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December 15, 2025
APCA – Agência de Promoção da Cultura Atlântica announces the return of Funchal City Sessions in 2026, with a new structure, an expanded programme and a regular presence in the city of Funchal, once again curated by Colectivo Casa Amarela.
Created in 2022 as an urban extension of the MADEIRADiG Festival, City Sessions has established itself as a platform dedicated to experimental and electronic music, with the main objective of engaging, educating and developing new audiences for Digital Arts.
Following the end of the MADEIRADiG Festival, which for years was a prominent fixture on the cultural calendars of Calheta and Ponta do Sol and held its final edition in 2024, the project underwent a process of redefinition, definitively adopting the name ‘Funchal City Sessions’. From 2026 onwards, the concerts will no longer take place sporadically but monthly, mostly on the last Saturday of each month, with Galeria Tratuário serving as the main venue. The gallery has hosted the experimental music sessions since 2024.
A new partnership will also be introduced in 2026: Conservatório – Escola de Artes da Madeira, Eng.º Luiz Peter Clode, reinforcing the educational dimension that has always characterised City Sessions. Training sessions, workshops and open talks will become part of the programme offered to students enrolled in the Conservatory’s professional courses, promoting direct contact between students and the artists invited to perform at City Sessions.
First Artists Confirmed for 2026
Six artists widely recognised within Portugal’s experimental and electronic music scene have already been confirmed for the beginning of the new year: Afonso Arrepia Ferreira, Violeta Azevedo, Sal Grosso, Canadian Rifles, Doroteia and Usof. Each will present their work on a different night, offering audiences diverse sonic experiences spanning improvisation, expanded composition, ambient and textural electronics.
#4 Afonso Arrepia Ferreira – 31 January 2026
Known over the past decade as Farwarmth, Afonso Arrepia Ferreira develops a practice centred on sound experimentation, improvisation and co-creation. Working with acoustic instruments, field recordings and electronics, he constructs dense and emotive soundscapes that explore the relationship between time, memory and perception.
#5 Violeta Azevedo – 28 February 2026
Sound artist and flautist Violeta Azevedo works at the boundary between composition and improvisation, combining transverse flute, voice and electronics. Her sonic universe is characterised by ethereal atmospheres, abstract textures and an experimental approach drawing on influences from ambient and electroacoustic music.
#6 Sal Grosso – 28 March 2026
Sal Grosso, the project of António Silva, has developed a practice connected to minimalism, kosmische musik and new-age aesthetics. His music is grounded in repetition, space and time, creating hypnotic experiences that invite prolonged listening and introspection.
#7 Canadian Rifles – 24 April 2026
Canadian Rifles is the alter ego of musician Rui P. Andrade, who is also the founder of the Eastern Nurseries label. His work is characterised by densely textured electronics and a strong emotional charge, exploring sound as a physical and sensory experience.
#8 Doroteia – 30 May 2026
Known as the vocalist and guitarist of BBB Hairdryer, Doroteia presents a solo project that allows her to explore new sonic languages. Moving between ambient noise and experimental songwriting, she develops intimate and autobiographical compositions.
#9 Usof – 27 June 2026
An artist who expands the boundaries of ambient music by incorporating complex textures and unconventional structures. With a strong international presence, his work brings together composition, performance, sound engineering and curation, resulting in immersive and constantly evolving sonic experiences.
The remaining programme will be announced throughout the first half of 2026.
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
From 2026 onwards, admission to the concerts will be subject to a ticket fee:
Adult | €5
Student | €2 with the FCSaluno discount code
65+ | €2 with the FCS+65 discount code
Tickets for the first six concerts are already available via Eventbrite.
Funchal City Sessions is produced by APCA – Agência de Promoção da Cultura Atlântica in partnership with Colectivo Casa Amarela, responsible for the project’s curatorial direction, and Conservatório – Escola de Artes da Madeira, Eng.º Luiz Peter Clode, with the support of the Portuguese Republic – Culture / Directorate-General for the Arts.