Tracz

Tracz formed in Portugal in the early 2000s, with Pedro Costa on vocals and guitar, João Marques on guitar and vocals, and Manuel Rocha on bass and vocals. Their name comes from an ancient Celtic tribe that once lived in the region, which gives you a sense of where they're coming from. They've put out albums like 'Girassol' in 2005, 'Mar' in 2008, and 'Terra' in 2018.

Their songs mix Portuguese folk melodies with rock rhythms, and they've worked with other musicians including Luís Petisca on accordion and Marta Reis on vocals. You can hear this blend on tracks like 'Ela Tem Uns Corre' and 'Nossos Pecados', where the arrangements feel both traditional and contemporary.

Some listeners who prefer strict folk traditions have criticized their approach, but the band has kept going with it anyway. They're not trying to recreate museum pieces, they're making music that feels alive now, even when it draws on older forms.