Today, he’s one of the main names to follow in Portuguese hip-hop. ProfJam has always liked to 'fit in rhymes' and started recording in 2008. As newcomer in 2014 he ended up taking the lead in the Knock Out League, and this talent proved itself once again with the release of the mixtape The Big Banger Theory.

In March 2016 he created his own label, Think Music Records, and released his latest work, MIXTAKES, a record that is marked by the success of the single "Queq Queres". After studying production and music engineering in London, ProfJam returned to Portugal and has been playing incredible shows on the best national stages.

6

Sunflowers

Oporto has always been a city of good rock, and so it continues with Sunflowers. Formed in 2014, they have not stopped making music, and with a punk ethic adapted to the 21st century they release online for the world to hear. In 2016 they recorded their first record The Intergalactic Guide To Find The Red Cowboy. It’s full of distortion, urgent punk, and direct songs.

The band themselves don’t like to complicate things: "We are a rock band and we play rock music for people who like to listen to rock music and watch rock music concerts."

7

The Parkinsons

Bass player Pedro Chau and guitarist Victor Silveira, known as Victor Torpedo, formed the band after being part of the Trio Boys story. They moved to London in search of the punk spirit of the capital, and it was there that they met drummer Chris Low and vocalist Afonso Pinto.

Soon they became known for their incendiary performances. Debut album A Long Way To Nowhere was produced by Jim Reid and Ben Lurie of legendary band The Jesus and Mary Chain. They received great critical success with NME comparing them to The Stooges. Currently working on new material, don’t miss Portugal’s "best live band ever"!

8

La Fura Dels Baus

La Fura dels Baus, a Spanish theatrical group founded in 1979, return to the Nations Park in Lisbon twenty years after having played at EXPO'98. In 2018 they are back to present the show "IN-UP // OUT-UP", designed exclusively for Super Bock Super Rock. A performance full of poetic metaphors, which will reconcile live music, aerial dance, fireworks, great elements, interaction with the public, fire and water for a grandiose spectacle.

The show "IN-UP // OUT-UP" consists of two parts, exploring the best of the diverse environments that characterise the urban format of Super Bock Super Rock, one indoors and the other outside. An exclusive performance not to be missed.

9

Virtus

João Rodrigues, better known as Johnny Virtus, was born in Miragaia, Porto. In 2008 he released his debut EP Introversos. Four years later came UniVersos, his first full length, released months before the instrumental album Se Eu Fosse.

His influences are great and says he is currently "drenched" in black music from head to toe. Throughout his career he has collaborated as an MC and producer on projects by several artists including Second World, Maze, Capicua, Berna, and Serial.

10

Vaiapraia e as Rainhas do Baile

Vaiapraia e as Rainhas do Baile are a punk trio who create poetic images through sincere and immediate pop songs. Their debut album 1755 sold-out a launch party at Galeria Zé dos Bois and featured in publications such as Público, Time Out and Blitz.

It’s a record that’ll lead you on an errant path of desire. In addition to the explicit and honest lyrics that give them their queercore tag, their music goes beyond this category adopting both the energy of garage rock and sweet side of pop.

They’ve previously shared the stage with bands like Trash Kit, Peach Kelli Pop and Feels and have played festivals like Barreiro Rocks and the Vodafone Mexefest.