London Choro Festival 2026
16, 17 & 18 October 2026 • Copper Cats • Dalston, London
The second edition of the festival will once again present a weekend of events dedicated to choro, one of the richest liveliest and most soulful genres of Brazilian music. Featuring concerts, workshops, talks and rodas de choro, bringing world-class choro into the heart of London.
Artists
Nonato Lima
Nonato Lima is one of the biggest names in Brazilian accordion, with a career founded on the ability to unite the tradition of his native Northeastern music with jazz, classical music, and Brazilian instrumental music. Nonato has developed a unique musical identity that preserves the legacy of great masters such as Luiz Gonzaga, Dominguinhos, and Sivuca, while expanding the possibilities of the accordion through improvisation, harmonic sophistication, and creative freedom.
He has won numerous accordion competitions and has performed internationally, taking Brazilian music and Northeastern culture to many countries and festivals. He has worked with Dominguinhos, Richard Galliano, Ivete Sangalo, Yamandu Costa, Hamilton de Holanda, Hermeto Pascoal, Egberto Gismonti, Alexandre Ribeiro, Alessandro Penezzi, Regional Época de Ouro, and many others.
In 2019, he released his first solo album, Brasiliando, consisting entirely of original compositions which explore different musical universes, highlighting the richness and versatility of the accordion.
Nonato Lima - accordion
Luiz Morais - seven string guitar
Adriano Adewale - percussion
Duo In Uno
Duo In Uno is the collaboration of Italian saxophonist Giulia Tamanini and Brazilian guitarist José Ferreira — a partnership built on deep musical connection, virtuosity, and complicity, since 2014. Together, they explore Brazil’s rich musical landscape, delving into its most emblematic styles and rhythms. At the crossroads of popular music, classical influences, and jazz, their repertoire highlights the diversity and expressive depth of a constantly evolving musical tradition, with interpretations of works by contemporary masters as well as iconic figures of the past.
Over the years, the duo has collaborated with renowned artists such as Yamandu Costa, Eduardo Neves, Rogério Caetano, Gabriel Grossi, Nicolas Krassik, and many others. They have a special relationship with cellist Pablo Schinke, with whom they perform as Trio in Uno. In 2025, Duo In Uno released their new album Nosso Canto, a vibrant tribute to Brazilian music that captures their joyful musical chemistry, marked by both technical mastery and artistic freedom.
Giulia Tamanini - saxophones
José Ferreira - seven string guitar
Alvorada & Friends Gafieira
ALVORADA are an award-winning quintet playing Brazilian instrumental music inspired by the choro tradition. From their original compositions to classics of the genre, Alvorada’s shows are filled with lively and expressive melodies combined with infectious Brazilian grooves and playful interaction. Alvorada unites top musicians from London, Brazil and Uruguay, whose diverse backgrounds - including jazz, classical and Brazilian music - lend the group a unique edge.
For this special performance, they are joined by several musical friends to create a large ensemble gafieira-style band, bringing high energy and upbeat vibes to the opening night of the festival. Part of the concert will be devoted to the music of the great Moacir Santos - composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and a towering figure in Brazilian music - whose centenary is this year.
They have released 2 albums to much critical acclaim - First Light (2019) and Faz Tempo (2024), appeared on BBC Radio 3 and Jazz FM, and performed their captivatingly original choro in festivals and venues across the UK and internationally.
Rachel Hayter - flute
Andrew Woolf - clarinet
Luiz Morais - seven string guitar
Jeremy Shaverin - cavaquinho
Andres Ticino - percussion
with:
Ishy Aasgaard - trombone
Andy Hamill - bass
Jansen Santana - percussion
Schedule
Fri 16 Oct
Sat 17 Oct
Sun 18 Oct
| Time | Fri 16 Oct | Sat 17 Oct | Sun 18 Oct |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30am | | | |
| 2pm | | | |
| 5pm | | | |
| 7:30pm | | | |
Workshops
If you’d like to get stuck into the world of choro, please consider joining our workshops! There is something for all levels (including non-musicians) and instruments led by the festival’s talented array of artists. Advanced sign-up is advised, since workshops have limited spaces. Any questions, please email info@londonchorofestival.com.
Choro Guitar
A hands-on workshop exploring the 7-string guitar as the rhythmic and harmonic foundation of a choro ensemble. The session will focus on how the instrument shapes the music and drives the ensemble, through articulation, tone production, note choice, and touch. Traditional baixaria language and ensemble counterpoint will be explored, as well as how bass movement, harmony, and melody interact within the style. The workshop will use standard choro progressions, classic examples and transcriptions, with space for questions and discussion throughout.
This workshop is for both more experienced seven-string players and those who are newer to the instrument and choro. Six-string players are also welcome to attend, and will be offered an opportunity to try out a seven-string guitar.
Percussion
A workshop with Brazilian percussion master Adriano Adewale, known for his unique approach to music, and for his ability to create magical soundscapes and musical storytelling. This interactive percussion workshop explores Afro-Brazilian rhythms, focusing on the pandeiro and its interplay with melody, as well as exploring other percussion instruments. Participants will embody these grooves through hands-on playing, encouraging creativity, fun, and skill development for all levels.
Participants should bring their own pandeiro if possible. If you do not own one, contact the organisers who try to arrange to provide one.
Choro Interpretation
This workshop explores the essential elements of choro performance, focusing on phrasing, interpretation, articulation, rhythm, and musical interaction. The workshop will address the roles of soloists and accompanists, as well as the interaction between them, exploring how each musician contributes to the musical dialogue and collective expression of choro.
Pixinguinha: The Soul of Brazilian Music
A free talk exploring the life and works of the most important name in the history of choro - Pixinguinha. With coffee and cake, and live performances of musical examples.
Northeastern Choro
In this session, Nonato shares the rhythmic, melodic, and expressive elements that connect baião, xote, forro, and choro. Through musical examples, live demonstrations, and hands-on exercises, participants will explore Brazilian phrasing, characteristic accordion articulations, the construction of the Northeastern groove, and its influence on the language of contemporary choro.
The workshop is open to both accordionists, and all instrumentalists who are interested in the richness of Brazilian instrumental music.
Our Story
In 2025, a group of musicians and choro lovers teamed up as volunteers to put on the very first London Choro Festival. The festival was a huge success, bringing the choro community together for a joyous weekend celebrating choro - featuring international artists, workshops and events dedicated to choro, one of the richest, liveliest and most soulful genres of Brazilian music born in Rio de Janeiro in the late 19th century.
The festival was a vibrant occasion, with sold out concerts and workshops, and many rodas de choro (musical gatherings of choro musicians and listeners) culminating in a grand finale roda de choro on the last day. Everyone who attended - performing artists, amateur musicians, choro lovers, and new listeners - left feeling inspired and uplifted. So it was decided that a second edition of the festival had to happen!
The London Choro Festival 2026 will be based on the same format as last year, featuring a programme of high-quality artists, plus daytime workshops covering a range of topics for everyone from beginners to more experienced players, as well as rodas de choro for everyone to join.
If you don’t already know about choro, imagine the playful virtuosity of ragtime, the delicacy of classical music, the spontaneity of jazz, the warm togetherness of a folk session and infectious African-influenced rhythms, and wrap it all up in a uniquely Brazilian package.
Choro continues to grow in popularity in the UK, with more and more happening across the country. Every week you can find opportunities to attend a roda de choro, the traditional gatherings of musicians and music lovers where choro is nurtured and shared. London-based group Alvorada has pioneered the choro scene by releasing 2 albums of original choro and leading monthly rodas de choro. In London, Regional do Grafton is a community group dedicated to UK choro, running outdoor rodas during the summer months, and fortnightly rodas are run by Choro East. Choro is growing and thriving across the country, with communities in Cambridge, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, Salisbury and more. Last year’s festival aimed to help put the UK on the international choro map, and was enthusiastically received. We hope that this year’s edition will continue to increase the recognition and awareness of UK choro.
If you are interested in volunteering at the festival, please email info@londonchorofestival.org.