Only a few days left until the start of the 45th edition of Pistoia Blues Festival in Piazza Duomo in Pistoia which will see its beating heart “blues rock” in the days 4, 5, 8 and 10 July where they will perform respectively Fantastic Negrito, Jet, The Darkness And Jethro Tull as well as numerous exceptional “guest stars” such as Eric Steckel And Walter Trout, two of the most authoritative figures of world blues.
Saturday 4th July the incredible show is expected Fantastic Negrito and his band. Fantastic Negrito (pseudonym of the American guitarist Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz) will perform in one of only two summer dates scheduled in Italy. Fantastic Negrito is one of the most original and innovative artists on the contemporary American music scene. Winner of three Grammy Awards, he has built a personal artistic path that blends blues, soul, funk and roots music, addressing social, identity and political issues. His music, deeply rooted in the African-American tradition, develops in a contemporary and experimental direction, making him one of the most representative interpreters of the evolution of blues in the 21st century. Its presence strengthens the international positioning of the festival and its openness towards current languages. The American singer and guitarist will also perform on the same evening Eric Steckelalready among the 100 greatest blues guitarists of all time and undisputed star of contemporary blues. American guitarist and singer-songwriter, Eric Steckel is considered one of the most interesting talents on the contemporary blues-rock scene. Equipped with an extraordinary technique and a strong stage presence, he attracted international attention from a very young age, building a solid career over time between the United States and Europe. His style combines the tradition of electric blues with the power of rock, with clear references to masters such as Stevie Ray Vaughan but reinterpreted with a modern language. His presence at the festival represents a concrete example of how the blues continues to renew itself through new generations of musicians. The same sonic coordinates guide the sound of Electric Cherrya band that released the album “Cherry Heart” last year, capturing the attention of the public and specialized press. This is the first participation for the Capitoline quartet in the Festival which is always looking for excellent quality rock blues bands. The winners of the contest are opening Bluesin goal: The AfterTaste from Florence.
Sunday 5 July they will be i JETthe Australian record-breaking band led by Nic Cester, to perform in Piazza Duomo in Pistoia. This is their first time at the prestigious Tuscan festival. THE Jet they are a southern band that has conquered the international scene thanks to an energetic and direct sound, strongly influenced by classic blues rock. After the great success of the early 2000s, the band returned to the scene bringing an immediate and powerful musical language back to the center. Their style recalls the roots of rock'n'roll and garage rock, with a strong live component that fits well into the spirit of the festival. Their presence helps to broaden the audience and create a bridge between tradition and contemporaneity. Before them the great Walter Trout American guitarist, singer and songwriter, considered a living legend of blues rock. Walter Trout is one of the most authoritative and respected figures in world blues-rock. With a career spanning over four decades, he has collaborated with historic artists and built a solo path characterized by great expressive intensity and guitar virtuosity. His music is strongly linked to the tradition of electric blues, but enriched by a rock energy and emotional depth that make him one of the most authentic interpreters of the genre. His presence at Pistoia Blues represents a direct link with the history and original identity of the festival. Opening the show is the young band from Prato dei Bluagataone of the most original rock bands in the area. The group led by frontwomen Alessia and Margherita recently released its fourth album “Fra la violence e la kindness” produced by Alessio Camagni (Ministers) who has been working with the band since its debut in 2017: in recent years the band has never stopped, continuing to bring its music live to Italian clubs and festivals. This is their second presence on the festival's billboard. The winners of the contest are opening Bluesin goal: Mel and the Double Soul from Catania.
They will be the The Darkness of the Hawkins brothers to set the festival stage on fire theJuly 8 supported by two other notable groups such as i Mass and the Florentines Spleen for an unmissable evening. For i The Darkess this is a very welcome return after the success of exactly ten years ago in 2015 when they performed together with Black Label Society. The band's growth has been exponential in the wake of the new album (the eighth) “Dreams of Toast” released this year. “Dreams On Toast” has become their most successful album since their iconic debut album “Permission To Land”, a record that was recently recognized as the most successful British rock album of the 21st century. Strengthened by a huge scenic impact, The Darkness they are among the main interpreters of contemporary rock inspired by the classic sounds of the 70s. Their style, ironic and spectacular, combines musical virtuosity and a strong performative component. Their presence contributes to strengthening the international appeal of the festival and broadening the dialogue with different audiences, maintaining a link with the rock roots derived from the blues. Before their performance they will go on stage Massone of the most internationally appreciated Italian companies in the heavy, doom and experimental rock scene. Their music is characterized by a strong evocative component, which combines elements of rock, jazz, ambient and Mediterranean suggestions. Even though they are placed in a stylistic field that is not directly blues, their expressive approach maintains an emotional depth and sonic research that make them coherent with the spirit of the festival, understood as a space of contamination and experimentation. To complete the evening the opening of the Spleena young Tuscan group that represents the scouting and valorisation work of the territory carried out by the festival. The project stands out for a contemporary approach to musical writing and a strong sonic identity. The third winner of the contest is added to the billboard Bluesin goal Woody Bones from Cremona
The Blues Festival will be closed by the Jethro Tull with their fourth participation in the historic Pistoia event: the band that made the history of British progressive rock has already graced the Piazza Duomo stage in 1999, 2003 and 2008. The legendary prog band of “Aqualung” and “Locomotive Breath” has announced that they will continue the “Curiosity Tour” also in 2026 to present their latest album “Curious Ruminant”. Consisting of nine new songs ranging in length from two and a half minutes to almost seventeen minutes, “Curious Ruminant” is an album composed primarily of pieces played by the entire band. Musicians featured include former keyboardist Andrew Giddings and drummer James Duncan, as well as current band members David Goodier, John O'Hara, Scott Hammond and, making his recording debut with the group, guitarist Jack Clark. Jethro Tull they represent in every way one of the most iconic formations in the history of European rock, they have developed over the course of their career a unique musical language, capable of fusing rock, blues, folk and progressive. Their presence at the festival takes on a symbolic and cultural value of great importance, representing a bridge between the European musical tradition and the African-American roots of the blues, in an evolutionary and innovative key. Opening STREAstage name of Irene Ettori, young and rare interpreter of rock/prog/folk with ethereal atmospheres. His debut “Gold and Mess” sees the extraordinary participation of Colin Edwinformer bassist of Porcupine Tree and an emotional poetics that make her considered a great talent to keep an eye on.
The events of July in Pistoia do not stop only at the Blues Festival but also include other events such as the section Storytellers (now a consolidated event with the great Italian singer-songwriters), which will see a single event scheduled for July 2 withMark Masini (opening act Maurizio Pirovano) while the appointment with Claudio Baglioni was postponed (like the entire first part of his summer tour) to July 6, 2027. They will also perform in Piazza Duomo The Flight (3 July) ed Enrico Brignano (July 6, 2026) as special events.
Tickets for all shows are available in advance on the circuits Ticketone, Ticketmaster, VivaTicket (only for some shows) and authorized sales points.
PISTOIA BLUES FESTIVAL
July 4th
FANTASTIC NEGRITO
Eric Steckel
Electric Cherry
AfterTaste
July 5th
JET
Walter Trout
Bluagata
Mel and the Double Soul
July 8
THE DARKNESS
Mass
Spleen
Woody Bones
July 10th
JETHRO TULL
Strea
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Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
