(Prensa Latina - Cumbancha) Lisbon, Portugal - Cuba and Brazil, will be the only Latin American countries represented at one of Europe's largest rock festivals to be held in Lisbon, Portugal. According to A&A Promotions, the Cuban group Habana Abierta will perform on May 29, along with artists from 41 countries. The Cuban band, fusing tropical rhythms with funk, reggae and hip hop, has produced original, popular Cuban music with elaborate lyrics about love, life and the search for happiness and freedom.

Portuguese bands at this "Rock in Rio" festival will be joined by the Brazilian acts Joyce, Curupira Trio and Hamilton de Holanda and Madeira Brasil Trio as well as other musicians from Cameroon, Benin, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Mauritania, Algeria, Guinea Bissau, France, Spain and the United States. The festival opens on May 28 with a concert by Paul McCartney on center stage and several other acts on the multiple tent arenas. A much awaited group is Afro Reggae, from the Vigario Geral "favela" (ghetto) of Rio de Janeiro, performing on May 29. Other famous artists present are Gilberto Gil (Brazil), Ruy Veloso (Portugal) and South African band Seether.

[Photo: Habana Abierta].