music, creative market, street food and kids area

Tenax, The Marriage of Figaro and Strawberry inaugurate a new collaboration by bringing at the Visarno Hippodrome the first edition of “Vivo”, an event entirely dedicated to the valorisation of the many forms of creative work. Immersed in the greenery of the Visarno Racecourse in Florence, from 11 am on May 1st, it will be possible to explore the Creative Market and the artisan works presented by the exhibitors, enjoy the delicacies offered by selected food trucks and last but certainly not least, enjoy the DJ sets by great Italian and international artists. Entrance is free until 6pm with registration on the organizers’ websites (to follow there will be a symbolic ticket at a cost of 3 euros)

In this first edition of “VIVO – Creative Labor Day”, music is undoubtedly the protagonist. The first name that stands out in the lineup is that of Lil Louis, artist universally credited as the Founding Father of House Music. Raised in a family with deep roots in blues music, Louis was influenced from a young age by his talent and passion for music. His artistic journey began early, when at just 8 years old he started playing drums and bass, guided by the creative spirit and influence of his father, the great blues artist Bobby Sims. The turning point in Louis’ musical career came in 1974, at the age of 12, during a party organized by his mother to unite the gangs of Chicago. After the DJ suddenly fell ill, Louis picked up the electronic decks, arousing the enthusiasm of the crowd and starting his DJ career. That event has been considered by many to be the beginning of House Music. Since his first steps in the night clubs of Chicago, Louis has demonstrated an incredible skill in mixing and animating the crowd. During the 1980s, he began producing a series of songs that captured the attention of audiences and critics. Among these, “French Kiss” stands out, one of the most important tracks in the history of House Music, which reached the top of the world charts and sold millions of copies.

What can we say then? DJ Gruff, undoubtedly one of the pioneers of the national old school Hip-Hop. Known for his original reinterpretation of scratch and rap techniques, DJ Gruff expresses himself in Hip-Hop culture as a turntablist, DJ, beatmaker, rapper and producer. His career began in 1982 and over the years he has been part of various bands: The place to be (Next One, Carrie D, Igor, Nando-Boogie and Mr Hyde), Casino Royale (Alioscia Bisceglia, Giuliano Palma, Michele Pauli, Ferdinando Masi etc) Radical Stuff (DJ Skizo, Soul Boy, Sean, Top Cat and Kaos One) Isola Posse All Stars and Alien Army. His debut album “La Rapadopa” (1993) is a cult album that inaugurates the golden age of Italian rap, which the following year reaches its peak with Sangue Misto (DJ Gruff, Neffa and Deda) and the publication of the album “SxM”, universally recognized as a milestone of Italian Hip Hop. In 2014, the meeting with the award-winning contemporary trombonist, Gianluca Petrella, gave rise to a prolific collaboration with an experimental vision where rap, hip hop, scratch and jazz meet in an intense and free from patterns artistic partnership. DJ Gruff’s musical production is very rich, his collaborations with musicians, mc’s, breakers and street artists from all over the world are constant.

In the console, in what will perhaps be one of the most unexpected events of the month of May in Florence, too GNMR: DJ, producer and A&R. Son of art – his father is the late Claudio Coccoluto – he grew up in a musical environment, with art and culture at the basis of his education. His love for music grew from his early days, making him a musically sensitive individual and teaching him to manipulate sound in all its forms. Listening to a wide range of genres from a young age transforms him into a versatile DJ, capable of adapting to any type of musical and public environment, always eager to make the most of his passion for the art of DJing. He combines his profession as a DJ with a career as a producer, developing both disciplines under his stage name, by which he is recognized in the music industry: GNMR. His productions imply careful musical research, bringing together skills for various arranging techniques, using both analogue and digital equipment, with a surprising taste and an innate feeling for the “Groove”. After releasing music for various prominent labels, he decides – in 2022 – to launch his own label called Dubblack, which becomes an emanation of his experimental spirit as a musician, listener, A&R and with which he wants to forge a dark, mysterious, different sound without any gender limit. He is represented by the Berlin-based agency Roof Booking.

Tenax’s resident DJs are inevitable, including Alex Neri, who with his works has contributed influentially to the development of modern electronic dance music since the early 1990s. In the years of new wave, electro funk, garage-influenced house music, thanks to his unique “Italo Deep House” style productions he quickly became famous throughout Europe. It is impossible not to mention his artistic and professional partnership with Marco Baroni, and the publications released with Kamasutra adored by the public.
Starting in 1999 he quickly climbed the European charts with Planet Funk, a band with which he is still active. But Alex’s passion remains his clubs, where he is able to best express his genuine love for music. Always innovative, his DJ set is a happy combination of experimental sounds and freshly baked house and techno productions. In 2022 he is the protagonist of the relaunch of his Wildflower Records, with monthly releases, supported by an important promotional campaign. Added to this is a residency in Ibiza, from May to October. In recent times he has undertaken a very personal journey of research and experimentation.

And then Philipp & Cole, also residents of Tenax and founders of “Sunflower”. With Philipp, club culture has no secrets or limits: he takes its most engaging, exciting and exhilarating side and brings it back to music. Now an indispensable point of reference for the scene of Florence and in particular of Tenax. Philipp has organized numerous successful events (Fragola’s Night, Sunflower to name a few) which have made and are making the history of clubbing in Tuscany. His career is vast, and full of experiences in the most important clubs and festivals in Europe. Philipp’s DJ sets are the expression of a perfect combination of technique, creativity and an innate ability to empathize with the audience. Resident DJ of Tenax since 2008, he has various productions under his belt and a past as a radio speaker. Resident DJ at Tenax since 2005 Cole is the creator of the Fragola and Sunflower parties. Over the years he has earned respect thanks to his versatility, his technique and a decidedly original sound. He has played with the most famous DJs in the world, at the best events and festivals in Italy and abroad, such as Cielo in New York, Winter Music Conference in Miami and Russia, Space Club, Zoo Project, Sankeys in Ibiza, the Club 4, Eastender festival, Macarena, Sala Bloc in Barcelona, ​​Goa festival in Madrid, Kristal Club in Bucharest, A 38 in Budapest, Cirque Paradis in Paris, Fakt in Basel, Club Der Visonaere, Hoppetosse, Chalet in Berlin, Labyrinth in Antwerp, Papaya, Kalypso and Aquarius in Pag island, Squat 3/4 in Moscow, Porat in Pirovac during Sunrise party, Unum festival & Tunel club in Albania, Secrete Solstice in Iceland and many more.

The musical program concludes with Dizzy, Otto & John Holys, acclaimed “local heroes”. Dizzy, born in ’98, is a Florentine artist transplanted to Milan on the roster of the new Tenax generation. She approaches ambient and downtempo music to accompany her moments of painting, but soon this passion transcends the studio-garage to find resonance in local and international realities such as Pikes in Ibiza and Hoppetosse in Berlin. Otto & John Holys are a dynamic duo from Tuscany, spatial and sonic navigators: since 2011 they have been proposing sets that are electronic vortices in continuous transformation. Active members of the Collettivo 59100 of Prato and founders of the monthly show Out of Place, broadcast on the Fritto FM web radio based in Milan.