Péricles Performs Motown Tribute at Rock in Rio 2026

Brazilian singer Péricles performed a concert dedicated entirely to American soul and R&B hits from the Motown label during the fourth day of Rock in Rio 2026 on Monday, September 7. The show, which took place at the Sunset stage in Rio de Janeiro, featured no samba or pagode songs. Péricles performed a 14 song setlist including tracks by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, The Temptations, and Lionel Richie. He opened the show with Ain't No Mountain High Enough and closed with ABC and Superstition.

The performance was a special project suggested by Zé Ricardo, a curator and vice president of artistic affairs at Rock World. Péricles appeared on stage wearing a silver suit and a cape featuring images of famous Black American artists. He was accompanied by a band of nine musicians and four backing vocals created specifically for the festival. The singer noted in an interview that the Motown label inspired him to start his own company, Farias Produções.

While both reports praised the singer's vocal ability, they offered different perspectives on the absence of his usual genre. A center leaning source framed the performance as one of the best of the festival, comparing it favorably to a performance by Jon Batiste. A center left leaning source highlighted the historical significance of Motown in racial integration and noted that while some fans expecting pagode hits might have been disappointed, the show demonstrated the artist's versatility.