o gajo

(PT)

João Morais, known in the music scene as O GAJO, has been redefining the place of tradition in contemporary Portuguese music. Born in Lisbon and forged in the world of punk rockpunk rock, it was out of the need to reconnect with his roots that this unique project was born in 2016 — a sonic journey in which the ‘viola campaniça’, traditional from Alentejo, becomes the protagonist of an urban, restless and deeply identifiable musical discourse. The discovery of the ‘viola campaniça’ was more than an instrumental fascination: it was the turning point in Morais' career, who found in the chordophone from Alentejo a language of his own.

After hundreds of performances in and outside Portugal, he released his first album,'Longe do Chão', in 2017, followed by the ambitious cycle'As 4 Estações d’O GAJO'consisting of four EPs inspired by Lisbon train stations. In 2021,'Subterrâneos' brought new collaborations and complexity to the project, with musicians such as Carlos Barretto and José Salgueiro. In 2023,'Não Lugar' expanded the musician’s sound universe, exploring new geographies and instrumental fusions. Between stops at renowned festivals — from Eurosonic to Reeperbahn, from WOMEX to IMATERIAL — and tours across Europe, Brazil, Macau and Finland, O GAJO has established the ‘campaniça’ as a global instrument, without losing the accent of the Alentejo plains. Distinguished with the INATEL Award at the 2024 Iberian Festival Awards , O GAJO continues to forge his path with a free and combative spirit. In 2025,'Trovoada'arrives, a new album presented in band format, with accordions, percussion, bagpipes, cavaquinho and voice — a formation that promises to keep alive the creative storm of an artist who never stops surprising us.