Brazilian-Style Ensemble to Play at Levitt Tonight

Popular Philadelphia-based Latin ensemble PhillyBloco will perform a free concert at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks in Bethlehem at 7 p.m. tonight.

The group has stepped up to perform as part of the after the , which followed Tuesday’s death of founding band member Larry Hoppen.

Modeled after the blocos of Rio de Janeiro, PhillyBloco is comprised of multiple drummers, electric guitar, bass guitar, vocals, horn section, accordion and Brazilian dancers. The group performs a raucous mash-up of Samba, funk, reggae and more made popular by both Brazilian and non-Brazilian artists including Olodum, Timbalada, Monobloco, Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder.

The one constant in the group’s music is a heavy percussive element that’s used to explore the tremendous range of Brazilian rhythms, with the ensemble applying its own unique creativity and energy to each arrangement.