La Notte della Taranta, the most important Italian festivals and the largest devoted to popular music, opens its doors this year with an interesting novelty. The participation of artists and musical groups from various countries, who will present their traditional repertoires in a confrontation – that promises undoubtedly interesting – with the musical traditions of Salento.

First of all the dates and places. As per tradition Concertone – the most important event towards which converge ideally all the initiatives taking place in many municipalities that participate in the programming from Salento – will take place in Melpignano on 23 August, at the closing of the festival. Performances begin August 5 and follow a touring program that up to 20 cross Corigliano d’Otranto, Castrignano dei Greci, Galatina, Zollino, Cursi, Sternatia, Martignano, KCarpignano Salentino, Calimera, Lecce, Alessano, Soleto, Cutrofiano, Galatina, Martano. Every night one or more concerts, with many now famous artists in Italy and abroad. Among whom I include: Enzo Avitabile, Riccardo Tesi, Hevia, Mimmo Epifani and Mimmo Cavallaro, Ambrogio Sparagna with Orchestra sparagnina with Peppe Servillo, Nidi D’Arac with Rosapaeda, Triace with Elena Ledda, Mauro Palmas and Cristian Carpentieri, BandAdriatica with Burhan Ocal, Mascarimirì, Enza Pagliara with Nassouli El Mehdi. Among the international guests – as well as already mentioned – you can watch the performances of Kissmet – band of Indian musicians based in London, whose music combines influences beat-rock sound with Asian bhangra and reggae – and the group of Mongolian popular music Hosoo & Transmongolia.

As demonstrated by thousands of fans every year follow the events of the traveling festival and the final Concertone in Melpignano, La Notte della Taranta – whose first edition dates back to 1998 and whose organization, since 2010, has been entrusted to the foundation of the same name – has opened a new direction of popular music and, above all, the cultural program linked to the musical heritages of oral tradition. As the organizers have repeatedly stressed – also strong support of institutions both local and national – the festival is an example of a new virtuous economy, that at the same time generates wealth (in the form of work and movement of people, so consumption) and promotes a process of enhancement of intangible cultural heritage.

All information relating to the program, the insights into the history of the festival, the artists and the venues can be found here.

Autore: Daniele Cestellini

Daniele Cestellini ha scritto 752 articoli.

• View all posts by Daniele Cestellini →
• Blog

Questo post è disponibile anche in: Italian