Venga Venga

About

" Queer tribal dancing in the streets "

Say ‘Vengaboys’ anywhere in Europe and you’re likely to see 90s kids light up and start humming one of the Dutch Eurodance legends’ hits, while younger generations look on with a bemused expression. With the advent of the Venga Venga boys, however, the two groups might soon be trading expressions. An eclectic and vivacious multidisciplinary project by Lisbon-based Brazilian artists Ricardo Don and Denny Azevedo, Venga Venga has been going strong for over a decade, their blend of electronic music, tropical vibes, and bold queer themes having made them a fixture of festivals in Brazil as well as all over Europe. In recent years, they’ve experienced a surge in popularity on the old continent, in no small part thanks to their elaborate artistry.

Venga Venga’s performances are known for their fusion of music, performance, poetry, and visual art, creating an immersive and emotionally cathartic experience for their audience. Their latest release, the visual album ‘Extraviados’ (2023), explores the concept of ‘folklore of the future’, mixing traditional Brazilian elements with modern electronic music for carefree tropical transcendence. At the same time, it remains grounded with its nods towards queer culture and issues, where Venga Venga have always been proudly outspoken.

Venga Venga’s journey is a testament to their ability to bring together multiple artistic languages, making them a unique and influential presence in the European music and art scene. Their artistic aspirations in no sense diminish their feeling of joyful fun on the dance floor, so definitely keep an eye for when the Venga Venga boys are back in town – you won’t want to miss out.