Espectáculos Mark (or unmark) your calendar for these concerts and special events.

By Brian Elliott

Coming out of a barren February, the next three months of concerts and events do not disappoint. March starts with a host of international and Portuguese bands at the Coliseu dos Recreios in Lisbon, kicking off with the electronic sounds of Metronomy on the 2nd (after playing the Hard Club in Porto on the 1st), the alt-rock Wolf Alice on the 3rd and the American stand-up comic Louis CK on the 4th (he also plays the ColiseuPorto AGEAS on the 6th). These are followed by the ex “Cocktail” band member Ágata on the 5th, the British musician Jacob Collier on the 6th (also at the Hard Club Porto on the 7th), the jazz, soul and R&B of Masego on the 8th, the 10-year anniversary concert of David Carreira on the 10th, the rock band IDLES on the 11th, the Australian ex-busker Tash Saltana on the 15th and Alan Parsons on the 17th. The amazing Skunk Anansie come to Portugal in the middle of the month and “Tour the Coliseus,” playing in Porto on the 18th and Lisboa on the 19th . STOMP returns to Portugal, making music out of trash at Teatro Tivoli in Lisbon between the 8th and the 20th and the Coliseu Porto Ageas between the 24th and 26th . Elsewhere in Lisbon in March, Boy Pablo visits Capitólio on the 4th and The Divine Comedy bring their hits, including “National Express,” to Aula Magna on the 8th. The crazy dancing of the lead singer of the American synth-pop band Future Islands can be seen at Campo Pequeno on the 10th and the same venue hosts Franz Ferdinand 7 days later; The Script two days after that on the 19th , Pedro Albruhosa on the 25th (after playing the Super Bock Arena in Porto on the 11th), and The Kooks a day later, on the 26th . Up at the Altice Braga Forum, last year’s Eurovision entry for Portugal, The Black Mamba, have a show on the 11th and Abba Gold are playing on the 12th . Lloyd Cole visits Casino Estoril on the 18th and the Super Bock Arena in Porto on the 19th . The Mission play LIsboa ao Vivo on the 10th and the Hard Club, Porto, on the 11th. Just over a week later, 40 hip hop artists hit the stage at Altice Arena on the 19th and 20th in the História Do Hip Hop Tuga show; then, the arena hosts a Portuguese production of Evita on the 26th . Evita also visits the Super Bock Arena in Porto on 9 April. Whilst talking about the Super Bock Arena, Anjos play there on the 26th. The focus switches again on the Coliseu dos Recreios at the end of the month, as the Finnish symphonic metal band Apocolyptica bring their crazy cello-based heavy metal to the stage on the 20th, the America rock band Band of Horses visit on the 26th, and Força Suprema bring Portuguese hip hop and rap to the Coliseu on the 30th . Agnes, the winner of Swedish Idol in 2005, plays the Espaço Vita in Braga on the 24th, the Hard Club, Porto on the 26th and the Time Out Market in Lisbon on 2 April. Hang Massive bring their mercurial sounds to Lisboa o Vivo on the 26th and finally, one for the kids: As Canções da Maria will be at the Coliseu dos Recreios on the 30th and the Coliseu Porto AGEAS on 2 April. April starts with the world’s first global pop group, Now United, visiting Altice Arena on the 1st and the Super Bock Arena in Porto on the 2nd. This is a group of 18 singers from 18 different countries created by Idols creator Simon Fuller. The same venue then hosts the Columbian Maluma on the 2nd, with his Papi Juancho world tour. The same days see the Brazilian music of Israel & Rodolfo (1st) and the Cabo Verdean music of Dino d’Santiago (2nd) at the Coliseu dos Recreios. This is followed by more Brazilian music at the same venue, with Eduardo Costa on the 3rd . Festival time returns to Lisbon between 8-10 April with Charlotte de Witte, Thundercat, Jayda G, Floating Points, Ellen Allien, and Dr. Rubenstein headlining the Sonar Festival at numerous venues. Improvised theatre then comes to the Coliseu dos Recreios on the 15th and 16th with Portugal, Italy. Mexico, Columbia and Brasil competing in O Espontânio—o Campeonato Mundial de Improviso. The 18th sees Evanescense bring their latest tour to Altice Arena and, on the same night, Metz play at Lisboa ao Vivo after hitting the Hard Club in Porto on the 17th. More Brazilian music is on the agenda on the 19th, this time at Capitólio, with Rodrigo Amarante, and then with Paula Fernandes at Casino Estoril on the 22nd (she also plays the Super Bock Arena in Poto on the 23rd). The indie, rock, folk sound of Welsh singer Novo Amor can be heard at Aula Magna in Lisbon on the 21st and the Hard Club in Porto on the 22nd . The Eagles of Death Metal return to the Coliseu dos Recreios on the 22nd and Alphaville “Tour the Coliseus” playing in Porto on the 22nd and Lisbon on the 23rd. Two other bands start the Coliseu tour in April—first, the Iberian Peninsula’s vintage swing and rock’n’roll band The Lucky Duckies bring their 35th Anniversary tour to Porto on the 23rd and Lisbon on the 29th. Next, the UK’s Joe Jackson will be in Porto on the 29th and Lisbon on the 30th . James, who have had to postpone past concerts due to COVID, play the Super Bock Arena in Porto on the 21st and then head to Campo Pequeno the next day (22nd). Simple Minds, also after many postponements, play the Coliseu Porto AGEAS on the 24th and then Campo Pequeno on the 25th .