Chico Chico debuts at João Rock and creates a mystery for a show in Ribeirão Preto, SP Less than a year after moving the audience at the historic Theatro Pedro II, Chico Chico returns to Ribeirão Preto (SP) for a challenge of another proportion: exchanging the intimate atmosphere of one of the most traditional theaters in the country for the crowd of one of the biggest music festivals in Brazil. On August 1st, the singer makes his debut at João Rock and is mysterious about the performance. “I won’t give any spoilers,” he says, laughing. A member of the festival's main stage line-up for the first time, he will perform at 3:55 pm in front of an estimated audience of 65,000 people at the Permanent Exhibition Park, according to the organization. The change of scenery does not go unnoticed by the artist. "Ribeirão welcomed me very well last time, so I already have a fondness for the city. Theatro Pedro II was a beautiful experience, that space has a huge history. Now it's a very different context, one of the biggest festivals in Brazil, outdoors, a lot more people, and I arrive excited for a completely new experience in a city that I already like so much", he told g1. Be part of the g1 Ribeirão e Franca channel on WhatsApp Singer Chico Chico Carol Siqueira Used to performances closer to the public, Chico says that the dynamics of festivals require adjustments. Stage time is shorter, there is less room for improvisations and the repertoire needs to be more objective. "It changes a little. Festival has a more closed time, you can't let things go on for so long, but it's the same connection. Sometimes the limitation even helps, you go more direct." A debutant on one of the biggest stages in Brazilian music The debut has special meaning for Chico. Raised in a family where music was always part of everyday life, the singer followed João Rock's story for years before becoming part of it. "It has a weight, yes. It's a festival that I've always followed, which has a very beautiful history with Brazilian music. Being on the line-up for the first time is something that I receive with great gratitude." Over the years, João Rock expanded the boundaries of rock and began to embrace different aspects of national music. It is precisely at this point that Chico believes he fits in. "I think the festival understood that Brazilian music is too big to fit into just one style, and what I do also crosses several paths: there's rock, MPB, folk, blues and many others." Singer Chico Chico Zabenzi What to expect from the show Depending on the artist, the public will have to wait until the time of the performance to discover the details of the repertoire. Still, he adds that the show will feature songs from "Let It Burn/Deixa Arder", an album released in 2025 and considered by critics as one of the most mature works of the singer's career. "You can expect a show with energy, songs from 'Let It Burn' and other surprises. We never do one show like another. It's worth showing up." READ ALSO: See show times in Ribeirão Preto by stage How a João Rock fan 'converted' her pagodeiro husband into a rocker 'It's going to sink in when we're there', celebrates Lizium, winner of the band competition Singer and composer Chico Chico on stage at the Nômade festival Carol Siqueira Between heritage and his own voice Son of Cássia Eller, one of the most notable voices in Brazilian music, Chico learned from an early age that comparisons would be inevitable. But he says he faces the public's association naturally. "I think it's natural for people to remember my mother because of my work and I'm happy with the affective way this happens, but I don't think about it." Little by little, the singer has built his own trajectory, mixing rock, MPB, folk and blues references in an authorial work that has won space among critics and the public. When that happens, I think the two things coexist without a problem." Read more news from João Rock 2026