Portuguese Phrase
Vai ter uma banda de abertura?
Meaning
Literally, “Is there going to be an opening band?” It’s used to ask whether a concert, festival, or any live event will feature a group that plays before the main act.
When to use
Use this question when you’re planning to attend a show and want to know if there will be a supporting act, or when you’re discussing the program of a cultural event with friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vaiterumabandadeabertura?
Periphrastic Future (ir + infinitive)
‘Vai’ (third‑person singular of ‘ir’) + infinitive ‘ter’ expresses a near future action, similar to ‘is going to have’.
Indefinite Article Agreement
‘uma’ agrees with the feminine noun ‘banda’; use ‘um’ with masculine nouns.
Preposition ‘de’ + Noun
‘de’ links ‘banda’ and ‘abertura’, indicating the band’s role (the opening band).
Question Mark Placement
In Portuguese, the interrogative tone is shown only with the final ‘?’, unlike English which can use intonation alone.
🗨In Conversation
Vai ter uma banda de abertura?
Is there going to be an opening band?
Sim, a Banda Nova vai tocar antes do show principal.
Yes, the New Band will play before the main show.
✕Common Mistakes
Vai ter um banda de abertura?
‘Banda’ is feminine; the correct article is ‘uma’.
Vai ter uma banda de abrir?
Use the noun ‘abertura’, not the verb ‘abrir’.
Há uma banda de abertura?
‘Há’ means ‘there is/are’ in the present; to ask about the future you need the periphrastic future ‘vai ter’.
↔Alternatives
Vai ter banda de abertura?
Will there be an opening band?
Haverá uma banda de abertura?
Will there be an opening band?
Vai ter um grupo de abertura?
Will there be an opening group?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, opening acts (banda de abertura) are common at concerts, especially in festivals and larger venues. They’re often called ‘apoio’ or ‘abertura’. The phrase is informal, so it’s perfect for chatting with friends or on social media, but in a formal program you’d see ‘apresentação de apoio’. Also, note that the word ‘banda’ can refer to a rock/pop group, a samba school, or any musical ensemble, depending on the context.