Dende – Kemptown Carnival Benefit

This gig taking place at Brighton Spiegeltent on 15th May was a full line up with the Beleza School of Samba who’s mission is to share the joy of traditional samba with all sections of the local community. The colourful musicians and dancers started the proceedings and got everyone grooving.

Headliners, the nine-piece outfit Dende offered up a wide ranging mix of afro-cuban rhythms, cumbria, latin beats and a bit of ska for the UK touch. Singing in Spanish, English and French, the band were a playful troupe of colorful musicians, bringing some new tunes and audience grooves and participation to keep everyone moving.

Dende is an Afro Brazilian word. It is the rich red palm oil used in cooking all across West Africa and the African diaspora world wide and this word is celebrated in the passionate songs of North Eastern Brazil. It also finds its origin in the word ‘Duende’ coming from Spanish Flamenco meaning ‘Passion’.

I always love to have an excuse to visit the Spiegeltent, so was more than happy to go along and check out the band. Playing to a diverse crowd of the young and the old, the band many of whom live in and around Lewes were definitely playing some favourites to a home crowd. Whilst not a packed gig, it was popular nonetheless and the audience certainly weren’t backwards in coming forwards, hitting the dancefloor and shaking a leg with aplomb.

The acts were helping to raise funds for the much loved Kemptown Carnival – Brighton’s longest running free community, street arts festival which is seeking support to take place on 1st June, fingers crossed it goes ahead as it’s a great addition to the city’s calendar each year. The Carnival crowdfunder page really needs funds, so click here and pledge a tenner to make sure it happens!