Breakout independent reggae band Rastaquilha: the new crop is arriving!

Rastaquilha emerged around mid-2002 at a music festival in Santo André in ABC Paulista, which is the band's hometown. Diogo (vocals / guitar), aware of the Festival, invited Pulga (guitar / flute) to form a Reggae band. Accepting the invitation, the search continued to put together the rest of the band. He then invited André (bass) and Luizinho (drums) to join the group, which was not yet complete because Bisonho (backing vocals / percussion) was in another band that was also being formed. After his decision to join Rastaquilha, the lineup was finalized and rehearsals began.

Luizinho, in his excitement and with the free time he had during vacation, rehearsed with the band every day, but lack of time and the need to work did not allow him to stay, and with humility he acknowledged this and gave his place to the current drummer Fábio.

In less than a month the repertoire for the first performance was ready, including two original songs, "Inspiração" and "O levará" (a version of a song by Gladiators). Rehearsing every day, the band was already prepared for its first performance, which had the full support of the whole crowd and 1,500 people in attendance!! The band was surprised as they ranked among the favorites of the Festival.

After the first show, current backing vocalist Renata, who had already been invited, became one of the band members, making her debut at our third show. From then on doors opened for the band; we played shows at renowned venues of varied styles such as Ocean Drive (Santo André), Paineiras (Santo André), and Centro Cultural (Santo André), as well as highly respected places such as the ballroom of Primeiro de Maio Futebol Clube (Santo André), Victória Hall (São Caetano do Sul), where we won 3rd place at a festival with more than 30 bands, and we won 1st place in the voting for the Surforeggae festival at Clube do Banespa (Santo Amaro), where we played for more than 4,000 people.

The band has already shared the stage with names such as: Natiruts, Forças do Gueto, N'Sikelê, Liberte-se, Súditos do Reggae, Circuladô de Fulô, Sol e Lua, Mente Ativa, Irmãos Perdidos (Hardcore), Expulse and Oxidus (Pop Rock), among others.
With varied influences such as Bob Marley, Gladiators, Natiruts, Tribo de Jah, Adão Negro, Sine Calmon, Raízes Rasta, Maskavo, Planta e Raíz, To Fly, Irmandad Ras, Gilberto Gil among others... Rastaquilha is formed by the brothers Fabio (drums) and André (bass), Diogo (vocals / rhythm guitar), Pulga (lead guitar / flute), Daniel "Bisonho" (backing vocals / percussion), and Renata (backing vocals); soon we will have Fabinho on keyboards (who is already rehearsing with the band).

A hobby and the band's greatest source of inspiration is surfing and nature, as generally the best songs come when Diogo and Bisonho (who are the songwriters) are surfing. Rastaquilha's philosophy is peace, joy, humility and the desire to play reggae as roots as possible...

Currently, besides rehearsing a lot and composing new songs, the band is in the promotion phase of their CD (with six original compositions) that was recorded in their own studio and released in August 2003. The next show will be on 23/11 in Osasco, with the bands Sensimilla Dub, Trio Virgulino, Guentaê and two more bands. "The feeling of a show is seen from two sides, one from those down below watching, and the other from those up above playing; we have already lived both with humility..."