Maria Rita‘s first and eponymous album, released way back in 2003, is a record that inevitably puts a smile on my face and fills my day with good warm vibes. Seeing her on stage during the carnival in Recife a couple of years ago confirmed what I already knew – this bubbly Brazilian singer, daughter of the legendary Elis Regina and composer César Camargo, is a natural, her creative talent a gushing fountain that she generously invites all and sunder to partake of.

What wonderful news, then, that she is programmed in Spain as part of the 7th Festival Tensamba (the Brazilian production company based in the Canary Isles), in Madrid on 15th May, then Barcelona on 16th before heading off to London for a gig on 18th May.

Another one not to miss is Marku Ribas – one of the most prolific and least well-known MPB artists, his music is a groovy encounter between Afro rhythms, samba, funk and jazz. He has composed soundtracks for numerous feature films and documentaries and collaborated with many of Brazilian music’s young stars such as Marcelo D2, Arnaldo Antunes, Ed Motta and Curumin (the track “Dançando No Escuro” from the Japan Pop Show album, one of the Future Beats25 albums).

Marku Ribas will be performing at part of the Tensamba Festival on 19th May in Laguna, Tenerife.