Peace, work and social justice. The themes around which to imagine the Europe of the future are the same. But compared to the May Day in Rome organized by the unions, theA Free and Thinking May of Taranto, where the city’s complex relationship with big industry remains in the foreground, has always offered an alternative perspective with its self-financed and “politically incorrect” counter-concert. This year it was in doubt until the end, due to the economic problems created by the last edition, when bad weather blew up the show, forcing the artistic directors Michele Riondino, Diodate And Roy Paci to interrupt the performances and try to save the accounts (which remained in the red) by moving the event to Spazioporto, for a few paying people. With a clearer eye on the weather (the forecasts are good this year), the organizers are also keeping social media under control, after the media storm raised by Riondino’s shock post on April 25, with the president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa , portrait upside down next to Mussolini in memory of Piazzale Loreto. The storm seems to have passed. And in the Park of the Greek Walls, where the stage has been set up, everything is ready.
Riondino returns to attack La Russa
At 2.20pm the concert officially kicked off with the home band Marte, while the Park of the Greek Walls where the stage was set up is filling up. «We expect 25 thousand spectators», says Giovanni Raimondi of the Free and Thinking Citizens Committee, introducing the event. The artistic director Michele Riondino took the stage returning to the shock post of a few days ago in which he had published a photo of the president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, portrait upside down next to Mussolini in memory of Piazzale Loreto. “I was imprudent, but I used a ruse just like they do when they define themselves as anti-anti-fascists,” he declares. Then add. «A few days ago Alessandro Barbero said that anyone who swore by the anti-fascist constitution and has difficulty defining themselves as anti-fascist is fascist». Opening his speech, the Apulian actor and director, candidate for the film Palazzina Laf at the David di Donatello (which will be awarded on Friday 3 May)had attacked General Vannacci and other exponents of the League and of the Brothers of Italy, including the brother of the president of the Senate, Romano La Russa, in particular on the question of the use of the Roman salute. Riondino then quoted the late President of the Republic, Sandro Pertini. “He said – added the artist – that all ideas must be defended, except fascism, which is the death of all ideas.” Riondino then closed his speech by presenting Martina Cavazzana on the concert stage representing Artisti 7607, the collective – of which Riondino himself includes Elio Germano, Valerio Mastandrea and other actors – which took Netflix to court to guarantee cinema artists the adequate and proportionate compensation due by law.
The usual formula: artists and interventions
For the eleventh edition of Uno Maggio in Taranto the formula is the same as always: performances by the artists until late in the evening alternating with political interventions. The second to perform were Malvax, the Modena group that won the Musica ControLeMafie contest.
Returns expected Marlene Kuntz And Willie Peyote, who last year managed to perform only at Spazioporto. And a recovery is also for Francesca Michielin, who withdrew at the last minute due to health problems. The guest list includes: Open Project Area with which Patrizio Fariselli is re-exploring the repertoire of the historic band founded with the late Demetrio Stratos, and Three Happy Dead Boysthe masked group now in its thirty years of activity.
The Four Musketeers
With the entrance on the scene of the four musketeers, the hosts Valentina Petrini, Andrea Rivera, Martina Martorano And Serena Tarabiniwe started talking about the themes dear to Uno Maggio: environment sold out, rights denied, precarious work, amplified by the interventions of the artists, continued with Gabriella Martinelli, born in Rome but raised in Puglia.
The climate is warming
The weather started to heat up mid-afternoon with the Calabrian singer-songwriter Naip and the rockeuse Emma Nolde, while the park was filling up, giving the audience crowded under the stage a first magnificent glimpse. Then the afrobeat performance of Don Ciccio And Mama Marjaswho between one piece and another of their repertoire inserted a version of «Bella ciao» in cumbia style, and the folk rhythms of Terrarossthe Apulian popular music group that in the past also made the pop star Madonna dance wild.
With performances by Marlene Kuntz, Willie Peyote, Francesca Michielin, Area and Tre allegri Ragazzi Morti, performances by Brunori Sas, Cristiano Cosa, Frenetik, Valerio Lundini and I VazzaNikki, Mannarino, Selton, Serena Brancale and the Uno Maggio Orchestraa super band led by guitarist Roberto Angelini who interacted with some artists of the line up.
Ilaria Salis’ father
Expected, among many, are the political interventions of the representatives of Fridays For Future, NoTav, Ultima Generazione, Extinction Rebellion and of Ilaria Salis’ father, Roberto Salis.
