Índio da Cuíca - Live at Le Guess Who?

Índio da Cuíca performed live at Le Guess Who? 2025, radiating vitality and revealing to the world his expressive performance, original music and the charisma of a genuine Rio de Janeiro malandro.

With a career spanning over 50 years, the singer and multi-instrumentalist gives his all with exceptional dance moves while duetting with his cuíca - a Brazilian percussion known for its distinctive high-pitched cry. Relive the performance with our concert film below. Índio da Cuíca's new album Zing Zing is out now via QTV.

"The songs are vivacious, uplifting, infectious, at once traditional and forward-looking, just like the man himself. It's the album he always had in him and we're all lucky that he finally got the chance to make it, and that he's taking it a step further by touring abroad and bringing with him the same band with which he created such a magical record." - Greg Caz

Le Guess Who? Recordings

The publication of this recording is part of Le Guess Who?’s ongoing expansion of the festival’s recordings archive, with 150+ recordings from past editions now freely available online.

This archive contains audio and/or video recordings of performances by Sam Barker & Bendik Giske, Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño & Friends featuring Surya Botofasina, The Dwarfs of East Agouza, The Cosmic Tones Research Trio, Ali Sethi & Nicolás Jaar, aja monet, ASA-CHANG & Junray, DARKSIDE, Meshell Ndegeocello, Kamilya Jubran, Alan Sparhawk, Stereolab, Tom Skinner, Selda Bağcan, clipping., Aldous Harding, Deerhunter, Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Microphones, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Arooj Aftab, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, and many more.

Captured at TivoliVredenburg's Grote Zaal on Friday, 7 November 2025.

Índio da Cuíca - vocals, berimbau, cuíca
Gabriel de Aquino - guitar
Alaan Monteiro - bandolim
João Rafael - bass
Thiaguinho Castro - percussion
Thiaguinho Silva - drums

Mariana Mansur - management
Renato Godoy - sound engineer
Filho Único - bookings
Supported by Ibermúsicas

Direction: Nicky Pajkić
Camera: Anaïs Saebu, Emily Duurland, Hannah Zwaans, Manou Veldman, Jonathan Sipkema, Nicky Pajkić, Rikash Gobardhan, Yuma Eekman, Dammes Kieft
Production: Studio Dammes, Ramon de Lima
Montage & Grade: Nicky Pajkić
AC & Datahandling: Dennis Bravenboer
Sound recording: Marc Broer

Índio da Cuíca - Live at Le Guess Who?

Le Guess Who? Recordings

Newsletter