A big year ahead
2010 is looking to be a busy year for the band. We expect it to be just as busy as last year in terms of gigs, and we're also organising the 4th Welsh Encontro.
This will run over the first May Bank Holiday weekend (1st - 3rd), and will consist of a number of workshops and public performances. The workshops will be for a mixture of standards including a public one for people with little or no drumming experience, so if you've always fancied having a go on a drum it'll be a great time to start.
On the evening of Sunday 2nd, there will be a showcase presentation from a number of samba and percussion-based bands in the Coal Exchange, with tickets available in advance or on the door.
The bank holiday Monday (3rd) sees the "Sambadrome" event where all the visiting bands will individually play at various locations around Cardiff Bay before joining up to perform in the Roald Dahl Plass, producing the spectacular sight and powerful sound of up to 500 sambistas playing together.
We've already got a number of samba bands attending the Welsh Encontro, so if you're interested in bringing your group along, let us know.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Haiti Busk
Our first busk of the year helped raise an impressive £497 for the Haiti Earthquake. We'd like to extend our thanks to the un-named special guest performer without whom we wouldn't have raised half as much.
View more pics in the Gallery
Rehearsals and Performances
The band meet every Saturday for rehearsals at Willows School in Cardiff and at occasional weekend retreats, which focus on fun as well as musical development.
Each year we hold a ten week beginners access course. This is to introduce the basic skills and rhythms needed to join the band and give people the chance to try out different instruments. The courses are open to everyone - no previous musical knowledge or experience is necessary. Contact Us for more details
Samba Galêz play 20 to 30 performances each year, as well as Saturday afternoon busks in The Hayes area of Cardiff city centre when we can.
Our Name?
Samba – Because we play the kind of drums and other percussion instruments found in a typical Brazilian samba batucada.
Galêz – A variation on the Portuguese for Wales (We were previously called Samba Galês).
