Ludmilla draws massive crowd for 5 hours in Salvador with Fervo da Lud

For the fourth consecutive year, Latin America’s biggest Black artist opened Salvador’s Carnival with a 5-hour show at Barra-Ondina circuit, celebrating Brazilian rhythms with “RITMOS” theme.

Salvador’s Carnival kicked off on Thursday (12) with an electrifying debut by Fervo da Lud, the street party led by Ludmilla, which drew massive crowds through the Barra-Ondina circuit. For the fourth consecutive year, the block transformed the Bahian capital into a grand stage of celebration, energy, and musical diversity.

This year’s theme, “RITMOS”, celebrates the different Brazilian musical styles that have marked the artist’s journey since childhood. Axé, samba, funk, sertanejo, and tecnobrega are among the honored rhythms, reflecting Ludmilla’s versatility and her deep connection with Brazilian music.

Tribute to axé and look inspired by Bahian tradition

The singer, who has established herself as Latin America’s biggest Black artist, began her carnival marathon paying tribute to axé. The outfit composed of Bonfim ribbons, traditional in Bahia, was born from the idea of transforming a symbol into movement, carrying faith, desire, memory, and popular identity.

Fervo da Lud’s repertoire combined career-defining hits and classics from collective affective memory with tracks from the new album “Fragmentos”, adapted for the carnival vibe. Among them is “BOTA”, a song that has become a phenomenon since its release, debuting on charts in four countries and establishing itself as the biggest pop debut of the year on Spotify Brazil.

With nearly 6 million accumulated plays in three weeks, the track maintains constant presence on Brazil’s Top 200, peaking at position #53, and 40% of its streams come from outside the country. On social media, “BOTA” took on a life of its own, inspiring thousands of creations on TikTok and Instagram and earning space on Spotify’s viral charts.

National marathon mobilizes over a thousand professionals

Beyond Salvador, Ludmilla takes Fervo da Lud to other Brazilian cities. On the 14th, the block energizes Marco Zero in Recife; on the 15th, it heads to São Paulo and Belo Horizonte; and on February 17th, it lands in Rio de Janeiro, where it parades through the Preta Gil circuit and promises to gather over 1 million revelers.

Overall, Ludmilla totals approximately 24 hours of live performances during her carnival marathon and mobilizes over a thousand professionals directly involved among artists, technicians, production, logistics, and security. Considering travel between cities, the operation covers about 5,500 kilometers in just a few days, transforming the artist’s Carnival into a true tour with high cultural and logistical impact.

Photo: Lyza Oliv