Sunrise Festival set to bring all-night celebration of Cape Verdean music to Sal
Sal is preparing for an all-night celebration of music and entertainment this November, with Sunrise Festival set to bring an extensive line-up of Cape Verdean artists and DJs to Espargos.
The festival will take place at Estádio Académico in Espargos on Saturday, 4 November 2023, beginning at 10pm and continuing through the night until 6am on Sunday morning.
The eight-hour event will feature Tranka Fulha, Nitry, Nicholas, Prego Prego, Arybeatz and BLCK, alongside guest DJs Poll, Dennis, Dannyboy, Sintonia and Loko.
For The Resort Group Plc, which has been investing in Sal and its tourism economy for more than a decade, events such as Sunrise Festival demonstrate another side of an island increasingly recognised internationally as a major holiday destination.
While Sal has established its reputation through its year-round sunshine, beaches, watersports and resort offering, its music, nightlife and Cape Verdean culture are also an important part of the experience awaiting international visitors.
Rob Jarrett, Honorary Chairman of The Resort Group Plc, said:
“Sal has so much more to offer than simply beautiful beaches and sunshine. Music is a huge part of Cape Verdean life and events like Sunrise Festival give people an opportunity to experience the energy, creativity and talent that exists on the island.
“Tourism works at its best when visitors have an opportunity to discover the destination beyond their hotel. Sal has an extraordinary community and a new generation of musicians, DJs and performers who deserve a platform. A major event bringing people together in Espargos is another example of the island developing as both a tourism and cultural destination.”
The line-up reflects the diversity of Cape Verde’s evolving music scene, bringing together performers working across contemporary African, electronic and urban sounds.
Several of the artists have already developed substantial audiences at home and among Cape Verdean communities overseas. Prego Prego, for example, has built a following through tracks including So Badjon, Txuba and Riba Gaita, while Tranka Fulha has become an established name in Cape Verde’s contemporary music scene.
The festival will also provide a showcase for emerging talent including Nitry, Nicholas, Arybeatz and BLCK, with the programme continuing throughout the night through sets from its guest DJs.
The choice of Espargos, Sal’s principal town and administrative centre, also gives the event a different character from the tourism-focused resort areas around Santa Maria.
Lisa Kellett, Chief of Staff at The Resort Group Plc, said:
“There is a real energy around Sal and it is fantastic to see an event showcasing so much Cape Verdean talent in one place.
“International visitors increasingly want to experience the culture and personality of the places they visit, and music is one of the most powerful ways of doing that. Sunrise Festival provides another reason for people to explore Sal, experience Espargos and discover some of the artists shaping contemporary Cape Verdean music.
“For The Resort Group Plc, our investment in Sal has always been connected to our belief in the long-term potential of the island. Its appeal comes not only from its climate and natural beauty, but from its people, culture, food, music and the experiences that make Cape Verde distinctive.”
The Resort Group Plc has played a significant role in the growth of Sal’s international hospitality offering, developing large-scale resort destinations as the island has attracted increasing numbers of visitors from the UK and across Europe.
Events such as Sunrise Festival complement that growth by broadening the experiences available to visitors and providing additional opportunities for local artists and the wider island economy.
Music has long occupied a special place in Cape Verdean culture, from traditional styles such as morna and funaná to the increasingly diverse contemporary music produced by a younger generation of Cape Verdean performers.
That musical culture has also travelled far beyond the archipelago, supported by Cape Verdean communities overseas and, increasingly, by streaming and social platforms that allow emerging artists to reach international audiences.
Sunrise Festival will put that new generation centre stage.
Rob Jarrett added:
“Cape Verde has produced music and artists with international appeal for generations. What is exciting today is seeing another generation coming through with its own sound and its own ambitions.
“Bringing artists and DJs together for an event like this is exactly the sort of activity that can help build Sal’s reputation as a destination where there is always something new to discover.”
With a programme running from 10pm until sunrise at 6am, the aptly named Sunrise Festival promises to turn Estádio Académico into one of Sal’s biggest music venues for the night.
Sunrise Festival takes place on Saturday, 4 November 2023, from 10pm to 6am at Estádio Académico, Espargos, Sal, Cape Verde.