The Lajes do Pico Municipality is once again partnering with MiratecArts for the fifth season of Música no Forte. The dates are now a staple of the annual cultural agenda, and on summer Sundays, at sunset, audiences are invited on musical journeys at the iconic Forte de Santa Catarina, in the Azores.
“This is a highly significant initiative for the municipality and for the island of Pico,” notes Ana Brum, president of the municipality. “In addition to highlighting our historic spaces, it promotes culture, stimulates tourism, and offers both the community and visitors memorable artistic experiences.”

The season runs from 05 July to 09 August, featuring musical projects from several Azorean islands, visiting sounds from Spain and Brazil, and — for the opening event — an entirely new project by local musician Rui Silva, announced by artistic director Terry Costa.
“He lives on the island mountain, has been part of MiratecArts for many years, and for the first time he is creating a musical project for our stages. We eagerly await a unique experience, never before seen on our island, centred on the adufe.”

An adufe craftsman, musician, and percussion teacher, Rui Silva specialized in Historical Percussion at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya. He performs with Capella Sanctae Crucis, Nouvelles Musiques Anciennes du Portugal, and is a guest musician with the Orquestra Barroca da Casa da Música, among other groups that take him around the world. In 2013 he launched his own craftsman brand, and in 2022 he published his Método de Adufe – Parte I (Iniciação).
He lives in Lajes do Pico, where he teaches private drum/percussion lessons, runs his adufe workshop, and offers online adufe courses. For the musical project opening the fifth edition of Música no Forte, Rui Silva will be accompanied by adufeiras, to be announced soon.

Summer happens at the Forte! Mark your calendar and visit Lajes do Pico, the first populated centre of the island mountain — today best known as the whaling town.