Rhythms of the City

Welcome to the home of UK's premier samba percussion squad. Our team perform not only authentic carnival samba, but many other funky styles (salsa, soca, reggae, funk, hiphop...) with the same passion and energy. Rhythms of the City is the beating heart of London's multi-award winning jazz community the F-IRE Collective. Drummers, singers, dancers, horns and guitars combine in a unique spectacle of up to 75 performers. Our smaller professional groups Soubloco, Minibloco and Nota 10 present similar fusions. RotC averages 75 shows per year; at carnivals, festivals and clubs across the UK and Europe - appearances include: Notting Hill Carnival, Thames Festival, Womad, Glastonbury, Big Chill, Respect, Fruitstock, Lovebox, Wireless, Pride, Olympic Park, Emirates Stadium, O2, Eden Project, Cargo, Somerset House, Barbican, Kings Place, South Bank Centre, The Forum, Shepherd's Bush Empire, Twickenham and many, many more. Also, we have a residency at London venue Guanabara, and are the featured band touring with Great British Carnival and Night of Festivals. 2012-3 in Brazil (see media page for videos) RotC became the 1st UK samba group to present its own show at a Rio Samba School. We have shared the stage with Friendly Fires, Jamie Cullum, Mystro, Sergio Loroza, Pedro Luís, Fabio Allman, Osvaldo Chacón, Jesus Cutiño, Alexander D Great, Monobloco, Bloco do Sargento Pimenta, Bangalafumenga, and Son Veneno amongst others and have recorded with Friendly Fires, Mystro, Darius Brubeck and for the BBC (Arts Show, Zingzillas) + Channel 4 as well as creating a library CD of pure rhythm for BMG. Our own CD recorded with Son Veneno is released on the F-IRE label. Click for Testimonials.