In 1999, Fabrício Nobre created the Festival Bananada in Goiânia, Goiás, a city near the country’s capital, Brasília. Despite its proximity to the center of Brazil, the town was not a place where bands, especially Rock and Punk bands, would play. The festival surged as part of the counterculture movement, alongside the skateboarding scene and the bands playing in garages at the time. Its name comes from a banana sweet, which symbolizes the mix of genres and cultures into a single event. In 2019, the festival held its last edition, which was canceled due to the pandemic and other factors, delaying its return. Seven years later, it returned from August 18th to the 23rd. Bigger than ever, the event was divided into two parts: the showcases and the arena. The first three days were a partnership with other festivals around the country, which stacked their slate with the return of Bananada. In this article, I will discuss the first three days.
In its comeback, it occupied the spaces across town in the first three days. On Tuesday, the 18th, it had shows at the Centro Cultural Martim Cererê, a landmark in the musical scene, and the Shiva Alt-Bar. I decided to cover the three days at the first venue, so I am only reviewing the concerts and showcases that played there. As part of the Festival do Sol, Bahrakä Palmer performed as the first act. A combination of classical rock and punk with grunge influences, the band brought energy to an empty auditorium. Inevitably, it was the first concert of the first day, while people were still arriving and getting the hang of the dynamics. Yet they provided a headlining experience, balancing the sound’s aggression with the ability to impress those in attendance.
Following them, the punk duo Dirty Grills kept the party going, ironically, the name of their latest EP, Depressão Pós-Party (Post-Party Depression). With a stage posture reminiscent of the Lambrini Girls, the duo has a furious, fun energy in their sound. The lead singer and electric guitarist, Jéssica Gonçalves, performed with a broken foot, attempting to maintain her balance and control the crowd. It worked thanks to her incredible chemistry with the drummer, Mariel Maciel, who talked and guided the audience between songs. It was an energetic concert that captivated the audience and enchanted with its rawness. Lastly, a few founders of the Festival do Sol, Camarones Orquestra Guitarrística, have led people to dance with their chorus of electric guitars. It is a concert that perfectly demonstrates the band’s ability to shift from reggae and ska influences to classic rock. It has a range that works very well.
On Wednesday, the 19th, the showcase of the 5 Bandas gig started well with Soprü. The band from Tocantins combines pop and bossa nova, playing well with melodies. The use of a saxophone complements Samuel Carvalho’s vocals. It is groovy and dancey, having great songs in the repertoire, such as Júlia. Another highlight of the night was Banana Bipolar, a local band that delivered a hysterical performance. Screaming their lungs out with ragey lyrics, the crew brought punky energy to the crowd, with songs narrating the conscience of the self-destruction in smoking, while the singer smokes a cigarette and blows it out. It is a catchy song, but the whole set worked well thanks to their kinetic, youthful energy.
The last day of showcases was the 20th, the Psicotrópicos + Coquetol Molotov one. The first concert, Flávia Carolina invites Dinho, kept the tradition of great first concerts at the showcase dates. The sibling duo brought samba and MPB (Popular Brazilian Music) to the festival. Highlighted by her charisma and his electric guitar, the concert was a tribute to their trajectory and a gift to the city, with a huge local crowd in attendance. In a similar vein, Giovani Cidreira showcased his wide vocal range in a performance with his guitar. His singing technique impresses those who watch him live, and the concert captures the Brazilian tradition of live music and albums, which is the artist’s purpose.
Overall, the three days of showcases presented different styles and artists, offering novelty for listeners. It was a good introduction to the return of the legendary festival. It presented the local crowd with the best of the other festivals around the country, as well as new bands formed during and after the pandemic that might not have played in the town on other occasions. It created the right mood for the arena event over the weekend.
Festival Bananada took place in August of 2026.
Learn more about the event at the official website.
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