Arrefole is a Portuguese folk band that plays music which is rooted in Portugal’s 800 years of history and traditions that trail back to Medieval times. The name of the band comes from arre, which is a Portuguese [and Spanish] commanding word for inciting beasts, mules and other animals, usually used in helping agricultural tasks like pulling carts, ploughs and other hardware. Fole is translation for bag, related to the bagpipe.
Since their gathering, the sole goal of these musicians was to create music. Wherever their influences would lead them, it would always be their music and, as such, a rightful representation of their culture.
Born in an urban environment, the band recreates a listening experience overlapping a rural background. Their quest for instruments lost in time, contrasts with the use of those that just lie around, from which they cannot escape. They are forever stuck between tradition and modernity, between a time they insist is not yet over and a new one they are certain has already begun.
Daniel Pereira on cavaquinho, bandolim, braguesa, guitar; Gonçalo Cruz on European Gaitas de Fole, whistles and flutas; João Conceição on percussion; Nuno Flores on guitar and bouzouki; Raquel Ferreira on vocals.
Discography:
Veículo Climatizado (2006)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
