Musician Bispo was at Mealhada yesterday and was part of the poster presentation for 231 Fest – Mealhada Youth Festival, where he will be one of the headliners, along with Van Zee and DJ Fifty. The festival, which also features a range of local artists, takes place on the 3rd and 4th of May, at Quinta do Murtal, in the city of Mealhada. The event, budgeted at around 75 thousand euros, has, for the first time, an entry fee of 3.50 euros per day, with the possibility of tickets being purchased, from next week, through ticketline; and brings together four dozen young volunteers, who are part of the entire organizational process of 231 Fest. The occupancy limit increases in 2024, with the possibility of five thousand entries per night.
There will be two nights of partying from 9pm to 4:30am on the 3rd and 4th of May, featuring national and local artists. On Friday, the festival kicks off with Mealhada musician Andy Scotch, followed by DJ Shannon Booth; Bispo and DJ Fifty will be the headliners this night, where disc jockeys Braulio, João Maçãs and Luis Ferro also perform. The next day, the party starts with Vaskiiito / BULY35 / Shad; DJ Rupture (Zumba Yennifer Campos and Elite Crew DWH) and Van Zee. The 2024 festival ends with The MAZ3R Effect and the “disc-jockeys” Gonçalo Vaz & Miguel Malaguerra. From the 2nd to the 26th of April, the daily ticket costs 3.50 euros and the general ticket costs five euros; From April 27th, the daily ticket price is five euros and the general ticket is seven. Tickets can be purchased on the ticketline and at Cineteatro Messias.
«A festival truly focused on the preferences of young people, with the promotion of local artists», began by saying Hugo Silva, councilor responsible for Youth at the Mealhada Chamber, explaining that in order to decide on a paid entry «a lot of people were heard» . «We are talking about a low value that guarantees respect for what the festival is doing. Despite this, through mechanisms we already have in place, we guarantee that no one will be left out due to the lack of this amount”, declared the mayor, adding that “the stage, this year, will have a tent, allowing the event to be held even if the weather conditions are not be good.”
Hugo Silva also highlighted «the extraordinary conditions that local artists will have on stage, enjoying the same conditions as national artists. We are taking advantage of your talent and, at the same time, giving you “the” push».
«One of the challenges we wanted to achieve was to have something created by young people. We are immensely proud of you. The moment is yours because you created the conditions for it», highlighted António Jorge Franco, president of the Municipality of Mealhada, remembering the young people who turned 50 on April 25th. «If today you are comfortable creating and also criticizing, this is due to many people who were arrested and died so that you can enjoy this freedom today. Never forget», said the mayor.
Bispo recalled his visit to a tourist resort in Mealhada, where he performed for 18 people on October 31, 2014. «Thinking about what happened ten years ago is brutal», said the musician, praising «the event logo » and the «courage» in putting local artists on the bill. «This support that you (the Chamber) give is very beautiful and that was what I really wanted ten years ago… just five minutes of attention. One day I want to see this on Linha de Sintra», he praised, being corroborated by the artist MAZ3R, who also added «being curious about getting home and researching the work of local artists».
With a budget of around 75 thousand euros, the organization expects five thousand entries per night, an increase compared to previous years, whilst guaranteeing «the security of the event, something we do not want to give up».
Festival wants to achieve “Zero Waste”
231 FEST was born from the desire of young people and has been establishing itself in music, but it also stands out for its relaxed atmosphere and sustainability aspect, with the adoption of measures for the lowest possible ecological footprint, such as the adoption of drinking glasses reusable. Last year, it was classified as an “Eco-Event” by ERSUC.
«The environmental issue is absolutely essential for us. Last year, in urban solid waste we had an average of 30 grams per user and ten liters per person. In 2024, with chemical toilets (which do not require connection to the sewage network), the reduction of water will be tremendous”, explained Hugo Silva, also emphasizing that, in the 2023 event, “from one night to the next , the only thing we did was remove the bags from the containers placed in the enclosure. Global production did not reach 150 kilos of garbage in the two days».
«We intend for this to be a “Zero Waste” festival and that the “waste” that remains, after due separation, is treated here through the composting system», added António Jorge Franco.
Monica Sofia Lopes
