SQUARE Festival names first wave of artists for 27–30 January 2027 edition

# What was announced

# Notable artists and projects in the first wave

• Anna Vis (Brazil): premiering ENTRE MAR, a solo performance for voice, guitar and electronics that draws on Brazilian traditional song, poetry, noise and experimental vocal techniques. This is presented as a new, site-focused piece.

• CHISARA (London): an Afro-art-pop act combining poetic lyrics with contemporary pop production.

• Gisela Mabel (Luso-Angolan pianist/composer/producer): selected through MIL, her work fuses classical, jazz and contemporary composition with African and Brazilian rhythmic traditions.

• LETUS (Angola): nominated by Bantumen, blending semba with gospel, jazz, R&B, salsa and reggae influences.

• SGO (Steaph Chaimbeul and Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul): a Scotland-born, Copenhagen-based sister duo exploring harp, accordion and voice.

• iD-sus (New York): a duo that integrates sonic and physical experimentation.

• Nico Espinoza (Chilean, Lisbon-based): sound artist and composer working with live electronics, spatial audio and site-specific projects.

• Crizin Da Z.O. (Rio de Janeiro): combines industrial hip hop, carioca funk and electronica.

# How artists were selected

# Tickets and practical details

• Dates: 27–30 January 2027.
• Location: Braga, Portugal, with programming framed by Lovers & Lollypops and Faz Cultura — Braga Municipal Culture Company.

# What to expect next The festival said further artists and conference speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. The initial list signals a focus on cross-genre programming, site-specific performances, and partnerships that aim to highlight Atlantic-region connections between Europe, Africa and the Americas.

# Quick context SQUARE positions itself as an Atlantic-centric festival programmed with international partners. The first wave reinforces that approach by combining experimental sound art, contemporary composition, Afro-diasporic pop, and local Portuguese producers and curators.