First Psica Festival on Marajó Island Draws 15,000, Showcasing Local Culture

The inaugural Psica Festival, held on Marajó Island in Brazil, attracted approximately 15,000 attendees over two days with a program of ten free concerts. The event transformed the Vila de Joanes into a cultural hub, blending national artists with local Marajoara cultural masters and emerging Amazonian musicians. Director Jeft Dias emphasized the festival's commitment to its roots, stating, "We did the opposite path: we returned to our roots." He highlighted the reciprocal relationship with the territory, which significantly influenced the festival's concept of Amazonian culture. The festival also provided a substantial economic boost, generating around R$ 3 million and creating approximately 120 direct and 300 indirect jobs, involving local workers, suppliers, and entrepreneurs.

Key performances included Mestre Zezinho, an acclaimed composer of Marajoara carimbó, who moved the audience with songs depicting island life, accompanied by the group Balanço de Maré. The festival also featured national reggae reference Tribo de Jah, DJ Cleide Roots, and Layse & Lambada da Serpente, who offered a contemporary take on lambada and Amazonian guitarrada. The second day saw Keila and DJ Pedrita, a pioneer DJ from Western Pará, perform hits from Gang do Eletro, a group known for popularizing tecnobrega music. The band Mombojó, from Pernambuco, reunited with the Pará audience after over 15 years, with vocalist Felipe S engaging the crowd directly. Duda Beat closed the festival, drawing a large audience to Joanes beach for her performance with dancers, marking her return to Pará after a long hiatus. The festival's structure itself celebrated local artistry, with the stage and entrance arch created by Marajoara artists from the Caroço collective, utilizing reclaimed wood from boats found on the island's beaches, transforming discarded materials into art.