Mestrinho returns to Rock in Rio to show pure forró

Mestrinho, 37, returns to Rock in Rio in 2025 to show the "forró in its purine essence". The presentation is scheduled for the 12th of September, at the Global Village Stage. Unlike last year’s debut, when he mixed forró classics with rock hits, this time he will leave rock to the artists of the genre.

In 2024, Mestrinho opened his show at the festival by mixing chords from "The Return of the White Wing" and "Que Nem Jiló" with "Love of My Life" and "We Are The Champions", from Queen, and "Sweet Child O' Mine", from Guns N' Roses. The opening was not random: the musician is also a fan of rock and stars such as Queen, Beatles and David Bowie.

Sanfona universal and tribute to Dominguinhos

And there I wanted to show how much the instrument, the accordion, the symphony, is universal. It can play any genre, if you have the sensitivity to understand what each genre asks for and the subtlety to introduce the instruments without attacking any of the genres, just showing the beauty of the accordion," said Mestrinho.

Rock in Rio has had forró stars since its first edition in 1985, when it included Elba Ramalho and Alceu Valença in its programming. For Master, the space given to the genre in the event is currently "satisfactory". His presence in the event is a consequence of his love for the genre, for music and for his versatility in transiting through various genres.

Inspirations and trajectory

“Sundays, which is one of my greatest inspirations, has passed into everything that is genre. And Gilberto Gil also, which is one of my great [inspirations]. You see the Gilberto Gil make reggae record, of various genres. And he's the Gilberto Gil. It is not the Gilberto Gil of one genre or another. I’m very inspired by that,” said the tuner.

The two artists are not distant references to Masterinho. The musician has played with Dominguinhos and Gil since the beginning of his career. His most recent work with Gil was the artist's "Last Tour". And he worked with Dominguinhos for many years before his death in 2013.

"I had the pleasure of working with Dominguinhos, and also of having a great friendship. He's my idol. I played the accordion in a way before I met him, and after I met him, it totally changed my view of the instrument.”

Dominguinho Project boosts career

Dominguinhos, even, is honored in "Dominguinho", which put Mestrinho on another level of his career. Launched in April 2025, the project brings together the soprano with João Gomes and Jota.Pê. The trio is already on their second tour of Brazil.

"Sunday is a very important milestone in my career, at minha vida. It's changed a lot. I already had a stable career in the financial sense, I could live from my own work with ease, thank God, for something that I had already achieved. And that something that I conquered is that it led me to the Dominguinho”, says Mestrinho.

The concerto player also mentions that the project changed his life in several aspects, including the emotional one. "The Dominguinhos was only possible because of our friendship. It wasn’t something that João, Jota, looked at me and said, ‘He plays a lot, he’s very wonderful, so I’m going to call him to add to this work.’ No, no, no. It was, ‘Man, I like you so much, we have a very big affinity, let’s record four songs there to celebrate that.’”

Show at Rock in Rio will have tracks from the project

"So when I think of Dominguinho, I think, of course, of the people who are also changing their lives, in a Brazil that is seeing the forró again in a grandiose way. But I also think about how valuable the name Dominguinho is related to the friendship of the three of us,” said Mestrinho.

Even so, Mestrinho guarantees that his show at Rock in Rio will count with tracks from the project. “There is no way I can get on stage today without playing something from Dominguinho. We are going to celebrate very much this thing of Dominguinho having achieved what he has achieved," he said.

And after performing, Mestrinho must run to accompany the presentation of João Gomes along with the Brazilian Orchestra at the Sunset Stage.

The Boca no Trombone Portal continues to follow the coverage of Rock in Rio 2025 and will bring more information about the festival’s performances.

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