The Yankees: 60 years of history, music and tradition in Bairrada

Founded in 1965, The Yankees is much more than a dance group. With great performances dating back over 60 years throughout Bairrada, the group has become a true cultural institution in the region. With so many years of livening up popular festivals, pilgrimages and country fairs, the band remains active and alive and well, even with some of its members already in their 70s. In an interview with Diário de Aveiro, António Lameirinhas, vocalist and guitarist, and currently the youngest member of the group at 53 years old, opened up the history and soul of the group and foresaw the future that the Yankees aspire to.

A story that begins in the family

The group was born from the passion for music of two brothers: António Manuel Almeida (still active as a keyboard player) and Joaquim Almeida (saxophonist), uncles of António Lameirinhas. The name The Yankees came about with the addition of a drummer, António Torres, and they quickly became a regular presence in the villages of Mortágua, Penacova, Cantanhede, Anadia and surrounding areas. «The group was born to cheer people up.

They played Beatles, Roberto Carlos, and adapted music to the reality of Bairrada", he reveals. Over the decades, they remained faithful to their essence: making live music, with soul, to dance to and celebrate life in the community.

A lifetime on stage

António Lameirinhas joined The Yankees in 1995. He grew up watching them rehearse at his grandparents' house, and today, after 30 years with the group, he is the driving force behind keeping the machine in tune. "We've played for five or six days in a row in August. Sometimes we're on our way to a party and we've barely seen our family," he explains.

Even with pain, tiredness or heat, the five musicians go on stage without samplers, tricks or easy ways. “The music comes out of our instruments, with effort and dedication. At the end of each performance, sometimes you need a painkiller, but it’s always worth it,” he says with a laugh.

Founded in 1965, The Yankees is much more than a dance group. With great performances dating back over 60 years throughout Bairrada, the group has become a true cultural institution in the region. With so many years of livening up popular festivals, pilgrimages and country fairs, the band remains active and alive and well, even with some of its members already in their 70s. In an interview with Diário de Aveiro, António Lameirinhas, vocalist and guitarist, and currently the youngest member of the group at 53 years old, opened up the history and soul of the group and foresaw the future that the Yankees aspire to.

A story that begins in the family

The group was born from the passion for music of two brothers: António Manuel Almeida (still active as a keyboard player) and Joaquim Almeida (saxophonist), uncles of António Lameirinhas. The name The Yankees came about with the addition of a drummer, António Torres, and they quickly became a regular presence in the villages of Mortágua, Penacova, Cantanhede, Anadia and surrounding areas. «The group was born to cheer people up.

They played Beatles, Roberto Carlos, and adapted music to the reality of Bairrada", he reveals. Over the decades, they remained faithful to their essence: making live music, with soul, to dance to and celebrate life in the community.

A lifetime on stage

António Lameirinhas joined The Yankees in 1995. He grew up watching them rehearse at his grandparents' house, and today, after 30 years with the group, he is the driving force behind keeping the machine in tune. "We've played for five or six days in a row in August. Sometimes we're on our way to a party and we've barely seen our family," he explains.

Even with pain, tiredness or heat, the five musicians go on stage without samplers, tricks or easy ways. “The music comes out of our instruments, with effort and dedication. At the end of each performance, sometimes you need a painkiller, but it’s always worth it,” he says with a laugh.

Founded in 1965, The Yankees is much more than a dance group. With great performances dating back over 60 years throughout Bairrada, the group has become a true cultural institution in the region. With so many years of livening up popular festivals, pilgrimages and country fairs, the band remains active and alive and well, even with some of its members already in their 70s. In an interview with Diário de Aveiro, António Lameirinhas, vocalist and guitarist, and currently the youngest member of the group at 53 years old, opened up the history and soul of the group and foresaw the future that the Yankees aspire to.

A story that begins in the family

The group was born from the passion for music of two brothers: António Manuel Almeida (still active as a keyboard player) and Joaquim Almeida (saxophonist), uncles of António Lameirinhas. The name The Yankees came about with the addition of a drummer, António Torres, and they quickly became a regular presence in the villages of Mortágua, Penacova, Cantanhede, Anadia and surrounding areas. «The group was born to cheer people up.

They played Beatles, Roberto Carlos, and adapted music to the reality of Bairrada", he reveals. Over the decades, they remained faithful to their essence: making live music, with soul, to dance to and celebrate life in the community.

A lifetime on stage

António Lameirinhas joined The Yankees in 1995. He grew up watching them rehearse at his grandparents' house, and today, after 30 years with the group, he is the driving force behind keeping the machine in tune. "We've played for five or six days in a row in August. Sometimes we're on our way to a party and we've barely seen our family," he explains.

Even with pain, tiredness or heat, the five musicians go on stage without samplers, tricks or easy ways. “The music comes out of our instruments, with effort and dedication. At the end of each performance, sometimes you need a painkiller, but it’s always worth it,” he says with a laugh.