Fado at The Local

Sunday, May 3rd, 2026. Notes from the program: "Fado, Portugal’s foremost traditional music, lives and breathes through the many small taverns and cafés of Lisbon. There, fado’s best musicians continue to hone their craft in intimate, acoustic settings, where the singers, musicians, and audience are part of the same organic whole. Join us for a concert featuring two of fado’s foremost musicians—Ricardo Parreira (Portuguese guitar) and Nelson Aleixo (classical guitar)—as they accompany the singers Alison Dasilva and Pedro Botas through the alleys of saudade: a uniquely Portuguese emotion that captures both the joy and sadness of love, loss, and longing. Alison Dasilva, winner of the best New Talent award at the International Portuguese Music Association awards in 2024, taps into the full emotional gamut of both traditional and contemporary fado. Pedro Botas, a veteran fadista born in Portugal, enthralls audiences with tales of old Lisbon. Their accompanists have recorded and performed worldwide with some of contemporary fado’s top artists, including Ana Moura, Gisela João, and Hélder Moutinho. Ricardo Parreira, a master of the 12-string Portuguese guitar, has performed as an accompanist and soloist, including concerts in New York, Chicago, London, and countless other locations. He is a renowned teacher, including a current role as leader of the Portuguese Guitar Program at the Fado Museum in Lisbon, Portugal. This event is made possible by a grant from the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs".