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Programme
Palco Avenida Aliados
23 Jun — 08:00 PM until 04:00 AM
This year, Porto’s largest outdoor concert venue will once again host major concerts as part of the São João festival. At 10:00 p.m., Quinta do Bill takes the stage on Avenida dos Aliados for a performance that will feature plenty of “anthems” like “Voa (voa),” “Se Te Amo,” “Menino,” and “Os Filhos da Nação”—songs every Portuguese person borned in the 80s' and 90s' knows by heart. After midnight, it’s Tony Carreira’s turn to present a setlist that combines his greatest hits with new songs to get the fans fired up.
Two big names will also be livening up the party: Fernando Alvim and the duo Mete Cá Sets.
2:10 AM – 4:00 AM
Mete Cá Sets Duo
12:20 AM – 2:00 AM
Tony Carreira
10:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Quinta do Bill
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM + 11:30 PM – 12:20 AM
Fernando Alvim
Palco Largo do Amor de Perdição
June 23 — 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM
At Largo do Amor de Perdição, the São João night features D.A.M.A taking center stage with Canções Bonitas em PORTOguês, a show tailor-made for Porto, where the popular rhythms of the North blend with the infectious energy of the Lisbon-based band. Earlier, Últimos Românticos bring Porto’s daily life to the stage in the form of hip-hop, in an emerging project that transforms the city’s experiences and language into relatable and recognizable songs.
Warming up the crowd and keeping the party going all night long, the Noz Pimba collective provides the party’s soundtrack with a journey through the great classics of Portuguese popular music, getting the audience to form “trains” while singing choruses that span generations. From Quim Barreiros to Xutos e Pontapés, from the classics of António Variações to the hits of Toy or Pedro Mafama, the repertoire is varied and designed to create moments of pure fun.
12:20 AM – 2:00 AM
D.A.M.A. - Beautiful Songs in Portuguese
10:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Últimos Românticos
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM + 11:00 PM – 12:20 AM + 2:00 AM – 4:00 AM
Noz Pimba
Palco Juventude (Casa da Música)
June 23 — 8:00 PM to 4:00 AM
Nunca Mates o Arraial [Never Shut Down the Festival]
featuring Nunca Mates o Mandarim, Rapaz Ego, Bar Dançante (Mike El Nite and João Não), Más Influências (DJ Set), and Estúdio Cedofeita Takeover (Vitória Vermelho and Luís Lucas), hosted by Beatriz Gosta and David Bruno.
2:30 AM – 4:00 AM
Más Influências – DJ set
1:30 AM – 2:30 AM
Bar Dançante (Mike El Nite and João Não)
12:00 AM – 1:15 AM
Nunca Mates o Mandarim
10:45 PM – 11:45 PM
Rapaz Ego
9:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Cedofeita Takeover (Vitória Vermelho & Luís Lucas)
8:00 PM – 9:20 PM
Dance Bar (Mike El Nite and João Não)
Nunca Mates o Arraial is the alternative lineup for São João night at the Youth Stage (Casa da Música). At the invitation of Ágora, Nunca Mates o Mandarim will curate one of the main venues for the longest night of the year (and will take the opportunity to drop by and play there as well). Hosted by David Bruno and Beatriz Gosta, the lineup blends lyrical pop and dance music, always with an indie vibe resonating through the speakers. The rule is simple: only artists from these bands. There will be surprise guests, musicians jumping between sets, dubious prizes (there’s talk of a raffle for a quad bike, putting São João on a collision course with the Lord of Matosinhos), and other inventions that are hard to explain to law enforcement. All that’s missing is the world’s biggest balloon for this to officially make it into the Guinness Book of World Records.
The festival kicks off right after the national team’s game with Bar Dançante, a project by Mike El Nite and João Não that weaves through sentimental pimba, tugadisco, synthpop, and other compound genres. In what is expected to be a festive atmosphere, they’ll stoke the embers for what’s to come and return later to close the circle. Next up are Vitória Vermelho and Luís Lucas, two Porto-based acts linked to the world of Estúdio Cedofeita, just across the roundabout, in a collective concert featuring roots music and original songs, with enough musicians to make the stage seem small. Rapaz Ego arrives right after to make amends, helmet on and new album in tow, promising melodic indie-pop, groove, and an all-star band. Nunca Mates o Mandarim bring the fire, the lighter, and the barbecue, mixing tracks from their latest album Bola de Bilhar with their inevitable classics and a few surprise guests up their sleeves. To close out the night, Más Influências come armed with a USB drive and faith in the after-party to transform the country’s most famous skatepark into a dance floor with no end in sight.
Between Ponte Luiz I and Ponte da Arrábida
June 23 — 10:30 PM to 12:12 AM
At midnight, the traditional fireworks display will light up the skies over the riverside areas of Porto and Gaia with a 12-minute show. Before that, Karetus, an electronic music duo consisting of Carlos Silva and André Reis, will perform on the Douro River.
12:00 AM – 12:12 AM
Fireworks
10:30 PM – 12:00 AM
Karetus
DJ Set on the Douro River
Concha Acústica dos Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
June 24 — 6:00 PM
The Portuguese Symphonic Band, under the musical direction of Francisco Ferreira, presents the St. John’s Day concert at the Acoustic Shell in the Crystal Palace Gardens. As usual, the concert takes place in the late afternoon to allow revelers to rest after the longest night of the year.
Cascata Comunitária
The Cascasta de São João (São João waterfall) remains one of the oldest traditions of the city’s festivities and, as such, continues to have a special impact on all those who participate in and observe this community project. With the help of everyone interested—who can participate free of charge in the workshops taking place throughout the month—the goal is to build a representation of the traditional houses of the city of Porto. The São João Community Waterfall can be visited at the Bolhão Market from June 8 to 28.
Open Workshops
June 6, 13, 20, and 27 — 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM + 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Rusgas e Arruadas
Ranchos em Arruada
On Saturday afternoon, June 13, starting at 3:00 p.m., the city’s traditional groups and communities will take to the streets to carry on the traditions that embody the spirit of the people. The Arruada de Ranchos will wind its way through the streets of Porto, featuring traditional songs and dances.
Rusgas de São João
The Rusgas from the parishes perform in the city center with their themes, songs, and choreography.
While in the past the Rusgas were formed spontaneously by groups of people who roamed the streets singing, dancing, and playing instruments, today they are part of the official program of São João do Porto and compete in a contest—but they haven’t lost their essence: the collective joy and community spirit experienced during this popular festival.
This year, the Rusgas will take to the streets on Saturday, June 27, starting at 6:30 p.m., to parade before the public and enthusiasts from their parishes, ending in front of City Hall with a performance before a jury.
