Contra Band brought together musicians and audiences from Brazil and the UK for an experimental live performance of songs censored in both countries between 1964-1985. These dates mark the duration of the military dictatorship in Brazil.
Audiences were invited on a floating journey, whilst we connected to a live link-up with CASA 24, an artist-led venue based in Rio De Janeiro. Musicians in both venues attempted to learn, play and understand their counterparts censored songs.
Under the Brazilian military regime, anxious legislation subjected artists to increasing levels of surveillance and censure, resulting in creative forms of self-censorship and, for many artists, exile to the UK and Europe to escape harsh and violent forms of repression. Meanwhile, in the UK, the BBC banned and censored songs referencing sex, drugs, and war.
Bringing the offending music together within the context of The Floating Cinema, Contra Band opened up a shared space for listening, collaborating and defying different attempts to silence cultural creative forms of expression.
Contra Band was a collaborative performance between Brazilian musician Raphael Dos Santos and UK musician Nicholas Underwood.
The Floating Cinema: Extra-International was supported by The Legacy List, the Charity of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in partnership with the Canal & River Trust.
