Nation Beat, a Brooklyn-based band that combines maracatu rhythms from northeastern Brazil, New Orleans “second line” funk, roots country music and percolating, propulsive percussion, consists of band founder Scott Kettner (drums, percussion), Skye Steele (violin, rabeca, a Brazilian folk fiddle), Raphael McGregor (guitar, lap steel guitar), Eduardo Guedes (percussion) and Liliana Araújo (lead vocals, percussion), who was just in the area performing for Cityfolk with Rob Curto’s Sanfona Project. The high-energy band has performed to enthusiastic receptions at major folk and world music festivals in the U.S. and Canada and has recorded one album, Maracatuniversal. The band’s second album, Legends of the Preacher, should be released any day now. Nation Beat has created a fresh, distinctive, danceable, highly engaging world music fusion with a groove that just won’t stop.