Based in São Paulo, Bike is a psych rock band concocting the perfect mix of tropicalia and Brazilian pop. For the release of their third album “Their Shamanic Majesties’ Third Request,” the four band members took a moment to tell us about their favorite cultural spots in São Paulo.
Estúdio Wasabi
Located about 50 miles outside of central São Paulo in the Paraíba Valley region, Wasabi is a recording and rehearsal studio that also opens its doors to small live shows, art exhibits and parties. It’s the most underground spot in the city and the HQ for all the best bands in the area!
Rua das Lobélias, 96, São José dos Campos
https://www.facebook.com/estudiowasabi
CCSP
Founded in the early 1980s, CCSP remains one of the most influential cultural hotspots in São Paulo. Putting on theater, music, dance, visual art shows, film projections, workshops and community discussions, CCSP is a necessary stop for most Brazilian and international indie musicians on tour.
Rua Vergueiro, 1000, São Paulo
http://centrocultural.sp.gov.br
Associação Cultural Cecília
Cecilia is a great local meet-up for people who share common interests and skills. This place is basically a haven for DIY art projects. You’ll find just about every possible form of art and culture represented here, with conferences, workshops, performances, photography exhibits, films, and more. Cecilia’s mission is to make art, provide art and spread art in all its forms.
Rua Vitorino Carmilo, 449, São Paulo
https://www.facebook.com/associacaocecilia
SESC Pompéia
Located in west São Paulo in the Pompéia neighborhood, SESC Pompéia is the home of Brazilian rock. As a former drum factory, the space is now home to one of the most popular concert venues in Brazil. Their concert calendar features both new talents and well-established local musicians like Caetano Veloso, Walter Franco and Elza Soares, as well as international musicians such as Lee Ranaldo, Sebadoh, and Thundercat. They also put on music festivals, including the Nublu Jazz Festival and punk festival O Começo do Fim do Mundo (which literally means “the beginning of the end of the world”). Aside from their musical performances, the space is also home to a bar, café, restaurant, reading area, and gym. They even put on workshops and art shows – just about everything you could ever want!
Rua Clélia, 93, São PaulO
https://www.sescsp.org.br
Parque do Ibirapuera
Located right in the city center, Parque do Ibirapuera is the biggest park in São Paulo. The park is home to several cultural institutions, such as the MAM (Museum of Modern Art), the MAC (Museum of Contemporary Art), the Afro Brazil Museum, the Brazilian Cultural Pavilion, the planetarium, the International Art Biennial, and an auditorium presenting work by a multitude of artists, all surrounded by beautiful gardens and lakes. It’s one of the best places to take a breath away from the busy city.
Av. República do Líbano, 331, São Paulo
https://parqueibirapuera.org
About BIKE
BIKE’s Bandcamp page: https://bikeoficial.bandcamp.com
BIKE’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BIKEoficial
BIKE’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/bikeoficial
Discover our favorite cultural and alternative spots all around the world with our city guides Indie Guides.
Article translated and edited by Andrea Perdue