Forró Maracaia

Forró Maracaia formed in 1998 in São João do Cariri, a region in Northeast Brazil known for its musical traditions. The band's name references the maraca, a traditional indigenous instrument that provides rhythmic foundation in their music. Their core members included Cícero Alves on lead vocals, accordion, and songwriting, Targino Gondim on zabumba, João do Crato on triangle, Luizinho Calixto on cavaquinho and vocals, and Raimundo Caetano on bass guitar.

Their song "Velho Xote," released in 2006, became their most recognizable track. It tells the story of a heartbroken man finding temporary solace in traditional forró dance. The song has been covered by other artists and helped build their audience beyond Brazil.

In 2016, the band faced criticism over indigenous imagery used on an album cover. They apologized for any offense and re-released the album with a modified cover. Their discography includes albums like "Feita pra Você" from 2002, "Deixa a Vida Te Levar" from 2010, and "Nordestino de Pé no Chão" from 2018.