MEO Marés Vivas is back at Vila Nova de Gaia, from July 19 to 21, with headliners that have marked different generations. The eclectic lineup includes great names from timeless music, from pop to soul and rap. Keane, Sting, Morcheeba and Ornatos Violeta are some of the artists scheduled for the main stage (with a river and sea view).
There's a bit for everyone, that's for sure, but we selected six concerts that you absolutely can't miss in this year's festival.
While you are at it, check out the best things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia for some fun outside the festival scene.
MEO Stage. July 19. 10pm
After almost six years in hiatus, Keane is back on stages. This English band, known for hits such as Somewhere only we know, Is it any wonder? and A bad dream, is set to perform on the first day of MEO Marés Vivas. Having launched the fourth album, Strangeland, in 2012 e, after a memorable concert in 2013, that sounded like a goodbye, this alternative rock band, with Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley, Jesse Quin and Richard Hughes is now back with some new materials.
MEO Stage. July 21, 10pm.
With an extensive career and a voice that doesn’t need introductions, Sting is one of the most award-winning artists in the world. This is the second time the 67-year-old singer comes to Vila Nova de Gaia, since he headlined MEO Marés Vivas once before in 2017. This year he is bringing songs from his most recent album, My Songs, that includes music from when he was a part of The Police, as well as some of his biggest hits such as Fields of Gold, Englishman in New York, Desert Rose, and more.
MEO Stage. July 19, 12am.
It was on the band's first album, in a Perfect World, that the Kodaline showed their worth. They entered the first place of the Irish top charts and the third of the British one. The partnership with producer Jacknife Lee resulted in the second album, Coming up for air, released in 2015 that became a gold record in the UK. At MEO Marés Vivas, the band brings their most recent and successful album, Politics of Living, and great hits, such as High hopes, All I Want and Love like this.
MEO Stage. July 20, 12am.
Ornatos Violeta released only two albums between 1997 and 1999, but left a deep impression on Portuguese music. In the years immediately following their separation, we began to hear echoes of their music, their way of singing and writing, in more and more Portuguese indie bands, and the cult never stopped growing. Until in 2011 they released a box with the first two albums and a third Inéditos e Raridades (Unpublished and Rarities), and met the following year for a few concerts. Now they are back together to celebrate the 20 years of O Monstro precisa de Amigos, their last album. It's going to be quite the party.
MEO Stage. July 21, 8.40pm.
The band formed in 1995, and initially composed by Paul Godrey, edited nine albums and sold more than ten million copies worldwide. Following the departure of Paul Godfrey in 2014, Sky Edwards and Ross Godfrey adopted the designation "Skye and Ross from Morcheeba". The latest studio work by this British band, Blaze Away, was released in June 2018 and will be presented at the 13th edition of MEO Marés Vivas.
MEO Stage. July 20, 8.40pm.
It was under the pseudonym "Pacman" that between 1993 and 2009, Carlão became one of the vocalists and the main lyricist of Da Weasel, the mythical Portuguese band from Almada. With the end of the group, the singer embarked on new styles with the Algodão project, to then return to the roots of hip-hop with the 5-30 album. Since then, he has participated in several projects, among them the release of Quarenta (2015). After unveiling Agulha no Palheiro and Viver Pra Sempre, still in 2017, Carlão presented in 2018 the single Contigo, before finally editing the album Entretenimento?, his most recent work.
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