30 July

Santa Cruz Ocean Spirit 2012

If you enjoy watching others taming the waves, try the Santa Cruz Ocean Spirit. Taking place on Santa Cruz beach in the municipality of Torres Vedras – a well-know surf haven – the festival includes several competitions in various disciplines like windsurfing, bodyboarding, and of course surfing as well as after sunset entertainment courtesy of various DJs determined to get festival goers grooving.

10pm
Santa Cruz Beach
Torres Vedras
Telephone: 261 320 751
Free admission

31 July

Hugh Laurie & The Copper Bottom Band

Best known in Portugal as the insufferable and brilliant Dr. House, a sarcastic hospital doctor with unorthodox methods and a dangerous fondness for Vicodin, Hugh Laurie reveals his musical side to Lisbon with a one-off gig at the Coliseum. With the Copper Bottom Band, he performs songs from his debut album “Let Them Talk” in a Portuguese premiere.

9pm
Coliseu dos Recreios
Rua Portas de Santo Antão, 96
Lisbon
Telephone: 21 324 05 80
Tickets: €30-€75

1 August

Sudoeste TMN 2012

The Sudoeste Festival is about to begin, as evidenced by the steady migration of teenagers to the small coastal town of Zambujeira do Mar on the Costa Vicentina for five days of beach, music and lots of fun (for fun read alcohol). The first day is the Campers’ Welcome Party with a line-up designed for the post-sunset crowd with DJs Martin Solveig, Afrojack and Pete Tha Zouk.

From 7pm
Herdade da Casa Branca
Zambujeira do Mar
Tickets: €50, day pass

2 August

Carminho

Singer Carminho, one of the new revelations on the fado stage, performs in the city of Setúbal.

10pm
Parque Sant’iago
Setúbal
Free admission

3 August

18th Sardine Festival

At the Fair and Exhibition Park of Portimão, it is once again time for the annual sardine festival. Now in its 18th year, the event celebrates Portugal’s emblematic fish with music, fireworks, arts, crafts and of course gastronomy galore.

3-11 August
18th Sardine Festival
Parque de Feiras e Exposições
Portimão
Telephone: 282 410 440
Tickets: €16 (day pass for 4 people), free admission for children aged 0-10.

4 August

Mika

For one night only in Cantanhede, Mika revives the hits that propelled him to the top of the charts in 2007 and also plays some newer material. Pure feel-good bubble gum pop.

10pm
Expofacic
Cantanhede
Coimbra
Tickets: €9

5 August

David Guetta

French DJ and producer David Guetta has been chosen to bring the 2012 edition of the Festival Sudoeste to a climactic close after five days of gigs and intensive partying.

From 6pm
Herdade da Casa Branca
Zambujeira do Mar
Tickets: €50, daily ticket