Welsh Samba Encontro 2004

Organized by the Cardiff-based band Samba Galez, the three-day Welsh Samba Encontro is the first of its kind in Wales. The Encontro Weekend starts on Friday June 4th with Celebration!, an evening of performances at The Point in Cardiff Bay as a tribute to Geoff Mungham, the Honorary Brazilian Consul in Wales, who died in November last year. Performers include The Hennesseys, The Popeye Dolls and Samba Galez.

On the evening of Saturday June 5th a colourful Samba Showcase will be held at The Point featuring some of Britain's leading sambistas, including Brighton's Carnival Collective, Coracao from Cardiff and Rebelado from Bristol. The evening will also feature the first performance of a new work composed by Simon Preston, Samba Galez's Musical Director. Guest musicians taking part will include Paula Gardiner, Head of Jazz Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and other leading Wales-based jazz musicians.

The finale of the weekend will take place on the afternoon of Sunday June 6th when up to 150 musicians from Samba bands from all parts of Wales and England will stage a series of colourful parades around Cardiff Bay before linking up for a final open-air free concert at the Oval Basin.

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