Welcome
A samba gathering is coming to the North. One day only. Real Rio bateria energy. Passistas in full finery. Drummers from across the UK.
If you're a samba-obsessive like the rest of us, you need to be here.
Why Is It Happening?
Some things just need to happen. For some drummers, the urge to play, to push, to hear the bateria in its full glory is like an itch you can't scratch at your usual weekly group. For some passistas, moving, dancing, and expressing yourself to a live, powerful bateria is incomparable.
This is an opportunity for samba-obsessives to stretch themselves, to indulge and immerse in the sound and movement of Rio.
What It Is, And What It Isn't
This is about samba. Authenic, "Rio-style" samba - the rhythms of the samba schools from South Brazil.
This isn't a rehearsal for a show, and it isn't a workshop in the usual sense. There won't be songs, melodies, or stage directions. It is a chance to lose yourself in the rhythms you love, to play purely for the joy of it. There will be breaks, and moments to explore patterns, tighten your grooves, and lock in with other players - but always for the sake of the bateria itself (although, let's face it - we'll probably record it!). It's about indulgence, immersion, and that visceral feeling of the rhythms taking over.
Who Should Come?
Drummers
- Intermediate players...
- If you've played samba before, you're comfortable on your favourite drum, and would love to play all day, you should come.
- Advanced players...
- If you love to lose yourself in the swing, want to feel pushed, and have the opportunity to play fast and hard with like-minded people, you should come.
- Section/group leaders and teachers...
- We know you rarely get a chance to just let your hair down and play. This is that opportunity to do it, so you should come.
If you're a beginner, or you're still learning the basics, Bloco Norte might not be the right environment yet, but keep practicing!
Passistas/Dancers
Experienced dancers who want to feel genuine, high-energy samba - not a staged show, but a live, powerful bateria to move to. Come prepared to show your style, flair, and glamour, and to inspire and dance alongside the bateria.
Audience
This event is primarily about catering to the needs and desires of samba-nerds - to gather with like-minded folk and to play hard, fast, and with intent. Having said this, we totally appreciate that this in itself is a spectacle to behold. For this reason, anyone who would like to come and experience the atmosphere and vibe that is created would be more than welcome, but they would need to adhere to the bateria discipline during sessions.
The Day
Five hours of focused bateria:
- Brief warm-up & alignment
- Sectional work (surdo, caixa, tamborim, repinique, etc.)
- Integration: building the bateria together
- Full run(s) at tempo - proper bateria energy
- Short social / debrief
Numbers will be capped so the music stays focused and the sound remains right.
A One-Off, For Now
We're presenting this as a single experiment - a day that might become a story people tell. For now, treat it as rare: show up if you can, and tell the people you want to be standing next to. We're keeping plans quiet; the idea is to make the day feel special, not staged. If it works... who knows? It may be the first of many.
What Next?
At this stage we are just getting an expression of interest from people. We don't have any dates yet - all we have is a group of people with unlimited enthusiasm to get this project off the ground, and we want you to be involved.
If you love the sound of this project, complete this form and let us know. At this stage there is no obligation - we just want to know who might come.