Biography:

Mandrágora is a name of a plant that possesses fertilizing and aphrodisiac virtues, a medicinal root whose fruit, identical to a small apple, exhales a strong and fetid odour. The root of the plant has the form of a human being and in the popular belief, the mandrágora cries out as people when it is pulled out of the land.

Mandrágora is also the name of young band of OPorto, that distinguish themselves for the creativity of their original compositions, evoking the Portuguese musical tradition, and exploring the meeting with other cultures and still revealing a great diversity of influences of modern music.

The first meeting between was in 1999.

In 2000 the trio formed Mandrágora with the recording of 3 musics that won the 2nd place in "Prémios Maqueta" (folk category), followed by the live debut of the band in the 1st Intercéltic Festival of Sendim.

In the following years the band preformed with different formations throughout Portugal and abroad. It was also chosen to represent Portugal at 2nd European Meeting of Young Traditional Musicians (Eurofolk 2002, Parthenay - France).

The CD "Mandrágora" was released in 2005 and was well received by the press and online community, winning also the "Carlos Paredes 2006" award, awarded annually to the best Portuguese instrumental music.

The group made a musical in residence Langonnet (France) with the musical direction of Jacky Molard, which followed a tour in the region of Brittany with the musical guests Simone Alves on vocals and Guilhaume Le Guernne in bass clarinet.

The 2nd album "Escarpa" was released in May 2008 and once again receive the critical praise. The nacional musical guests are: Helena Madeira on vocals and Francisco Silva on vocals and guitars. The international music guests are: Matteo Dorigo (sanfona) and Simone Botasso (diatonic accordion).