In the heart of Sulcis, Narcao is preparing to vibrate once again on the rough and powerful notes of the blues. From July 23 to 26, the town will host the thirty-fifth edition of the Narcao Blues Festival, an event that has managed to gain a prominent place over the years in the musical panorama not only of the island, but also nationally and internationally.
Born in 1989 thanks to the vision of the cultural association Progetto Evoluzione, the festival has become a beacon for lovers of the “devil’s music”, maintaining a spirit deeply rooted in the territory, but with its gaze constantly turned towards the world. It is no coincidence that throughout its history it has hosted giants of the caliber of John Mayall, Popa Chubby, Canned Heat, Peter Green, Larry Carlton, and Fabio Treves.
This year, to celebrate its three and a half decades of life, Narcao Blues raises the bar even further with a lineup that skillfully mixes great comebacks and long-awaited firsts. Jimmie Vaughan, brother of the legendary Stevie Ray, will be among the absolute protagonists, accompanied by his Tilt-A-Whirl: one of the last true living icons of Texas blues. He will also be joined on stage by names now familiar to the festival audience such as Ana Popovic, Walter Trout, Jon Cleary and Eric Steckel, all of whom have already been to Narcao in previous editions, but never forgotten.
The program will also be enriched by the vibrant groove of the Honey Island Swamp Band, for the first time in Sardinia, and the energy of the Polish-Lithuanian band Blues Fields, the result of the collaboration with the Suwalki Blues Festival, an artistic twinning that continues over time as a sound bridge between the Mediterranean and Central Europe.
Representatives of the island scene will not be missing, such as Don Leone – the Sardinian duo composed of Matteo Leone and Donato Cherchi – who will return to the home stage with a new album produced by the festival itself, confirming Narcao Blues' commitment to promoting local talent.
"Celebrating 35 years means honoring a history that is also identity," says Francesco Musa, president of the organizing association. "This edition is a tribute to the path taken, but also a step towards the future, with artistic choices that keep our international scope firm."
Each evening includes two main sets in Piazza Europa, in the center of the town, and then continues in the suggestive night atmosphere of the after-festival space in Santa Croce . A proven formula that blends musical quality, authenticity and hospitality.
Supported by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, the Fondazione di Sardegna and the Municipality of Narcao, the festival is a member of the Italian Blues Union and the European Blues Union.