After months of open-air clubbing, al fresco concerts and aperitivi overlooking the Arno banks, we’re here to demystify the local music scene as our city takes its nightlife indoors. From underground to mainstream, October’s musical calendar is rife with opening parties, season launches, one-shot events and special guests. As temperatures drop and precipitations turn from refreshing to threatening, running for cover has never been this entertaining.
Broadcash & Bobby Solo
Over the past five years Florence has seen the rise of many successful clubbing formats driven by young deejays, musicians and event planners united by one goal: putting this city on the map of contemporary nightlife culture. On October 19, Feline Funk will be at Combo Club (via Mannelli 2) sharpening its claws for a new season with live sets by LNDFK, Sofatalk and Biga (tickets 8/10 euro). Creative content collective Polarys is a new entry on the scene and will be at Club21 on October 6 with French enfant terrible Miley Serious (entrance 10 euro).
Local club YAB has garnered quite a reputation throughout the years but up until now, rock’n’roll has never been allowed into the temple of disco-tinged all-nighters. From October, Thursdays are “Rock the Yab” nights with guitar-driven drum-kickin’ deejay sets, live concerts by alternative local bands and much more. They are also brewing up a contest so keep your eyes peeled and your instruments close at hand. On another note—but sticking in the same genre—BUH Spazio Culturale Urbano will reopen on October 19 with a performance by Broadcash, Johnny Cash’s Italian tribute band, and Italian singer Bobby Solo (ticket and membership 13 euro).
Although not purely musical, Disco Soupe takes the basic concept of composing and mixing beats and applies it to leftover ingredients retrieved from market stalls and local grocers in order to reduce and create awareness around food waste. The result is a collectively and creatively thought-out menu and an event open to all with deejay sets and live music. The next edition will take place starting at 3pm October 7 in the Oltrarno’s very own Nidiaci garden, with Balkan-style brass band La Brasserie taking the stage. Want to lend a hand? Contact the organizers at 333.2961319 or 328.3681162. Note: bring your own plates and cutlery!
Local cultural association La Chute has found its perfect home base within the walls of the Circolo Arci Il Progresso’s Twin Peaks-esque concert hall (the red drapes and decadent floors alone make it worth a visit!) Easily reachable via the newly extended tram line at via Vittorio Emanuele II 135, this venue is no longer off-the-beaten-path. The opening act of a promising new concert season will be the acclaimed American singer-songwriter Howe Gelb, who will take to the stage at 9.30 pm on October 19. Entrance is 12 euro plus a membership fee.
Picture a slumber party but add slow-moving, purely atmospheric music performed live. Catch a calming concert (and then some zzz’s) at Il Lavoratorio (via Giovanni Lanza 64, www.illavoratorio.it) from 9pm on October 27. Audience members will snuggle up inside sleeping bags (only 20 are available!) and will then be carried away by a 12-hour concert for prepared piano and electroacoustic instruments. This will be the first of many events that fall under the TONK! series, a new format conceived and managed by musician and performer Nicola Pedroni.
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