The Uma Nota Festival of Tropical Expressions is coming back for its third year, meaning your perfect fall pout is going to look pretty out of place between October 17 and October 20th, when the grooving sounds of Brazilian, Latin, Caribbean, funk and soul music take over venues around Toronto's west end. Here are five things you can't miss during this whirlwind four day fest.

Get started at the Gladstone
The happiest (and hottest) spot in Toronto on Thursday is going to be the Gladstone Ballroom, as psychedelic Brazilian group Os Tropies officially kick things off, melding indie sensibilities with Tropicalia and melts your troubles away. From there the Gord Sheard Brazilian Jazz Quintet will continue the Brazilian sounds, and DJ Firecracker will pull out the samba, forro, funk, reggae, and cumbia until your legs can't take it anymore. Dance responsibly. The Gladstone Hotel, October 17, 9PM, $10

Grooving with Lido Pimienta
Toronto songstress Lido Pimienta, born in Columbia, has an amazing thing going on. Many fans across the city have already caught on to her unique sound, which blends world music with contemporary influence and a huge, fiery fervor. Combining samplers and analog synths with a relentless talent for performance that will take you far away from the every day, heartstrong and intelligent Pimienta is our pick of the fest. Bridges Tropical Mashup: Live, Analog & Digital, The Great Hall, October 19, 9PM, $12

Pan American Bridges Workshop Series
This series of workshops is presented by Dos Mundos Arts and Media, and has a lot to offer for anyone and everything, especially those on a budget: all workshops are pay what you can. The fest kicks off with Urban Street Dance at Bavia Arts Studio on St Clair West, and Brazilian Dance at Broadway Arts near Roncesvalles. There will be Cuban yoga, a drum workshop, and much more. Check the full lineup on their website.

Alice Russell and the World Soul Party
David Byrne collaborator Alice Russell is huge in British soul scene, and will perform at The World Soul Party at the Garrison with a stripped down six piece band. She's been compared to Aretha Franklin, which is not an easy feat. Phil Motion & the Easy Lo-fi, Marques Toliver, and DJ General Eclectic are also on the bill, which probes the northern hemisphere for soul, funk, and R&B: the north's got soul too, you know. The Garrison, October 18th, 9PM, $23

The Community Cultural Fair
Lula Lounge will host this family friendly all day, all night gathering on the final day of the fest. Feijoada will be served to guests while DJs, speakers, dance lessons, and performances trade off. You can also learn how to make a perfect caipirinha, munch chocolate by Chocosol, have your face painted, and shop the artist marketplace. Admission is $5 before 7PM and $10, and all ages will be admitted. Lula Lounge, October 18th, 2PM - midnight, $5 - $10

Uma Nota Festival of Tropical Expressions's launch party kicks off Thursday October 17th at the Gladstone, and the fest runs until October 20th at various venues. Festival passes are $40. Individual events start at PWYC and up.

Photo by Leonardo Antonio Paradela