Warm Up shows what is new and next with Porto Book Fair 2021 in the horizon

We are sure these will be firm favourite weekends in the Invicta just before Porto Book Fair. Today, 23 April marks World Book Day with a hint on what to expect between 16 July and 22 August under the Warm Up cycle that will take to the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal and Casa Tait. This programming happens in the run-up of Porto Book Fair and resumes cultural activities in Porto, through word and music. Moreover, the agenda includes festivals and activities that were postponed due to the pandemic.

“We started picturing what summer will be like in Porto and thinking of the people that will stay around, either for economic reasons or because they do not want to travel, and also because we don’t know what summer will be like pandemic wise”, explained the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira during the presentation that was held this morning at the Almeida Garrett Municipal Library.

“We thought that this programming could be anticipated and held both at the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal and at Casa Tait - which we very much want people to discover – with several activities linked to producers in the city, many of which are known already, but being presented in a different manner, enabling the enjoyment of culture in a space, which we consider extraordinarily suitable”, furthered Rui Moreira.

The Mayor of Porto enhanced, as well, that the holding of this event is a support to the cultural infrastructure in the city, and to the artists in Porto, “who have been suffering greatly all this time”.

Nuno Faria, the coordinator of Porto Book Fair and also Director of the Museu da Cidade presented the Warm Up and explained that the outlining goal of this initiative is to launch this programming in Porto for the summer, towards a Book Fair that will be held “again, as a symbol of openness and spiritual renovation, alongside books and writers and publishers”.

Six weekends comprising music and words, combined on four stages

The “Warm Up” cycle features different sounds, from Jazz to Blues, music of the world, spoken word and dance music.

The first weekend, on 16, 17 and 18 July, is devoted to Spoken Word, with shows at Casa do Roseiral, Concha Acústica and the Lago dos Cavalinhos. For three days, there will be concerts by Mao-Mao, Nómada Urbe, A Flor do Lácio and Rui Reininho.

On 23, 24 and 25 July the Porta-Jazz Festival is back, by the Porta Jazz Association, as usual, and this time in an outdoor scheme. The agenda features 14 concerts and gathers circa 60 musicians. The programming will be presented soon.

The third weekend brings Porto Blues Fest, a blues festival that invites the tastes, scents and aromas of American New Orleans. Already confirmed are Budda Power Blues and Maria João – her new album “Blues Experience 2” premieres this June – take to the stage on 31 July. On 7 and 8 August, the Museu da Cidade and Casa Tait welcome Elétrico, bringing to Porto two days full of electronic music by national producers and DJ’s. Rui Vargas, Pedro Tenreiro, Alex Fx, Diana Oliveira, Helena Guedes, Rui Trintaeum, Serginho and Xinobi are already confirmed.

The fifth Warm Up weekend unravels sounds of the world at Casa do Roseiral, travelling through multiple latitudes, already hinting at the WOMEX - The World Music Expo festival, one of the biggest and acknowledged festivals of the world, with more than 26 years of history and scheduled to happen in Porto next October. The line-up includes Lina & Raül Refree, the latest winners of the new Award Carlos do Carmo, as well as Cremilda Medina, Luís Peixoto and the Holy Nothing & Angelo B.

The cycle concludes with a Dancing Pic-nic on the Grass, on 21 and 22 August, at the gardens of Casa Tait. This initiative opens the possibility to a fraternal get-together around a tablecloth, while sharing food, chats and music.

Porto Book Fair is back in Porto on 27 August and will pay tribute to Júlio Dinis

Porto Book Fair will open following all the health guidelines by the DGS, between 27 August and closes on 12 September.

One hundred and fifty years after the death of Júlio Dinis, a Portuguese doctor and poet, playwright and novelist, Porto Book Fair pays tribute to the writer who passed away on 12 September 1871. Moreover, this literary event in Porto is themed “Herborisar", a concept borrowed from Júlio Dinis’ herbarium in Madeira, where he was trying to find a cure for tuberculosis, and which ultimately was the cause of his death.

Applications to Porto Book Fair open on 17 May.

+Warm Up 2021