Rhythms of Connection

Beat'N'Drum and Tudo Azul are playing The Black Box on Tuesday 20 October, a night of Brazilian music that brings together two bands from opposite ends of Europe. Beat'N'Drum is the samba band from Beat Carnival, and Tudo Azul comes over from Hannover, Germany. They're billed as a celebration of their shared passion for Brazilian music, and they'll be joined by guests from the Belfast scene: Ciaran Lavery, Utropiks and Lotus Azul.

The whole thing is part of a UNESCO City of Music partnership between Belfast and Hannover, so it's more than just a one-off gig — it's a cross-border link between two cities that both hold a place in that network. The night is called Rhythms of Connection, and that's a fair summary of what's on the bill: a samba band from here and one from Germany sharing a stage, with local guests filling out the rest of the evening.

The Black Box is one of the city's most beloved grassroots venues, a 240-capacity multidisciplinary arts space in the Cathedral Quarter that's been programming live music, theatre, literature, comedy, cabaret and film since 2006. It's run as a charity and works year-round with the learning-disabled community, staging initiatives like Black Moon, a learning-disabled-led club night, Mini Moon, a sensory disco for children with disabilities, and a disabled-led Social Café. It also hosts the Northern Irish branch of the international Gig Buddies project, which helps people who might otherwise struggle to get to gigs find a companion to go with. The evening is 18+.

Doors open at 7.30pm and the music starts at 8pm. Tickets are £10, or £6 for concessions.