Forró in the Dark is a New York Brazilian forró band with Mauro Refosco (zabumba, percussion), Guilherme Monteiro (guitar), and Jorge Continentino (pífano flute, saxophone).
Forró is dance music from the countryside of Northeastern Brazil. It’s a simple dance, danced in close position with interlocked legs. It’s popular in Europe where an urban forró form is blended with all kinds of fancy social dance moves. It’s really fun.
BRASIL SUMMERFEST
Forró in the Dark play Brazilian forró for dancing; outside the Brooklyn Public Library (Grand Army Plaza); on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 6:30pm. FREE. 🇧🇷
Their hit “Asa Branca” is popular in Brazil’s Festas Junina, the June festivals derived from Portugal’s Feast of Saint John, a midsummer festival in Europe, and a midwinter festival in Brazil. People party with bonfires and jump over them for good luck.
Forro in the Dark
The band started in 2002 at Mauro Refosco’s birthday party at Nublu, a global jazz club in the East Village. That party turned into Wednesday night Brazil Night, which ran at the club for four or five years. It was a great party. We spent a lot of nights there.
Nublu is a funky night club, but you never know who may show up. One night David Byrne (Talking Heads) showed up. He collaborated with the band on their most famous song, an English version of the forró classic “Asa Branca” in 2006.
What most sticks in the mind about Forró in the Dark is Refosco’s driving beat and singing triangle. Monteiro’s guitar takes the place of the traditional accordion. On top of that you get Continentino’s happy melodies. A variety of guest singers makes for really fun music with some unexpected touches.
They haven’t been very active lately because the band members are busy doing other projects (including some with Byrne). Dancing forró is fun and really easy, although you can get fancy too. Partying with Brazilians is always fun, so don’t miss Forró in the Dark when they play.
Albums
The band’s debut album, “Bonfires of São João” (2006) features guest performances by David Byrne of Talking Heads, Bebel Gilberto, the queen of electronic Bossa Nova, and a surprisingly wonderful take with Japanese singer Miho Hatori.
2009’s “Light a Candle” includes vocals by Sabina Sciubba of Brazilian Girls, another band that came out of Nublu back in the day.
“Forro in the Dark Plays Zorn” featured John Zorn in 2015.
“Sandcastles” came out in 2017.
For more information visit ForroInTheDark.com or follow the band on Instagram @forrointhedarkoficial