PROVIDENCE, RI (USA) – The International Portuguese Music Awards (IPMA) has honored music produced by artists of Portuguese descent since 2013. For the first time in its ten years, the internationally televised event is headed to Providence, Rhode Island.
Actress Daniela Ruah and local celebrity Ricardo Farias will co-host the milestone event at the historic Providence Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 23rd. Tickets are available at IPMAawards.com.
Daniela is best known for starring in the long-running CBS series NCIS: Los Angeles as special agent Kensi Blye. In 2018, she co-hosted the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon, Portugal.
“She was slated to host our 2020 ceremony before we were forced to produce a virtual show due to the pandemic”, explained IPMA co-founder David Saraiva.
One of the prominent faces of the Portuguese community in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, Ricardo is returning to the IPMA stage. He has led several TV programs, was a voice on WJFD Radio, and currently hosts a talk show on RTP Açores.
There are thirteen awards up for grabs in categories including rock, rap, fado, music video, and best new talent. A $2000 cash prize and studio time with MDC Music in Toronto will be awarded to this year’s IPMA “New Talent” winner.
Nominees will be announced on February 27th via IPMA’s Facebook and YouTube channels, in addition to other outlets including Camões TV in Canada, The Portuguese Channel in Rhode Island/Massachusetts, and worldwide on RTP International. Aurea will reveal the nominated artists in the announcement video.
The tenth annual award show will feature a star-studded lineup.
Aurea is a soul singer with accolades under her name including winning a Portuguese Golden Globe and MTV’s “Best Portuguese Act” awards. She has been a coach on The Voice Portugal since 2015.
Jorge Ferreira is an Azorean-born recording artist known as the ambassador of “Música Popular” worldwide and listed at number four in all-time Portuguese record sales. He has recorded close to 50 albums and sold out the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Calema is a duo from São Tomé and Príncipe who’s hit “A Nossa Vez” is one of the most-watched Portuguese language videos of all time with almost 100M YouTube views. In 2021, they led all artists with three MTV Africa Music Awards nominations including “Artist of the Year” and “Best Group”.
Paulo Gonzo is a multi-platinum recording artist, singer, and songwriter with a career spanning over three decades with mega-hit power ballads such as “Jardins Proibidos” and “Dei-te Quase Tudo”.
Delfins is a legendary pop-rock band that in the 90’s reached mega-stardom status in Portugal and released one of the best-selling Portuguese albums of all time. They have reunited recently after breaking up in 2009 and will be performing at Rock in Rio in 2022.
Xutos e Pontapés is widely considered Portugal’s top rock band with a career spanning over 40 years. Their songs have become some of the biggest anthems in Portuguese rock history.
To reserve tickets for the International Portuguese Music Awards, visit IPMAawards.com or call the PPAC box office: 401-421-2787.
Past editions of the show have included participation from several distinguished artists including Roberto Leal, Pedro Abrunhosa, João Pedro Pais, world-renowned guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, and Daniela Mercury, who is one of the best-selling female artists of all time in Brazil.
“We are excited to step up the IPMA show at the iconic PPAC in Providence! Our audience will be in for a treat this year.” – Jose Xavier, IPMA co-founder.
Nearly 10% of the population in Rhode Island has ancestry from Portugal, and Portuguese is the third most spoken language in the state.
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