From Tuesday 1 to Sunday 6 July 2025 returns the appointment with "Pisa Folk Festival".
A deep-rooted identity and an audience that, year after year, has been able to renew itself by mixing loyal and passionate people - present since the beginning - with new generations. The summer of the Pisa Folk Festival is about to begin: the exhibition, now in its 23rd edition, will be a multi-voice story, as always fruit of the wise (and appreciated) mix of music and popular culture, tradition and contamination.
Four concerts at the Giardino Scotto, in the heart of Pisa, workshops for children (new this year) and pizzica workshops: this is the program of the Pisa Folk Festival 2025.
Featured artists: Ginevra Di Marco and Franco Arminio will mix their worlds to propose, alongside Francesco Magnelli and Andrea Salvadori, a dialogue between poetry and song around the theme of fragility (5 July); Gigi De Rienzo, Ernesto Vitolo and Agostino Marangolo, historical collaborators of Pino Daniele, who will celebrate the melodies of his legendary album "Nero a metà" (1 July); Mulatu Astake, father of ethio-jazz, will bring to Pisa the only Italian date before his Farewell Tour (6 July): Giancarlo Paglialunga accompanied by a group of exceptional drummers for an evening with overwhelming rhythms all dedicated to the music of Salento (4 July).
Goal: inclusion, dialogue, integration between different cultures (music and not only). Values and principles with which the festival 'occupies' traditionally the city spaces, proposing moments of real meeting.
PROGRAMME:
Tuesday 1 July - 9.30 p.m., Giardino Scotto
Black in the middle Experience
An intimate encounter with the soul of Pino Daniele’s music, performed by those who have it known and accompanied in his artistic path. Gigi De Rienzo, Ernesto Vitolo and Agostino Marangolo, his historical collaborators, celebrate the 70 years of the Neapolitan artist with a project that celebrates his musical heritage. A particular focus on the iconic album Nero a metà, one of the "100 most beautiful albums ever", where the viscerality of Naples mixes and merges with soul, blues and jazz in a deeply personal way.
The essence of Daniele’s songs will be revisited and enriched by new interpretations. Con Gigi De Rienzo – basso, Ernesto Vitolo – tastiere, Agostino Marangolo – batteria, Jerry Popolo – Sax, Carlo Fimiani – chitarra, Emilia Zamuner – voce, Savio Vurchio – voce, Greg Rega – voce.
Evening in collaboration with Pisa Jazz Rebirth and Ass. The Thing
Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 July - 5 p.m.
Circolo Alberone - Pisa, Pisa Folk Festival Kids
Workshops for boys and girls focused on the stories of Italian folk traditions: in particular Tuscan and Sardinian. Readings, drawings, creation of masks, theatrical improvisations and music: 4 workshops dedicated to age groups 2-6 (kindergarten) and 6-10 (primary school).
In collaboration with Associazione Culturale Vivavoce, Casa Editrice Telos and Circolo Arci Alberone.
Event by appointment up to 15 participants per workshop.
Friday 4 July - 5.30 p.m., Jazz Lab Pisa (Via Bovio)
Dance workshop: Pizzica pizzica of Greece salentina: the original forms
The ethno-coreologist and anthropologist of dance Pino Gala and the researcher and teacher of folk dance Tiziana Miniati will accompany us to discover the pizzica pizzica of Salento Greece. A dance workshop born from the study in the field and the careful observation of the traditional performers of the local peasant world of Corigliano d'Otranto, Cutrofiano, Martignano and Martano to rediscover the original forms of pizzica pizzica.
Event on reservation
Friday 4 July - 9.30 p.m., Giardino Scotto
Arneo Tamburine Project
From the passion of Giancarlo Paglialunga, a musical project and concert born to explore the sounds and rhythms of the oral tradition. They are part of the group exceptional tamburellists assisted by other musicians and the most representative voices of Tacco d'Italia. Will be on the stage of the Giardino Scotto Giancarlo Paglialunga, Emanuele Liquori, Gioacchino De Filippo, Rocco Zecca, Giulio Francone, Massimiliano De Marco, Cosimo Pastore, Claudio Mola, Giuseppe Anglano.
Initiative in collaboration with Ass. Ritmi Meridiani
Self-managed activity carried out with the financial contribution of the University of Pisa.
Free entry
Saturday 5 July - 9.30 p.m., Giardino Scotto
It was once the world, with Ginevra Di Marco, Franco Arminio, Francesco Magnelli and Andrea Salvadori
Ginevra Di Marco, undisputed interpreter of the social and civil texts of folk and popular music, merges its interpretative universe with the poems of Franco Arminio, creating a new unique show.
Accompanied by Francesco Magnelli and Andrea Salvadori, they borrow a verse from CSI for their show in which they try to understand what the world was like and how it is becoming through popular songs, popular poetry, author’s songs, intimate and festive moments. An encounter that crosses faces, sounds, memories, makes its songs in different languages, in a continuous musical and human exchange.
Sunday 6 July - 9.30 p.m., Giardino Scotto
Mulatu Astatke
The father of ethio-jazz in Pisa for his farewell tour: a celebration of the artistic heritage of a pioneer who intertwined traditional Ethiopian music with jazz and funk. In his latest album - Mulatu Plays Mulatu - they find a synthesis of fifty years of innovations and illustrious collaborations between London, New York and Boston.
Evening in collaboration with Pisa Jazz Rebirth and Ass. The Thing
