Pistoia Blues 2018

Great blues, rock and pop concerts will bring to life the beautiful Tuscan town

From 04 July 2018 to 16 July 2018

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From July 4th to 16th the usually calm town of Pistoia will be taken over by the wave of music of the 39th edition of Pistoia Blues! Thanks to the energy and passion of Blues In, which has been behind the organisation of the festival for decades, and the contribution of Live Nation, Pistoia Blues 2018 boasts a truly exceptional line-up. There will be names of the likes of Alanis Morrissette and James Blunt in Pistoia, as well as real living legends such as Graham Nash, Steve Hackett and Mark Lanegan. The task of closing the event is entrusted to a great rocker of our country: Gianna Nannini at Pistoia Blues will perform on Monday, July 16th in one of the most anticipated live concerts.

The organisation of the Pistoia Blues Festival 2018 has returned to the festival’s origins and, after the last editions which spread the concerts throughout the whole of July, this year's edition will concentrate in a few days. Except the concert on July 4th, all the other concerts will take place between July 10th and 16th. The core part of the event is from Friday to Sunday. In short, if you want to enjoy more than just one of the concerts at Pistoia Blues 2018, it will make planning easier. This will give you the chance to fully experience the beautiful atmosphere of this music festival for a few days. An atmosphere that is not confined to Piazza del Duomo, conquering instead all the streets of the historic center with its events. Some examples? Concerts and performances by local artists and the highly anticipated and colorful market of Pistoia Blues, adding a touch of color to this beautiful event. Last tip for those who like to play music as well as listening to it: from July 6th to 8th there will also be the Pistoia Blues Clinics during which exponents of Italian and American blues will stand up for a real full immersion in music. What do you think, dear bluesmen? Fancy a trip to Pistoia? Take a look at the Pistoia Blues 2018 line up and the artists who will take turns on the stage, and then get organized by booking one of our hotels in Pistoia... can’t get any easier than that!

PROGRAM PISTOIA BLUES FESTIVAL 2018

• Graham Nash - Wednesday July 4th, 21.30 - Teatro Manzoni

This concert, which will be held in the main theater of the town, actually marks the end of the 'Road to Pistoia Blues', a series of events that last until the beginning of the event. With Grahm Nash at Pistoia Blues we can start to talk about true rock legends! The singer-songwriter and composer of English origins is known for his great successes first with the Hollies and then with the quartet CSN & Y (with David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Neil Young), one of the most popular bands in the world rock scene. Famous for hits such as 'Marrakesh Express', 'Immigration Man', 'Lady of the Island' in 2016 he released his latest album 'This Path Tonight', his sixth solo album.

• Alanis Morrissette - Tuesday July 10th, 21.00 - Piazza del Duomo

Alanis Morrissette at Pistoia Blues is certainly one of the most anticipated events of the entire festival. After all, it’s not often that you get to attend one of the Canadian singer-songwriter’s concerts in Italy. This singer stepped into the limelight of the international music scene with pieces like 'Ironic', 'All I really want', 'You oughta know' and 'Hand in my pocket'. For Alanis Morrissette, Italy concerts are rather rare events, so the one in Pistoia is a truly unmissable chance. Alanis Morissette is a real champion, let’s pause for a moment on some figures: 8 unreleased albums and one in process, 7 grammys and 14 nominations, a Golden Globe nomination and a whopping 60 million records sold. In short, inserting one of the three dates of the Alanis Morrissette tour in Italy into the Pistoia Blues 2018 was one of the most beautiful surprises reserved for the crowd of this year’s festival edition.

• James Blunt - Friday July 13th - 21.00 - Piazza del Duomo

The soft atmosphere created by the pieces of the English singer-songwriter together with the evocative setting of the ancient Piazza del Duomo will make this concert under the stars truly unforgettable. The live by James Blunt at Pistoia Blues is also expected to attract a large crowd thanks to his style that combines pop sounds with folk and melodic rock. Who cannot remember 'You're Beautiful', the piece that made him famous in 2005 or the duet of 'Primavera in Anticipo' with Laura Pausini?

• Steve Hackett, Predaburia - Saturday July 14th, 21.00 – Piazza del Duomo

The Pistoia Blues Festival 2018 program includes a concert by Steve Hackett which promises to be one of those mythical events where legends truly reveal themselves through their personality and their music... We're talking about nothing less than the Genesis guitarist. Steve Hackett at Pistoia Blues will present a show whose title leaves no space for doubts on its success: 'Genesis Revisited, Solo Gems & Guitar'. He will reinterpret the pieces written together with Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherfod. But there’s more! Opening this unmissable evening will be the performance of Predaburia, a young Tuscan rock band that thanks to the singer of Scottish origin sings in English.

• Mark Lanegan Band, Supersonic Bluse Machine Feat. Billy F. Gibbson - Sunday July 15th, 21.00 - Piazza del Duomo

The line up of Pistoia Blues 2018 reaches its climax with the cracking evening of Saturday night that will see Mark Lanegan on the stage, the former voice of Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age, and a leading figure among the American songwriters. After Mark Lanegan band at the Pistoia Blues, it will be the turn of the Blues Supersonic Machine, a duo formed by Fabrizio Grossi bassist, producer and songwriter and drummer Kenny Aronoff. Billy Gibbson in Pistoia, the famous guitarist of ZZ Top, will also be on stage with them. Not only that, as we write another guest is about to be confirmed: Steve Lukather, legendary Toto guitarist.

• Gianna Nannini - Monday July 16th, 21.00 - Piazza del Duomo

It will be the super Tuscan Gianna Nannini that in Pistoia will close the Festival with her 'Fenomenale Tour'. The most beloved Italian rocker promises as always an engaging and energetic performance. Surely you will not be able to refrain from singing along to her most famous pieces.

What else is there to say... the menu of artists of Pistoia Blues 2018 is as rich, varied and promising as ever. So waste no time and get organized. First buy the tickets, which you can find full information on at the event website (pistoiablues.com). Since Pistoia is just a few kilometers from Firenze and is easily reachable by train, we strongly recommend spending a few hours there. If you do not want to waste time with guides and maps... our tours in Florence are perfect to explore the wonderful cradle of the Renaissance!