02.08.2021, di Luca Testoni

The great Ponderosa-branded live tours of the summer continue in August throughout Italy (and beyond). Performances by an incredibly diverse cast of male and female artists, who all have in common an extraordinary talent and stage presence.

For the month of August, Ponderosa has packed a touring caravan full of wonderful people, ready to travel far and wide throughout the boot of Italy, plus one more stop beyond its borders.

Putting aside Ludovico Einaudi for a moment (an article describing his upcoming performances in depth was published on this website a few days ago) we start with a bang with a quartet of great performances by Stuart Braithwaite.

The Scottish singer-guitarist, off duty from fronting his band Mogwai – regarded among the best European post-rock ensembles – will play on August 2nd in Terni (Roman amphitheater); on August 3rd he will be in Marina di Ravenna (Hana-Bi); on August 4th in Turin (Hiroshima Sound Garden); on August 5th in Prato (Off Tune Festival); and finally on August 6th in Castiglione del Lago (Rocca del Leone). Braithwaite’s solo set will be simultaneously intimate and resounding. Voice, guitar and footswitch, featuring never-before-heard pieces as well as music by Mogwai .

Pacifico is carrying on with his very special performances, as part of his new live tour “Un anno che pare sognato!”. On stage with Antonio Loffreddi on the viola, the singer will offer an acoustic version of the best pieces in his repertoire, on August 5th in Lido di Camaiore (Cubo Live) and on August 28th in Prato (Anfiteatro di Santa Lucia).

Two-thirds of rock band Baustelle are also on tour: Francesco Bianconi will play on August 4th in Rome (Cavea- Auditorium Parco della Musica); on August 5th he will be in Pizzoli, near l’Aquila, in the Gardens of Palazzo Crostarosa; on August 14th he will perform in Melpignano (Lecce); on August 21st he will be in Bergamo (piazzale degli Alpini), as part of the Bergamo 1000 festival.

His Baustelle friend and collaborator Rachele Bastreghi will also take to the stage in Bergamo on August 13th, while on August 28th she will perform in Montefano, near Macerata.

Singer-songwriter Cristina Donà will also spend her August on stage: her deeply evocative songs will be heard on August 6th in Gambola (Modena); on August 7th in San Vincenzo (Livorno); on August 14th in Chianciano Terme (Siena); on August 21st in a Trento; on August 27th in Corigliano d’Otranto (Lecce); and on August 28th in Grottaglie (Taranto).

Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, the first and only Italian folk band recipient of a Songlines Music Award (the Oscar for world music), will play on August 8th in Hamburg (Elbphilharmonie); on August 11th in Gallo Matese (Caserta); on August 17th in Ugento (Lecce); and on August 19th at the Convitto Palmieri Lecce, as part of the Cosmit Vegan Fest.

A double performance in Puglia, on August 19th, is slated for both cellist Redi Hasa (in Galatone, near Lecce) and for the jazz-hip-hop fusion project bringing together Frankie Hi-NRG and AlJazZeera (in Mattinata, near Foggia).

• Share