Piazza Armerina –The second event of the revolutionary and highly appreciated fusion between rock and baroque is dedicated to women. On May 31st the Woman Orchestra, an all-female 26-piece ensemble, and Dolcenera. On June 1st the star guitarists, namely Federico Poggi Pollini, Ricky Portera, Giuseppe Scarpato, Onori, Roby Pellato, Righetti and the voice Lollo Campani, will sing songs dedicated to the female universe, telling us the history of our rock. On June 2nd there will be a concert by Gemelli DiVersi, who in 2002 were the first to talk about the abuse of a girl in the family. Joining “Posto Occupied” and still rappers and trappers. An encore of the great success of the first edition is expected
The BaRock Festival, after the extraordinary success of last year, returns and is tinged with pink with the events, always completely free, on 31 May and 1 and 2 June 2024. In Piazza Armerina, naturally, the heart of Sicily famous for Roman villa and the Palio of the Normans and which was able to enhance its unique historic center with the idea of a revolutionary and highly appreciated fusion between rock and baroque.
“Sicily is emptying – said the councilor for culture Ettore Messina -, especially in the internal areas. And the only remedy is Culture. This is why I am really happy that, last year, the idea of this festival came to me to enhance, thanks to the energy of music, the beauties of Piazza Armerina, the emblematic city of the first Sicilian Baroque”.
Yes, because the Piazzese style is unique and should not be confused with that of the reconstruction following the 1693 earthquake because it is earlier. It was about three years before the earthquake, in fact, that Matteo Trigona della Floresta and the Barons of San Cono, future bishop of Syracuse, started with his brother Ottavio the construction of what has now become the archaeological museum of the city.
“In that Palace and in the Cathedral with the baroque façade – added the mayor Nino Cammarata – lies the identity of Piazza Armerina, a city for its ability to intensely experience its truly unique historical centre: the magnificent Aragonese Castle, fascinating squares, narrow streets medieval, buildings marked by the yellow ocher of the local stone. Stones from every era follow one another before visitors. Rolling stones, rolling stonescapable of vibrating to the sound of rock music.”
And last year tens of thousands of spectators flocked to see the concerts of the Sicilian Opera Choir with a star of the caliber of Morgan, Vibrazioni and emerging artists. An engaging participation, which this year pushed the young people of the Musaica association to make themselves available to the organizers to collaborate with them.
“For this second edition – underlined the producer Georgia Lo Faro – we have chosen shows that put the figure of women at the centre, told through music. We will start on the 31st with the Woman Orchestra, aensemble of 26 all-female elements and directed by Alessandra Pipitone, which brings out the extraordinary power that women know how to put into music. Followed, on the same evening, by a concert by Dolcenera, an authentic hymn to female creativity.”
It should be underlined that the strategic direction of the Municipality to consolidate the roots of young people in the territory and relaunch the economy and social cohesion, passes from the vital thrust of motherhood as an emblem of the regenerative process founded on love and the value of identity. Known throughout the world is the highly effective and timely image of the Roman mosaic in the Villa del Casale, in which two women in bikinis play with a ball. Another female emblem of joyful sharing and civil coexistence that reverberates on those themes of gender equality at the center of BaRok.
“June 1st – continued the producer – will be the turn of the star guitarists, namely Federico Poggi Pollini, Ricky Portera, Giuseppe Scarpato, Riccardo Onori, Robby Pellati, Antonio Righetti with the voice of Lollo Campani. They are men who sing women and through songs dedicated to the female universe they will tell us the story of our rock.”
The performance of the Italian pop rap musical group formed in Milan in 1998 and composed of Thema and Strano (until 2013 there were also the rapper Grido and the DJ THG) will tell an important piece of Italian music of the last thirty years. In the concert, the repertoire of their great hits starting from the symbolic song Maryamong the first to talk about sexual abuse and mistreatment in the family: Mary left/They saw her crying/She ran in the darkness of a railway/Nights of sirens in that suburb
Finally, the third evening was concluded by Georgia Lo Faro – one of the rare cases of a woman manager Sicilian – “it will be the turn of Gemelli DiVersi, who in 2002 told of Maryabused by her father” and in addition to the symbolic song, the concert will be “a dive into the history of Italian music, with the repertoire of the duo’s great successes”.
As for the social value of the event, BaRock joins Posto Occupato, a social awareness campaign against all gender violence to enhance the role of women in society. During each show an empty seat will be left in the front row and on stage, to remember those who are no longer there.
Finally, BaRock includes, in addition to the main events, collateral events between Via Garibaldi and Piazza Cattedrale and Falcone e Borsellino: 31 May The Clarettas they Shaman’s bluesJune 1st The Pineals, Daniele Ciavarro and the Jam sessions live experience and on day two emerging artists, with the aim of getting closer to the new generations through a process of social and identity re-appropriation which includes recognition of the new rock stars, i.e. rapper And trappers.
Youtube link
BaRock Movie 2023
Statement Ricky Portera
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The complete program of the second BaRock Festival
May 31st
The Ladies of rock, from the symphony orchestra to the overwhelming energy of rock
6.30 pm via Garibaldi Aperitif concert with The Clarettas
11pm via Garibaldi Shaman’s blues, tribute band The Doors
9pm Cathedral Square Women on Fire – Rock Legendconcert of Women Orchestra
With immortal songs like You Shook Me At Night Long of AC/DC, Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple, The Show Must Go On by Queen, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door by Guns N’ Roses, Money by Pink Floyd, Walk This Way by Aerosmith, Nothing Else Matters by Metallica and other legendary songs.
10pm Piazza Cattedrale concert Sweet black
Through the representation of the five elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether), the singer-songwriter describes the essence of the Anima Mundi (title of her latest album) to create the right emotional tension and involve the viewer in an analysis on essence of human nature, addressing issues of strong social and cultural impact in the modern era. The audience chooses the musical lineup and the path of the story to reveal the Anima Mundi
1st of June
Men singing women homage through the most iconic rock songs
6.30 pm via Garibaldi Aperitif concert with The Pineals
8pm Piazza Cattedrale Daniele Ciavarro guitar and voice
11pm via Garibaldi Jam sessions live experience
9pm Piazza Cattedrale Great Italian musicians talk about rock in a feminine way
A show dedicated to the story of the main protagonists in the creation of Italian successes, from Battisti to Dalla, from Vasco Rossi to Ligabue and Jovanotti. There band is led by Robby Pellati, Rigo Righetti and Federico Poggipollini, historic musicians of Ligabue, with Giuseppe Scarpato guitarist of Edoardo Bennato, Ricky Portera founder of Stadio and Riccardo Onori, historic guitarist of Jovanotti and Tananai. On vocals is Lollo Campani, finalist of The Voice.
June 2
5pm Piazza Falcone e Borsellino Harley Davidson meeting
6pm Piazza Falcone e Borsellino The new rock stars from rap to hip-hop, emerging artists and the social denunciation in defense of women’s rights
9pm Piazza Falcone e Borsellino Different Twins in concert
The performance of the Italian pop rap musical group formed in Milan in 1998 and composed of Thema and Strano (until 2013 there were also the rapper Grido and the DJ THG) will tell an important piece of Italian music of the last thirty years. In the concert, the repertoire of their great hits starting from the symbolic song Maryamong the first to talk about sexual abuse and mistreatment in the family: Mary left/They saw her crying/She ran in the darkness of a railway/Nights of sirens in that suburb.
