It's no mean feat for a band to still be together after ten years, let alone a quarter of a century.
But that's exactly what Brisbane-based Brazilian outfit The View From Madeleine's Couch will be celebrating at the Powerhouse with two shows planned (8 October).'Bossa Nova Sunset Club', named after their latest album, is a delightful wander through 25 years of of passionate connection to Brazilian music, and showcases their beautiful award-winning original songs, along with some vintage bossa nova classics.
They're pulling out all the stops with a guest string quartet, horns, backing singers and very special guest, legendary Brazilian drummer Marcio Bahia.
Band co-founders Anje West (vocals/ percussion) and Kym Ambrose (vibes) have made multiple trips to Brazil to play and study, with bassist OJ Newcomb joining them on one of their tours.
Here's some of their favourite things to do in the city that stole their hearts.
1: Go to Galeto Sat's on Rua Barata Ribeiro for dinner at 10pm (if you go at 7pm, you're totally a tourist!)
It's way up the northern end of Copacabana, a few blocks back from the beach, and a short walk from Cardeal Arcoverde metro stop.BEST charcoal bbq chicken on the planet. And bread. On a skewer, bathed in garlic butter over flames. It was an Anthony Bourdain recommendation, and he never steered us wrong. They also have a fantastic collection of cachaça.
2: Spend an afternoon at Bar Urca
It's a little corner bar founded 80 years ago in the tiny suburb at the bottom of Sugarloaf Mountain.There's no chairs or tables, just grab your drinks and (excellent) food at the bar, and then walk across the street to the stone sea wall, which is your chair and table, and watch the boats and sunset with the locals.
3: Catch the ferry across the bay to Praia Sao Francisco in Niteroi
Have lunch at one of the cafes on the beach. Grilled fish and cold beer never tasted so good as when you're sitting at your table with your feet in the sand, looking across the bay to Rio and the mountains.Not actually a local activity, since Cariocas (natives of Rio) bag Niteroi all the time and will not understand why you did this!
4: Feira de São Cristovão
This re-purposed football ground is a joyous, loud, bustling and colourful piece of Brazil's northeastern culture.A circular maze of restaurants, bars, craft and souvenir shops, and live forro music blasting from two massive stages at either end of the stadium. If you can't have a good time here, you're dead.
We can attest to cocktail consumption that, while it didn't kill us, resulted in the ridiculous photograph below being taken at 1am as we stumbled our way out of the Feira. (Yeah, probably not really looking like locals in this one!).
5: Copacabana Beach at Sunset (or Ipanema if you're feeling a bit more ritzy)
While there's always tourists around, Cariocas LOVE the beach and it's pretty special to greet the sunset at a beachside kiosk (again with the feet in the sand), and watch the world go by.Beach volleyball, foot-volley, people of all shapes and sizes flaunting their gorgeousness, the coldest beer you could wish for, and the feeling that you're living inside a dreamy bossa nova song.
The View From Madeleine's Couch bring their 'Bossa Nova Sunset Club' to Brisbane Powerhouse 8 October (7pm show is sold out; 2.30pm show is selling fast).
