Founded in 2011 through an organic collaboration between Brazilian and Canadian musicians, Mariá plays original music with influences from folk music from northeastern Brazil, ranging from forró to world music. Led by the dynamic Jerusa Leão, the group has played iconic venues and festivals, including the Small World Music Festival, Festival Mémoire et Racines, Mundial Montreal, etc. Always a crowd pleaser and incorporating rabeca (Brazilian fiddle), zabumba (two-toned drum), accordion, triangle, percussion and vocals, Mariá plays original compositions and also the classic songs of forró, so beloved in Brazil. Mariá and The Band has a full album to be released by September 2024 called 9 rosas, which was produced by Jerusa Leão and a well known Brazilian producer called Rodrigo Samico who has worked with big artists like Alessandra Leão and Maciel Salú. The result of this collaboration is a rich musical piece that connects Canadian and Brazilian culture combined.
