Expresso Transatlântico

Expresso Transatlântico is a musical journey between the influence of Portuguese tradition and contemporary global sounds. The project led by Gaspar Varela, Sebastião Varela, and Rafael Matos creates a musical portrait of a cosmopolitan Lisbon, with the Portuguese guitar as the main character, which has already toured major Portuguese and international stages. The band has recently performed in Belgium and Japan, captivating new audiences and expanding their international presence. In recent years, the group has performed on prestigious stages such as the opening ceremony of WOMEX 2022, festivals such as MUMI (Spain), Colors of Ostrava (Czech Republic), FMM Sines, Paredes de Coura, NOS Alive, Med Festival, EUROSONIC Noorderslag or Primavera Sound. 

Expresso Transatlântico kick off the year with a new album, Trópico Paranóia, produced by The Legendary Tiger Man (Paulo Furtado). Emerging from a creative period spent in various locations across Portugal, the album draws from three very different environments whose contrasts naturally shaped its rock-driven sound, textures, and sense of movement. Reflecting the band’s journey and the influences of places, people, and time, Trópico Paranóia also explores the individual positioning of its members within a society in decline. This sonic and thematic universe unfolds through a series of singles that introduce the band’s new artistic phase, beginning with “Flor Trovão”, followed by “Avalanche”, “Tigre da Serra”, and most recently, “Nikita Punk”.

Ressaca Bailada, the debut album released in 2023, was named one of the “Best National Albums” of its year and has sold out venues since its release. In 2024, the band also released a “concert film,” written and directed by Sebastião Varela and screened at Portugal’s leading documentary film festivals.