Tag Archives: music

Come Dancing…Northern Soul in Bagni di Lucca

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The Heart and Soul Weekender is the brain child of Catherine Clift, an enthusiastic resident of Bagni di Lucca.

Her love of Northern Soul, a British subculture centred on a particular style of fast-tempo, obscure American soul music, mostly from the 60s and early 70s, has inspired her to bring an event to Bagni di Lucca. Northern Soul dancing is energetic, with complex footwork and high kicks.

The movement emerged from the British Mod Scene, with venues in Northern England and the Midlands. Iconic venues like the Twisted Wheel, the Wigan Casino and the Blackpool Mecca were crucial to the Northern Soul scene.

Northern Soul has seen a resurgence in recent years and Catherine and a group of like minded friends are bringing it to Bagni di Lucca in September. It has taken more than a year to bring everything together for what is going be a wonderful weekend of music, dance and fun!

On Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th of September a music festival will be held with DJs from England, Jersey, Ireland and Italy. They will play vinyl records from the 50s to the 80s…Motown, Reggae, Rhythm and Blues, Ska, Latin and Mod music. Expect to hear The Kinks, the Isley Brothers, PP Arnold and so much more.

Bar Italia, the casino in Ponte a Serraglio (the first purpose built casino in Europe) and the Piaza Jean Varraud in La Viila will host more than 200 people travelling from all over Europe for the first event of its kind in Bagni di Lucca.

On Friday 12th September the event will kick off at Bar Italia in Ponte a Serraglio from 4.00pm and move to the casino where the music and dancing will continue until 2.00am.

Saturday 13th September will see the same programme.

On Sunday  September will see the fun move to La Villa to the Piazza, Antico Caffe del Sonno and Bar Roma. There will be live music with local performers Polly Haardon and Barbara.

Expect to see people dressed for the occasion. The original Northern Soul aficionados wore in Mod style, baggy trousers, long skirts, vest tops and leather brogues. The right footwear is essential so the dancer can slide with ease on the dance floor.

The Italian Mod scene became prominent in the mid 80s and was centred around Rimini. It involved a vibrant subculture focussed on fashion, music, scooters and social gathering. Vespa and Lambretta scooters became a symbol of Soul. Expect to see colourful scooters at the casino.

I’m sure the Heart and Soul Weekender is going to be a huge success…perhaps it will become an annual event.

People are coming to Bagni di Lucca from far and wide for the event. Please book if you wish to attend and make sure you book accommodation.

For more information please contact Catherine at cathymckee21@gmail.com or telephone 0044 7398208731

Art and Music

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The art exhibition by Morena Guarnaschelli and Deenagh Miller at Albergo La Corona in Ponte a Serraglio was declared open last night. It continues until 13th August.

The art works are scattered through the entrance to the hotel and the restaurant. Be sure to go downstairs to the lovely terraces by the river for more.



There are also a couple of pieces by Giuseppe Zago whose exhibition is currently on in Montefegatesi.

After I attended the opening of the exhibition I enjoyed the concert in the garden of the Comune building in La Villa. There was a delightful quartet playing for us on a cool evening. I’m sorry the photo is not better, but the lighting from my position was not the best.

It is wonderful to see things happening in Bagni di Lucca!

Jazz in the park

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Villa Fiori park in Ponte a Serraglio was filled with music on the weekend. Photos by Valerio Ceccarelli, see more on his Facebook page.

It was a gorgeous summer day and the music was enjoyed by many.

There was another music event on the weekend. Vaudeville Smash performed to an enthusiastic crowd in San Cassiano.  Photo by Paul Anthony Davies, see more on his Facebook page.

If you missed it you can catch another performance on Monday night in Piazza J Verraud at 9.15pm.

…summer in Bagni di Lucca.

 

A night of music

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Last night at the lovely Teatro Accademico there was a delightful evening of music. Songs by Puccini, Verdi, Mascagni, Bizet, Rossini and others were performed by some very talented people.

The event was well attended.

Teatro Accademico

Teatro Accademico

Teatro Accademico

The singers were…

Valentina Boi, a soprano with an exquisite voice.

Teatro Accademico

Laura Brioli, mezzosoprano.

Teatro Accademico

Angelo Fiore, tenor.

Teatro Accademico

Franco Rossi, baritone, shown here delivering a rousing rendition of The Barber of Seville.

Teatro Accademico

They were accompanied by Laura Pasqualetti on the piano.

It was a very enjoyable evening. If you missed it there will be another on 12th April. I will remind you at a later date.

Teatro Accademico

Fun with Ivana

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Ivana Spagna’s concert last night was a lot of fun. I knew nothing about her, but everyone else knew all her songs and all her moves and had a great time. She covered everything from Creedence Clearwater revival to Mary Poppins and Simon and Garfunkle.

Much of the enjoyment came from watching the audience, particularly a gentleman in yellow pants who leapt to his feet and danced enthusiastically. You will see him as a blur in the photos…he could move.

Thank you to the people of Gombereto who organised the event, what an enterprising lot you are. Congratulations on a job well done.

Music

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Last night at the Casino we had the pleasure of listening to an excellent Jazz Group called The Emma Morton Trio.
The performed at the Omaggio all Donna exhibition.

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The crowd was very enthusiastic and a few even jumped up to dance.

Tonight, Sunday 16th March there is opera at Teatro Accademico in La Villa. The performance is Pagliaci and it begins at 4.00pm.

The next performance at Teatro Accademico is La Boheme on Sunday at 4.00pm on 30th March.

See you there.

Notti di Musica al Casino

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A very exciting part of the Bagni di Lucca Art Festival is the live entertainment. The organisers of the Art Festival in collaboration with the Fondazione Michel de Montaigne are presenting 3 wonderful evenings of music at the Casino in Ponte a Serraglio.

The Casino was the very first in Europe and was brought back to life several years ago with a beautiful renovation. What an excellent setting for these events!

On Thursday 18th July at 9.00pm there will be a concert piano recital by Ronald Farren-Price, a renowned Australian pianist. He will be performing Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin and Liszt.

On Friday 19th July at 9.00pm Neco Novellas will perform World Live Music.

On Saturday 20th July at 9.00pm Lucca Opera Festival will perform Opera in Maschera. Soloists Michelle Buscemi, Elena Fioretti, Letizia Cappellini, Claudio Sassetti, Mattia Campetti and Andrea Carcassi will perfrom the music of Mozart with pianist Jonathan Brandani. I have attended several delightful performances by the ensemble at the Oratorio degli Angeli Custodi in Lucca and I wish I was in Bagni di Lucca to see them in the beautiful Casino.

These amazing concerts are free, but you will need to book a place by email through http://artfestivalbagnidilucca.org or phone 349 5985908.

What a great time to be in Bagni di Lucca!