Onwards and upwards, as the old saying goes. Day Two begins, and the
Promis, volunteers once again take their places behind the food stands, kitchens and bars. It’s certainly easier to be the one guzzling the wonderful food and drink, chatting and socialising on the campo of the Stadio Comunale in temperatures pushing the high 30s. Thankfully, once the musical entertainment begins there’s shade, even a welcome breeze, with the festival ground surrounded by rolling hills.
First up is Alice Piccioni, a young singer from nearby Roveleto di Cadeo who performs under the name Novembre. Better known for her involvement in musical theatre, tonight she opens Saturday’s programme on the Gropparello main stage with a selection of original songs and covers.
There isn’t a huge amount available from her yet on the streaming platforms, but there is a single, “Novembre”, an engaging song with thoughtful lyrics, a lovely acoustic introduction and verse, perhaps then drifting into a more traditional chorus than the opening promises. Alice performs this along with several other songs, winning over the audience through sheer sincerity and an obvious desire to connect. Her rendition of Beyoncé’s “Love On Top” was the standout of the set, requiring both courage and considerable vocal grace.
Next comes Kamylla, the stage name of Camilla Gorrini, from nearby San Giorgio Piacentino. She recently graduated with honours in Pop/Rock Singing from the University of Parma. Credentials aren’t everything in the music world—thankfully—but they certainly don’t hurt.
She already has several singles to her name, including “All’Angolo Destro del Cuore”, “Mai Sola” and the recent “Starlight”, a slice of pure Euro dance-pop that hits the sweet spot from the very first listen. Kamylla is an absolute charmer: a confident performer with a powerful voice and an easy stage presence. She’s definitely one to watch in Italy’s ever-evolving pop scene.
It was an impressive set throughout, with highlights including “Starlight” and an exceptionally crafted performance of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You”. On tonight’s evidence, she was the standout performer of the evening.
The main act is Le Canzoni Giuste. Formed in February 2017, the band have built their identity around witty, offbeat songwriting and a wonderfully playful approach that skips effortlessly between genres. Rather than tying themselves to one musical style, they embrace variety, producing songs that are as unpredictable as they are entertaining.
With three albums now behind them, their latest release, Sotto La Panca, arrived this March and perfectly encapsulates what they’re all about: ironic, engaging lyrics—sometimes rapped, sometimes sung—wrapped around crunchy rock riffs, infectious beats and time signatures that somehow feel both meticulously organised and delightfully chaotic.
Le Canzoni Giuste have carved out a genuinely unique place in the Italian music scene, proving that originality and humour can happily coexist. Perhaps they didn’t quite ignite the crowd in the same way as fellow mavericks Gem Boy—the cult Italian band who memorably graced the Festa dei Cuion stage in 2024—but they more than made up for it with warmth and generosity, happily sticking around afterwards to chat with festival-goers and sign albums and merchandise.
There seems to be a wonderfully free-spirited energy drifting through the festival tonight, somehow weaving itself into the crowd’s collective psyche like everyone has been caught in Spider-Man’s web—except this one leaves you smiling rather than dangling from a skyscraper. It’s August 1st, the traditional beginning of the summer holidays for many Italians. For others it’s simply another Saturday night. Either way, there’s a shared sense of celebration as DJ Overdrop’s music echoes across the field long into the evening.
A special mention should also go to the attractions beyond the main stage. King’s Cross Tattoo Studio is once again ever-present—and incredibly busy—while the safe inflatable play areas keep younger visitors happily occupied for hours. Around the site are a variety of arts and crafts stalls, including Promis’s own t-shirt stand selling original designs at surprisingly reasonable prices.
Tomorrow sees the crowning of the new “Cuion”—loosely translated as the festival’s official “dumbass”—thereby fulfilling the wonderfully eccentric tradition established by Chicco more than twenty years ago. According to members of the Promis committee, there are an unusually high number of worthy candidates this year, a comment that brought a very guilty grin to my face.
We’ll find out tomorrow.
Until then, I’ll keep on dreaming.....
Photo credit: Marco Gandolfi
