Forró singers criticize fees, public attitude and country music space in São João do Nordeste

Walkyria Santos and Flávio José
Disclosure
Last weekend, the dispute for prominence in the traditional festivals of São João do Nordeste gained new chapters.
Singer Walkyria Santos and forrozeiro Flávio José publicly protested against the public's stance and the disparity in fees compared to artists from other genres, especially country music, in the region's main June hubs.
Walkyria's wave of outbursts began on the afternoon of last Saturday (6), in Caruaru (PE), and extended into the night in Campina Grande (PB).
At the same time, Flávio José announced the cancellation of his performances on Bahian soil, criticizing what he called the "devaluation" of local culture. Understand what happened.
'Leave the country music there'
Polo Alto do Moura in São João de Caruaru
Rafael Lima/PMC
The first statement from the former lead singer of the band Magnifiques was given on Saturday afternoon, on the stage at Alto do Moura, in Caruaru (PE) - a hub traditionally focused on the roots of forró.
In view of the warm response from the public, the singer made a direct comparison with the Pátio de Eventos Luiz Gonzaga, the main one in the city:
"There isn't a forró artist who passes through this stage [at Alto do Moura] and doesn't get emotional with this audience. Leave the country folk there on that main stage and the forró people here. I just want to come here now, ok?"
Charge on the public in Paraíba
Look Walkyria Santos at São João 2025 in Campina Grande
Disclosure
Hours later, on the same Saturday night, Walkyria took to the main stage at Parque do Povo, in Campina Grande (PB).
During the performance, which began around 9pm, the singer was uncomfortable with the audience's attitude and demanded the attention of those who, according to her, showed apathy waiting for the main country attraction of the night:
"Is everyone ok there? I think you're shy. Are you waiting for Henrique & Juliano? There are other attractions before them, see? You can interact, sing, dance... it won't hurt anyone", said the artist from above the stage.
Initial plugin text
The following day, the singer took to social media to explain her outburst, revealing that her dissatisfaction was also due to behind-the-scenes problems. "My schedule was changed at the last minute and when things go as planned, we get sad", he explained.
'Do you see forró bands at Villa Mix?'
Singer Robson Paiva comes out in defense of Walkyria and forró: 'In the South, there is an agreement not to hire Forró bands from the Northeast'.
Social media
But the matter didn't stop there. In the comments on his profile, the debate ended up gaining the support of other names in the segment.
Potiguar singer Robson Paiva came to Walkyria's defense and pointed out the existence of a "veiled agreement" in the music market, which would open the doors of the Northeast to country artists, but would prevent the circulation of traditional forró bands in major festivals in the South and Southeast regions of the country.
In an interview with g1, the artist questioned the lack of reciprocity in the treatment between genres in the different regions of Brazil:
"When did you see Walkyria Santos playing in Goiânia, for example? You won't find it. If you take stock of the music festivals that take place in the South and Southeast, with rare exceptions, none of them include forró bands. But the country folk there are always here. Nogueira/g1
Dissatisfaction with the direction of the format of the June grids was not restricted to the stages in Paraíba and Pernambuco.

And it even rose in tone.
In the form of protest, singer and accordion player Flávio José, 74 years old, announced the cancellation of 15 performances scheduled for the period in Bahia, pointing out the financial devaluation on the part of local organizations in comparison to artists from outside the Northeast. cultural event in the Northeast, I receive the news that the MP from Bahia decided to reduce my fee! While other artists who have nothing to do with forró, such as country singers, earn loads of money."
Flávio José says he will not perform shows in São João da Bahia after the MP's recommendation to reduce fees
Reproduction/Social Media
Henrique & Juliano minimize 'controversy'
Show by the duo Henrqiue and Juliano gathered a crowd in Campina Grande
Reproduction/São João de Campina Grande
Questioned by g1 Paraíba about local criticism in relation to the strong presence of the country singer in the state's traditional event, singer Henrique, from the duo with Juliano, minimized the controversy.
"I think we have to exalt the positive side more, not give so much visibility to the negative of the thing, you know? There are 60 thousand people there, so we have to do our best for this people who left home", declared the country singer before taking the stage.
What the city halls say: the grid numbers
Falamansa show at São João de Caruaru 2026
Reproduction/PMC
Despite the inflamed tone of the protests, the organizations of the two largest June hubs in the country argue that the traditional rhythm continues to be the basis of the events.
Campina Grande City Hall reported that more than half of the attractions This year they are forró.
The genre represents 52% of the 119 confirmed performances for the 33 days of celebration (which extends from June 3rd to July 5th).
The country music appears only in third place, representing 7% of the attractions.
Check out the complete program of São João de Campina Grande
The Caruaru City Council guaranteed g1 an even higher rate: 80% of this year's entire program dedicated exclusively to the traditional genre.
In total, the event expects the participation of 26 thousand artists, including pé-de-serra trios, bands, June gangs, groups of dance, as well as repentistas and traditional bacamarteiros.
The Pernambuco municipality's schedule is spread across 27 entertainment hubs over 78 days of celebration, which began on April 10th and continues until June 27th.
Check out the complete schedule of São João de Caruaru

Source: G1

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