“August Evenings”: Three Days of Music in Lecce

The musical festival “Sere di Agosto” starts on August 24th in Lecceco-financed by the European Union, the Italian Republic, the Puglia Region, the Department of Tourism with Pugliapromozione. POC Puglia 2014-2020 Axis VI, Action 6.8.

Three evening events that will bring to the stage of Piazza Libertini and in the marina of San Cataldo events that celebrate the cultural and musical richness of Salento and Puglia. Each event will offer a different glimpse of this tradition, through the performances of artists who know how to interpret and transmit the soul of the territory.

August 24that 9pm, Libertine Square will be animated by the vibrant melodies of the Enzo Petrachi FolkBand & Miracle Show.

The event can also be followed in live streaming on YouTube.

Enzo Petrachi, son of the legendary Bruno, known as the “king of Lecce folk music”, inherited from his father not only musical talent, but also a deep passion for the cultural roots of his land. Raised among songs and stories that evoke popular traditions, Enzo has made his career a tribute to his father’s memory, enriching his father’s musical heritage with personal musical nuances.

The Enzo Petrachi FolkBand, in fact, is known for its ability to blend traditional sounds with contemporary elements, offering the public, while remaining faithful to its origins, a new interpretation of folk music. Their performances are a journey through the sounds of Salento, ranging from pizzica, with its pressing and engaging rhythm, to more intimate melodies that tell stories of everyday life, of work in the fields and of loves experienced under the hot sun of the South. This musical energy will be further amplified by the presence of the Miracle Show, a group of performers who enrich the show with choreography and scenography. The result is an immersive experience, in which the public is transported into a world of sounds, colors and movements that celebrate the Salento identity in all its facets.

August 26that 9.30pm, always in Libertine Squarethe spotlight will be on Al Banoone of the most iconic and beloved artists of Italian music. Born in Cellino San Marco, in the heart of Salento, Al Bano Carrisi has conquered the entire world with his powerful voice and his extraordinary interpretative ability. His career, which began in the 60s, has been marked by unparalleled successes, both in Italy and abroad, which have consecrated him as one of the most authoritative voices of Italian melodic song.

Since his debut, Al Bano has been able to blend the musical tradition of his land with more modern influences, creating a repertoire that ranges from romantic ballads to more energetic and popular songs. His voice, characterized by a unique timbre and an impressive vocal range, has often been compared to that of the great tenors, so much so that he has also been able to successfully try his hand at the operatic repertoire.

Despite his global success, Al Bano has never forgotten his Salento roots, to which he is deeply attached. His songs are imbued with the passion and warmth typical of his land, ideal ambassadors of the culture and traditions of Salento in the world. Each of his concerts is an emotional journey, in which his unmistakable voice and his stage presence manage to touch the deepest chords of the human soul, giving the audience an unforgettable experience.

Making the evening of August 26th even more special will be the presence on stage of Al Bano’s children, He was e Jasmine. Yari Carrisi, musician and composer, has often collaborated with his father, sharing his passion for music and carrying on the artistic legacy of the family. Jasmine Carrisi, a young and talented singer, is rapidly emerging as one of the new voices of the Italian music scene, proving to have inherited not only the talent but also the determination and charisma of her father.

Opening Al Bano’s live, the trio Women of the Seacomposed by Silvia Boccadamo and Antonella Napoli, highly talented musicians from Salento, and by the Albanian singer Hersi Matmuja, known for her extraordinary interpretative ability that combines her Balkan roots with a passion for Mediterranean music. The sea, a dominant force and cultural glue of the Mediterranean nations, is the common thread of this musical project that sees Silvia and Antonella, animated by their passion for their land, find in Hersi a traveling companion equally tied to her beloved Albania.

The three-day “August Evenings” will culminate on Tuesday August 27th at 9.30pm in the marina of San Cataldoon the Giovanni da Verrazzano seafront with an event dedicated to the celebration of the most authentic traditions of Salento. In an intimate and suggestive atmosphere, made even more magical by the sea breeze, the “unplugged” concert of theOrchestra “The Night of the Taranta” will offer a tribute to traditional Salento music and dance.

San Cataldo, with its enchanting natural setting, will be the perfect setting for a performance that promises to touch the hearts of the spectators. The orchestra, now a symbol of the musical culture of Salento, will propose an acoustic version of the most famous songs of its repertoire, with arrangements that enhance the purity of the sounds and the intensity of the emotions. The unplugged format will allow the public to rediscover the melodies and rhythms of the pizzica in an essential guise, which highlights the evocative power of popular traditions. The presence of the Orchestra de La Notte della Taranta in San Cataldo will mark a moment of great suggestion, where the deep bond between territory, tradition and contemporaneity will find its highest expression.