Alceu Valença - 80 Sunflowers

Alceu Valença plays Royal Festival Hall on Saturday 7 November, part of a European tour he's calling 80 Sunflowers. It's a milestone year for him — he turns 80 in 2026 — and this is the largest tour of his career, arriving in London after the show has already played ten Brazilian capitals.

Born in the Brazilian North East, Valença built his following by blending the folk influences of his home region with contemporary sounds and an urban language. The concert traces that artistic journey from the beginning to the present, and he'll be playing the hits that made him a legend, among them 'Anunciação', 'Belle de Jour' and 'Tropicana'.

He's not on his own for this one. The band includes Tovinho on keyboards and musical direction, Cássio Cunha on drums, Zi Ferreira on guitar, Nando Barreto on bass, André Julião on accordion and Costinha on flutes, with special guests Lui Coimbra on cello and Natália Mitre on percussion. That's a full ensemble behind him, with the accordion and flutes bringing the North East sound to the front of the stage.

It starts at 7.30pm and runs for about two and a half hours. Standard entry is from £36, with concessions available. The show is recommended for ages 14 and over.