Tag Archive: Rocca Malatestiana


Man down: An open letter to Wet Leg

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July 13, 2025

Dear Wet Leg,

I am writing from Cesena in Emilia Romagna. You may recognise the name because it was where you were due to play an outdoor show at the Rocca Malatestiana on Wednesday 16th July.

Two days ago, it was announced that this show has been cancelled. One report said this was for “logistical reasons”.  This explanation was closely followed by news of an extra show at London’s Electric Ballroom on Thursday 17th July. I would therefore interpret these particular  ‘logistics’ to mean that a London gig is more prestigious than playing a small city in Northern Italy.

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Verdena – a cool band, right here, right now

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September 9, 2016

Verdena live at Rocca Malatestiana, Cesena – 8th September 2016

verdena1If I had been hipper to the local music scene when I arrived in Italy over 20 years ago I would have been able to follow Verdena from their inception as Nirvana wannabes to the distinctive individuals I witnessed at this stunning open air concert.

My belated appreciation of this excellent band from Bergamo is a good motive for shaking the complacent attitude that goes with smug slogan T-shirt slogans like : ‘I may be old but I got to see all the cool bands’.

I have my daughter to thank for ‘discovering’ this cool band existing right now playing songs from current releases not running through a familiar back catalogue from way back when. Continue reading →

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GOGOL BORDELLO’S YOB ROCK

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August 29, 2015

GOGOL BORDELLO Live at the Rocca Malestestiana, Cesena, Italy 28th August 2015

gogolbordelloI do not own any Gogol Bordello records and, prior to this concert, could only name two songs of theirs – Start Wearing Purple and Think Locally. Fuck Globally.

I knew the first from the very wonderful movie Everything Is Illuminated which featured Eugene Hütz ,the band’s extrovert frontman, as a linguistically challenged Ukrainian guide, Alex, in the main character’s “rigid search” for his Jewish roots. The second is simply one of those titles you only have to hear once to remember.

Although I was not au fait with the band’s back catalogue, I figured this would prove no handicap to my enjoyment of the show. If you Google a few concert reviews, the consensus seems to be that this band are ‘awesome’ live.

I expected them to be rowdy, anarchic and loud – all positives in my book. They were all these things but I still came away bored and unimpressed. Continue reading →

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URBAN BLUES ON A MIDSUMMER NIGHT

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August 12, 2015

THE MARK LANEGAN BAND Live at the Rocca Malastestiana, Cesena, Italy 11th August 2015

Mark Lanegan - not a summery kind of guy.

Mark Lanegan – not a summery kind of guy.

On stage, Mark Lanegan looks and sounds every inch the rock and roll survivor.

This gives added authenticity to his songs about salvation and healing.

For Lanegan’s brand of bleak urban rock, black is the colour, as typified by tunes like The Gravedigger’s Song and Gray Goes Black.

Lanegan stands centre stage like a pugilist, not as someone who is picking a fight but as a man used to standing his ground. Continue reading →

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COOL FOLK IN CESENA

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June 14, 2013

Sylvie Lewis / Dawn Landes (Rocca Malatestiana, Cesena)

“I’m freezing my tits off up here!”

Wooden pallets for seating in the grounds of the town’s medieval fortress makes for a pleasant rustic setting. But it’s a bit on the chilly side! Both these folk maidens have underestimated the coolness of the evening and are wearing flimsy sleeveless summer dresses,. Hence Sylvie Lewis’ less than ladylike lament.

This free concert is part of a three-week European tour that also takes in Spain, France and Britain. Continue reading →

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