The 5th Edition of the Moonland Festival in Sarzana (SP) will kick off on Sunday with Ben Harper - Moonland Festival 5th Edition, 16-21 July 2023

Piazza Matteotti - Sarzana (SP) with BEN HARPER, SANTI FRANCESI winners of X Factor 2022, and ALICE and MARIO BIONDI

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We are just a few days away from the start of the fifth edition of the MOONLAND Music Art Performance Festival in Sarzana, La Spezia province, which will begin on Sunday, July 16th, with a grand concert by Ben Harper accompanied by the Innocent Criminals. The opening act will be performed by Maurizio Pirovano and Tides. There are still some tickets available through traditional sales channels.

The festival continues in the following days with unmissable performances. On July 18th, the talented duo Santi Francesi, composed of Alessandro De Santis and Mario Francese, winners of X Factor 2022, will present their EP "Fieri". Then, on July 19th, the extraordinary Italian music performer, Alice, will take the stage with her show titled "Eri con me - Alice canta Battiato", accompanied by Carlo Guaitoli on the piano and Chiara Trentin on the cello.

Finally, on Friday, July 21st, the renowned Mario Biondi will close the event with his unmistakable soulful voice. It will be an exceptionally free concert on the occasion of the traditional Notte Bianca of Sarzana, celebrating the city's 558th anniversary since Pope Paul II established its foundation.

This festival, organized by Bluesin and the Municipality of Sarzana, has become one of the most anticipated events of the Ligurian summer. Born in 2019, it has already hosted some of the greatest names in national and international music. With a youthful and engaging atmosphere, the MOONLAND Festival offers participants the opportunity to experience unforgettable moments immersed in art and music.

The festival will kick off with the internationally acclaimed artist, Ben Harper, accompanied by his Innocent Criminals, performing on Sunday, July 16th, as part of his summer tour in Italy. The show will be a unique opportunity for fans to hear live the hits that made the band famous, along with songs from their latest album "Bloodline Maintenance", released last summer, and some tracks from their new album "Wide Open Light", which was just published. Ben Harper is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and activist with the unique ability to blend musical genres like folk, blues, rock, and reggae to create a distinctive sound. Throughout his career, he has released several successful albums, including "Welcome to the Cruel World" and "Diamonds on the Inside". His songs often address social and political themes, and he has collaborated with other internationally renowned artists. In addition to his musical career, Harper is involved in numerous humanitarian and environmental causes. Before Ben Harper, Maurizio Pirovano, a singer-songwriter from Lecco, will take the stage, presenting his sixth album "Adesso". Pirovano's band includes Gianluca Del Fiol (lead guitar), Maurizio Cambianica (bass and vocals), and Federico Paulovich (drums). As the opening act, the rock band from Treviso, Tides, composed of Cristian Reduce (vocals and guitar), Giuseppe Zanini (guitar), Massimo Donati (bass), and Giacomo Tretti (drums), will perform. The concert will take place in Piazza Matteotti starting at 8:00 PM.

On Tuesday, July 18th, it will be the turn of Santi Francesi, the duo composed of Alessandro De Santis (vocals, guitar, ukulele) and Mario Francese (producer, keyboards, synth, and bass), winners of the last edition of X Factor. They will be accompanied on drums by Daniel Fasano, the former drummer of dAri. They will present the EP "Fieri", released right after their victory in the famous talent show, including the singles "Non è così male" and "Spaccio" in collaboration with Fast Animals and Slow Kids. As the opening act, the duo Frambo x Scicchi will perform. The concert will take place in Piazza Matteotti at 9:00 PM, and the entrance will be free.

On Wednesday, July 19th, a great interpreter of Italian music, Alice, will take the stage at the festival. The show, titled "Eri con me - Alice canta Battiato", will feature the participation of Carlo Guaitoli on the piano and Chiara Trentin on the cello. Alice is the greatest and most authentic interpreter of Franco Battiato's repertoire. The collaboration between the two artists began in 1980 with the single "Il vento caldo dell'estate", written specifically for her, and the album "Capo Nord". In 1985, with the album "Gioielli rubati", Alice started interpreting Battiato's songs that were not written specifically for her. Over the years, Alice has continued to perform Battiato's songs in various record projects, up to 2003 when the album "Viaggio in Italia" was released, entirely dedicated to covers of great Italian authors, including Battiato. In 2020, the "Alice Canta Battiato" tour began, still ongoing, with Carlo Guaitoli, a pianist and orchestra conductor who collaborated with Battiato for over twenty years. The concert will take place in Piazza Matteotti at 9:00 PM.

On Friday, July 21st, for the festival's closing, Mario Biondi, the famous Italian crooner, will take the stage, offering the audience his classy pop soul. Mario Biondi's concert will be exceptionally free on the occasion of the traditional Notte Bianca of Sarzana, celebrating the city's birthday and its 558 years since Pope Paul II established it. The concert will be full of surprises and will open with the singer-songwriter from Lucca, Eleonora Matteucci. The event will take place in Piazza Matteotti starting at 8:00 PM.

Tickets for the concerts on July 16th and 19th are still available on Ticketone, Ticketmaster, Vivaticket, and other regular points of sale.

#MoonlandFestival #BenHarperLive #SantiFrancesi #AliceCantaBattiato #MarioBiondi #NotteBiancaSarzana

Hurry up and book your tickets for the concerts of Ben Harper and Alice on Ticketone, Ticketmaster, Vivaticket, and other regular presale outlets. Don't miss the opportunity to participate in a unique festival where the passion for music and art brings people of all ages together. See you in Sarzana for the MOONLAND Festival 2023!

Topics covered:

Music: Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Santi Francesi, Alice canta Battiato, Mario Biondi.
Artistic performance: Unique and engaging shows.
Cultural events: Notte Bianca of Sarzana.

Technical glossary:

Ben Harper: American singer-songwriter, musician, and activist.
Innocent Criminals: Ben Harper's supporting band.
Santi Francesi: Musical duo composed of Alessandro De Santis and Mario Francese.
X Factor: Famous television talent show dedicated to discovering new musical talents.
EP: Extended Play, a short album containing a few tracks.
Notte Bianca: Evening event featuring performances, music, and cultural activities.
Call for Ideas: Invitation to the public to suggest ideas and proposals.
Bluesin: Organizers of the Moonland Festival.