Tejo Milenario

artists, booking and tour management

LINEUP

Ruben Monteiro

(Vocals, Hurdy-Gurdy, Saz Bağlama, Guitar)

Raquel Monteiro

(Vocals, Violin, Medieval Vielle)

Dinis Coelho

(Djembe, Darbouka, Dahola, Bendir, Riq)

Christian Marr’s

(Vocals, Bass, Bouzouki)

Carla Costa

(Tin Whistle, Bagpipes, Ney)

Tiago Santos

(Drums)

PRESS

Loud! (Portugal)

"Albaluna, one of the greatest national treasures in general and, in particular, in what concerns world music. The band gets inspiration from all the cultures that crossed the Silk Roads and assumes itself as a fusion of folk and progressive rock. The final outcome is a passionate experience that takes the listener on a journey, not only representing ancestral traditions but also presenting them in a modern way. With a considerable career already, and with prestigious performances that range from Macau to India, without forgetting the live activity they have in our own country, they have proved here their excellence."

Jazz Quad (Belarus)

"Did the genetic memory of the distant, distant times when almost the entire Iberian Peninsula was under the rule of Muslims work in these four guys and two girls? In the first part of this piece [Palimpsestus], there’s something reminiscent of medieval European sacred music sounds, but then it is replaced by a really fatal, hard hurricane whirlwind, gradually turning into a distinctive oriental theme. For me, this track was the pinnacle of a very interesting album, which, I think, any fan of world music will have pleasure to have an acquaintance with."

Music You Need to Hear (USA)

"Albaluna is a project from Portugal whose stage performances blend together music, poetry and dance, combining cultures of the Silk Road into one well-woven tapestry. The music is a mix of electronic progressive music, pure folk forms from the Mediterranean, North Africa and even hints of Chinese music. They literally sound like they are able to vacuum a genre of music and easily mix it into their palette."

Vogtland-Anzeiger, 2018 (Germany)

"A sextet which is musically at home anyplace in the world. They play yesterday's music and experiment through it the music of tomorrow."

Rolling Stone India, 2019 (India)

"With a hurdy gurdy, bagpipes, a traditional Turkish stringed instrument called baglama and thumping percussion, Albaluna came across more as metalheads using traditional instruments than anything else, swinging and headbanging to prog-incorporating rhythms, including their latest single 'Gargull'."

World Music Central, 2020

"Albaluna is an outstanding Portuguese band that is hard to describe. Their sound is rooted in a fantastic mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, northern European folk, medieval music and progressive rock. They call it ethnic prog. Whatever, you call it, it is one of the most captivating and original acts I’ve heard out of Europe recently."

Albaluna

More than a band, Albaluna is a concept. Through a multidisciplinary fusion between music, poetry, and dance, inspired by the ancient cultures of the Silk Road, emerges the originality of this project. Albaluna employ their passion for the History of Civilizations as a starting point for a sustained struggle against prejudice and intolerance between cultures.

The artistic dialogue expands around age-old conceptions and an unmasked modern approach. "A sextet which is musically at home any place in the world. They play yesterday's music and experiment through it the music of tomorrow." (Vogtland-Anzeiger | Germany | 2018)

Having celebrated their tenth anniversary in 2020 and with five records in their discography, the band embraces an already vast national and international curriculum, having performed in many European countries, as well as in Morocco, India and China.

In 2021 Albaluna will present their latest record Heptad, in a profound catharsis in which the band exposes an introspective journey inspired by the ancient cultures of the Silk Roads. An intense and boundless piece, where the band creates soundscapes with instruments originally from the geographic areas corresponding to the vast arms of the ancient Silk Road; dance paints, through the colours of the garments; and poetry gives voice to the feelings and reflections of this myriad of cultures.

Albaluna presents a combination of many concepts and musical styles: Iberian traditional music blends with soundscapes coming from distant lands, such as the Balkans or the Middle East, not forgetting the African rhythms, North European folk, and progressive rock. Using as many antique instruments from various parts of the world as modern instruments, the six musicians present an energetic show, full of distinct musical aromas, embracing multiple genres, such as world music, prog rock and metal, folk, medieval music, and fusion. The band’s concept is based on a permanent dialogue between ancient and contemporary music. The timbres pertaining to antique instruments, such as the bagpipes, the hurdy-gurdy or the medieval vielle, blended with those of present-day instruments, such as the drums and the electric bass, allow a vast range of sound which work together for a common purpose.

Albaluna harmonize their live show with what characterizes them the best: energy and sensibility. The ambiance of this intense onstage act is fuelled by the band’s own creativity and unending energy, along with the profound intimacy and introspection offered by some more peaceful moments. The performances are suitable for theatres, concert halls, and folk, rock, or generalist music festivals.

Albaluna were the first Portuguese band to be considered “International Show Of The Day” by Balcony TV in 2012 and, in 2018, they were nominated for the FolkHerbst folk music award in Germany. The same festival presented Albaluna as an answer to this question: “What music is there left to discover in Portugal besides Fado?".

In 2019 the band represented Portugal in Macao (China) with a concert at the Macao Cultural Central and with the participation, as soloist musicians, in that same festival’s orchestra, conducted by the well-renowned Chinese maestro Yan Huichang.

Albaluna’s performances, on both national and international grounds, reveal an already vast and rich artistic course.