Reggae takes over once again at Rock In Rio Café Salvador, powered by Edson Gomes and Rafael Pondé!

Salvador once again had the opportunity to see up close one of the greatest forces in Brazilian reggae, Edson Gomes & Banda Cão de Raça, along with Salvador's new revelation — Rafael Pondé. The event held last Friday, March 19, drew a sizable audience that, in a climate of peace and harmony (as is customary in reggae), was able to listen and sing along with the artists. Opening the night, Rafael Pondé — former guitarist of Banda Diamba, now pursuing a solo career — delivered a highly diverse repertoire, moving through original songs, major MPB hits and some tracks by the great Bob Marley. The show was of great importance for the singer and his band, due to the opportunity to present their work to a very diverse audience ranging from people deeply knowledgeable about reggae music, its culture, teachings and purpose to those just beginning with the rhythm. Rafael Pondé, born in 1976, is a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist who began his professional career in 1996 as guitarist and composer in Banda Diamba. Having chosen a solo career, Rafael has just released his first CD, called "Átomos, Palavras, Canções", which can be purchased on the artist's official website ( www.rafaelponde.com ). After Rafael Pondé's performance, to close the night on a high note, it was Edson Gomes and his band, Cão de Raça. Edson, who does not usually perform many shows in Salvador, was eagerly awaited by the audience, including some members of his fan club. To give their best, Banda Cão de Raça, as always, was very demanding about the sound, and due to some technical problems that even persisted during the show, the delay was long and irritated them greatly, as well as the audience, who could no longer wait to see up close one of the pioneers of reggae in Bahia and Brazil. Opening the show with Jamming, by Bob Marley, Cão de Raça prepared the audience for what was to come. Tearing through their main hits, inspired by the social dramas of everyday life, filled with political connotations and love songs as well, Edson Gomes once again delivered a very strong show, sending the crowd into rapture. Edson, born on July 3, 1955 in the Recôncavo Baiano, once planned to become a football star; however, at 16 he embraced a musical career, even winning several awards as Best Performer at festivals and prizes in Bahia. He recorded his first LP in 1988, "Reggae Resistência", which contains songs that made him famous, such as Malandrinha, Samarina, among others. The Surforeggae team is pleased once again to have had the opportunity to cover an event like this, bringing to those who attended and those who did not a bit of the positive emotions and vibrations produced once again by reggae music, its philosophy and teachings — which should be taken very seriously by everyone, and not regarded as "the music of the excluded." The alert goes out once again to everyone. Let us unite and live in peace and harmony — those are the true purposes of reggae, not the distorted image that some who hold the power of the press and other mechanisms that can be used for true "mass alienation" try to convey, preventing the truth proposed by this rhythm from reaching everyone.

EVENT IMAGES

Click here to see some photos from the event.

MORE INFORMATION

Click here to learn more about Edson Gomes.