The hills are alive in the province of Prato this July with the return of concert series Festival delle Colline.
Six concerts—two of them offering free admission—are on the program. Shows kick off at the Medici Villa of Poggio a Caiano with the multicultural Piccola Orchestra di Tor Pignattara (July 5, 9.30pm). Comprised of international musicians between the ages of 13 and 18, the group plays music from all over the world and sings in a variety of languages. This show will highlight their new album, Stop! In the Name of Love.
Portuguese musician Carmen Souza (L)
Continuing the Poggio a Caiano events is Portuguese musician and “21st-century soul” singer Carmen Souza, who will take the stage at the Bonistallo Church (July 12, 9.30pm). Next up, the nearby Parco del Borgo will host a free concert featuring the Bologna group Rumba de Bodas (July 15, 9.30pm). This genre-bending band will bring their blend of swing, reggae and Latin rhythms to the park’s stage, but later they will perform marching-band style, parading through the Poggio a Caiano streets.
The program moves to downtown Prato for the successive two concerts, both of which will be held at the Lazzerini library. Free admission will be offered to the first concert in the library’s Corte delle Sculture—a diversity-themed show called “WOP,” an original production by Festival delle Colline, featuring Andrea Franchi, Marina Mulopulos and other musicians (9.30pm). Next up is funk master James Senese and Napoli Centrale, who will perform tracks from their latest release O’ Sanghe (July 20, 9.30pm). Closing out the festival is the British singer-songwriter Damon Michael Gough, better known as Badly Drawn Boy, who will perform at the Rocca di Carmignano (July 26, 9.30pm).
Advance tickets for all paid concerts are available in BoxOffice Toscana locations. For additional information, see the festival website.
