The Steady Beat of Samba

Click on image to watch and listen to the Outermost Bateria and its instruments.

24 July 2026 – WELLFLEET, MA – Just two years after its launch, more than 120 players come together to learn and share the beat of the Afro-Brazilian samba, connecting Cape Cod to a world music movement.

What is a bateria?

The Outermost Bateria combines nine percussion instruments into what might be thought of a sort of drum orchestra.  From the deep pulsing throb of the surdo to the tuned bells of the agogo to the leading beat of the replinique the resulting sounds make it hard to sit still.

“I think these rhythms are so intoxicating that even stodgy New Englanders who don’t get up and dance and don’t move their bodies a whole lot can’t really seem to sit still when they hear these rhythms,” laughed self-described Samba-Mama Tracy Plaut, who serves as the group’s manager.

What is the Outermost Bateria?

The Outmost Bateria is a traditional Brazilian-style performance group and samba school, based in Wellfleet.

Paul Greenspan, aka “DJ Pablo” on WOMR, watched a visiting bateria in a parade and thought it might be just what Cape Cod needed. He hung up a few organizational flyers to see what would happen.

The flyers said we’re forming a samba group and set a meeting at the council of aging for people who were interested, he said, noting that March is typically a pretty desolate time in the far reaches of Cape Cod.

“We had probably 30 people show up in March in Wellfleet — and I thought, there might be something here.”

What does a bateria do?

That something has become a school where people learn traditional Brazilan-West African percussion instruments, along with the history and significance of samba music. Everyone is welcome to learn and be part of the group.

Baterias appear all over the world and can have hundreds of performers. MiamiBlocco aka “the heartbeat of Miami” claims to be the largest bateria in the USA, combining trained professionals and passionate learners.

Where can you hear the Outermost Bateria?

The Outermost Bateria most recently performed in the Wellfleet July 4 parade. It will be making appearances at Provincetown’s upcoming Carnival and the Wellfleet Oysterfest.

“It is percussive joyous music for parades and parties'” said Greenspan.

“It also has some really interesting historical roots, deeply rooted in the trans-Atlantic slave trade; much of the music directly came from West Africa and Angola.”

Do players improvise the music?

Make no mistake, thought, this is no casual drum circle type of gathering. The study of samba is rigorous, the pieces are crafted and rehearsed, and the performance might look fun and free form but everyone has prepared and practiced.

“It is written and precise, not just jams,” said Greenspan.

The planning, the practice – thats where I come in as the Samba- mama,”  said Plaut. She said she makes sure everyone knows what’s coming up and that people come into practice prepared.

“We want to honor where this music comes from and do it justice,” she added.

Who can participate?

Although some of participants are drummers, most are not. Like Plaut, the rhythm pulls people in, draws them into the pulse of the music.

The samba school is open to all, regardless of musical background. Greenspan and Plaut encourage people to learn more than one instrument as well. In the process, the musical group becomes something much larger than performers, creating a community around the beat.

“It is so intoxicating for me that I lose myself when I’m playing,” said Plaut. “I never expected this to have the effect on our members that it’s had … The community aspect of what happens is far beyond whatever I expected.”

For more information

Outermost Bateria website

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