Zuco 103

Pioneers of Brazilectro and still pushing boundaries: Zuco 103 returns to Amsterdam Roots Festival with new music and unstoppable energy. Since 1999, the Amsterdam-based trio has carved out a sound of their own — a high-voltage mix of Brazilian samba and bossa nova, jazz, electronic grooves, and funk. And for those who remember: they already set Roots ablaze back in 2007.

Even the name says it all. “Suco” means juice in Brazilian Portuguese, and Zuco 103 stands for a vibrant mix — “a drink with 103% energy for adults and 103% fruitiness for kids.” The “103” nods to the room in Amsterdam where it all began. Not a literal drink, but a bold, genre-blending sonic cocktail.

With Brazilian vocalist Lilian Vieira, German keyboardist Stefan Schmid, and Dutch drummer Stefan Kruger, the band created a signature Brazilectro sound that breaks borders with ease. Since their breakthrough album Outro Lado, they’ve taken it global — from Rio to Glastonbury, Montreux to Fuji Rock.

More than 25 years in, Zuco 103 keeps evolving. Their tenth album Mais Além (“beyond”) captures exactly that spirit. In Brazil, it’s an expression for looking further, pushing limits, stepping into the unknown — and that’s exactly what this record does. Expect their trademark groove, now infused with elements of funk, dubstep, synthpop, and ska.

The result moves from intimate and reflective to irresistibly danceable. Written in a period of loss and reflection, Lilian Vieira’s lyrics give the album emotional depth — an ode to memory, family, and connection.

Zuco 103 at Roots delivers a lush Brazilian summer afternoon in the park — packed with smoldering grooves, layered electronics, free-flowing improvisation, and Lilian Vieira’s spellbinding voice. Warm, vibrant, and impossible to stand still to.