Ahead of this month’s Festival F, our contributor Vaughan Willmore speaks to headline act Os Quatro e Meia and learns about their rise to fame, the bonds that bind them together, and how they combine musical stardom with full-time professional careers.
There’s nothing ‘typical’ about Os Quatro e Meia. Not in how they were formed, how they dress, the wonderful music they make, or how they live their lives. Speak with any of their many fans and they’ll almost certainly tell you three things – how much they LOVE their music, how they seem ‘really nice guys’, and how, in addition to being accomplished musicians and singers, they each have their own careers away from music. I met with Tiago Nogueira and Mário Ferreira while they were holidaying with their families near Albufeira. How ‘nice’ would they be?
The formation of Os Quatro e Meia can be traced back to 2013 when Tiago received an invitation to perform at a concert to raise funds for a dance academy in Coimbra, which is where he (and lifelong friend and bandmate Mário) are from. They’d both studied at the University of Coimbra and moved in similar social circles to those who would eventually become the other members of the band. They were all connected by a love of music. As Tiago told me, “Some guys meet up on Friday night to play football. We were guys who met up to play music.” They played seven songs and the public responded positively. On the back of that one concert, they received invitations to perform at other events.
Band members: The band comprises (left to right): Mário Ferreira (piano, accordion and vocals) , Ricardo Almeida (vocals and guitar), João Cristóvão (violin and mandolin), Rui Marques (double bass and vocals), Tiago Nogueira (vocals and guitar) and Pedro Figueiredo (drums and percussion). They all have full-time professional careers – Tiago, Pedro and Ricardo are doctors, Mario is a computer engineer, Rui is a civil engineer and João is a music teacher.
In those days, they were so new to performing publicly that they didn’t even have a name. When they were about to go on stage and were asked how they wanted to be introduced, they looked to each other for ideas before settling on Os Quatro e Meia (The Four and a Half). At this time, they were still a five-piece band and the name was a gentle joke about the short stature of Rui, who went by the nickname ‘shorty’. Although the band has since grown in numbers, they’ve kept the name because they all like it so much (including Rui!) and it’s part of who they are.
They’ve since gone on to release three best-selling albums, compete in RTP’s flagship show Festival da Canção, and win a Golden Globe for their song ‘Na Escola’. They’ve performed to sold-out audiences in Portugal, the UK and Brazil. In concert and often in their videos, they perform in their trademark dark suits. It’s a striking look. Tiago told me, in a playful way, “None of us have any fashion sense! The suits are a great dress code and mean we don’t have to follow any trends or worry too much about what we’re wearing.”
The band’s music is a blend of indie and pop, fused with a sense of classical music. It’s a heady and fantastic mix. Their soulful melodies, coupled with engaging live performances, make them one of Portugal’s most popular and successful bands. Their fan base spans all ages and, not unusually for a band of good-looking smartly dressed guys, catches the attention of female fans. “Do you mean our moms?” said Mário with a smile. “I prefer to think everyone likes us!” he said.. Tiago and Mário are clearly comfortable in each other’s company and share a similar sense of humour and a modesty about all they’ve achieved.
As for their professional careers – Tiago is a thoracic surgeon and Mário a computer engineer – this was, in some way, a product of their founding. By the time they’d established the band, many of the guys were already pursuing professional careers. It’s led to some interesting interactions with their fans. “I was trying to arrange an appointment with a patient for an operation,” said Tiago. “She told me she couldn’t make the date I’d offered. When I eventually met her, the reason she declined the date became clear – she was due to see us in concert the following day and didn’t want to miss the show!”
Based upon my conversation with Tiago and Mário, their reputation for being ‘nice guys’ seems entirely justified. Tiago said, “I think some of that comes from people seeing us perform and how we interact and support each other, and from that they feel we’re nice guys to be around. None of us are high-stress kind of guys, so that also helps. It’s true that we might not always be a band, but I’m certain we’ll always be friends.”
Tiago and Mário are looking forward to their first performance at Festival F and enjoy being in the Algarve, hence their holidaying here. “The Algarve is a special place,” said Mario. “The sea is warmer than other parts of Portugal and the weather and the scenery are so great. We’re very excited to be performing at Festival F. It’s a beautiful festival and we’re looking forward to putting on a great show.”
After Festival F, the guys have another 11 concerts programmed until the end of the year and a major concert scheduled for 14 February 2026, at Meo Arena in Lisbon. There’s no new album in the pipeline just yet; instead, they’re focusing more on releasing singles, such as their recent ‘Tiques De Rico’. If you’re new to their music, then check out their Ao Vivo no Estádio Cidade De Coimbra concert on YouTube (5 million views and counting) or, of course, go along and see them live at Festival F, on Thursday, 4 September. You’ll be in for a treat.
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Photography by Sebas Ferreira & Paulo Bico
Festival F
It’s one of Europe’s most popular musical festivals and this year it’s going to be bigger than ever. To mark the 10th anniversary of Festival F– known throughout Portugal as the ‘last great festival of the summer’ – it has been extended from the usual three days to four. Taking place from Thursday, 4 September until Sunday, 7 September, it will feature nearly 100 acts. Along with Os Quatro e Meia, there will be performances from Algarvian-born Diogo Piçarra, our own Orquestra do Algarve, plus world-renowned artists such as Ana Moura, Iolanda and Pedro Abrunhosa.
Festival F is more than a music festival. It’s a celebration of the city, with Sunday being the annual Faro Day celebration. For the four days of the festival, the streets will be alive with jugglers, dancers, street vendors, and a plentiful supply of food and drink, all enjoyed in a relaxed family atmosphere.
Tickets are available at www.festivalf.pt and cost from just €10.
