Date
17/6/2026

On 8 June, the area surrounding the bar at the School of Applied Arts (ESART) of the Castelo Branco Polytechnic was transformed into a stage to host the first edition of the ESART Sessions, a series of live music performances presented by second-year students on the Bachelor’sdegree course in Electronic Music and Music Production (MEPM).

The initiative, which combined academic assessment with a social gathering, was organised as part of the Music Production IV module, taught by Professor Álvaro Lopes.

From setting up and tuning the sound system to mixing and monitoring in real time, the entire technical operation of the concert by TONI!, the guest artist, was handled by the future producers and sound engineers. This experience enables them to tackle the challenges of a real-world work environment, facilitating their transition into the professional world.

Blending nostalgic melodies with electronic beats, António Castelo’s project strikes a balance between alternative pop, synth-pop and indie pop. In a tone that is naive, light-hearted and satirical, yet just the right amount of introspective, the bassist and keyboardist – respectively – of the Castelo Branco-based bands Wakadelics and Galeria Incerteza also draws on visual metaphors to explore the vulnerabilities and contradictions of modern love.

The musician made his debut in 2023 with the single FESTA, featured on the second volume of the compilation album Super Castelo Branco. The following year saw the release of the EP Insónias, which includes the tracks Tempo de Quebrar, Ensurdece (a) dor, Noite Mal Dormida, Dores de Crescimento and Ponto Final.. Then, in 2025, the song Bota Amarela followed.