Our journey through Italy continues in the North-West part of the country: Lombardy, the region of Milan and Piedmont, the region of Turin.
Summer 2011 will certainly be an unforgettable one for all music lovers, above all for those who die for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal (but there's some space for others too) and are living or planning to stay in that part of Italy.
The first date to report is on 21 May 2011 at "Motorock" of Cremona, cosy town south east of Milan; Motorock started 22 years ago as a big motorbikers meeting, now it's this and much more, a real exhibition of the (motor)Rocker's life style. This year the glorious hard rock guitarist Uli Jon Roth will set afire the Motorock stage, supported by Ancillotti and Hellcircles.
To remain in this area (South East Lombardy), not really far from Cremona and also from the beautiful Verona, Mantua and Garda Lake, we report the "Viadana Open Air" festival which will take place at the end of August in Viadana, a small village on the river Po' shores. This festival is dedicated to the best Italian Thrash, Death and Black Metal bands and some big international guests (Sinister from Holland as headliner in 2010): the program for 2011 is still to be defined.
A little north from Cremona we easily reach the town of Brescia where in the middle of August there is the usual "Radio Onda d'Urto Festival", its name from the local alternative radio station. This year one of the main events of this festival will surely be the return in Italy after years of the seminal American crossover band Suicidal Tendencies + Cannabis Corpse, on the 16th August 2011.

And now: Milan, the ultimate place to be not just for fashion, shopping and nightlife, but for rock!!!
Summer 2011 dates will start early, more precisely on the 2nd of June, at Arena Concerti of Rho Exhibition: the reformed System Of A Down will play their only concert in Italy for the joy of their "aficionados" and for that occasion they will be supported by bands like Danzig, Sick of It All, Volbeat, The Damned Things... one of the stongest bills in this Italian summer that will surely take no prisoners!!!
Two days later (4 June) "FLIPPAUT Dance Reload" will take place in the same venue and now all techno-dance fans will rejoice: The Chemical Brothers will be headliner of this festival.
Two days again, on June the 6th, The Kills will perform in Milan their only Italian concert at Magazzini Generali.
No time to rest!!! Back to the Arena Concerti of Rho Exhibition for 4 special rendezvous that will remain forever in the hearts and minds of all rock, alternative rock and heavy metal fans.
On June the 15th, "Rock in Idrho 2011" will explode thanx to its superb lineup: Foo Fighters, Iggy and The Stooges, Social Distortion, The Hives, Band of Horses, Flogging Molly and the Italians Ministri and Outback.
One week and the same place will be invaded by long-haired and nostalgic bold fans for two big events.
On June the 21rst for the first time in Italy: 3 unrivalled heroes of American eighties AOR, Foreigner, Journey and Nightranger!!!
And the day after (22 June) the one and only "Gods Of Metal", long time Italian brand for the biggest summer metal event in this country. This year, as usual, a great bill: Judas Priest (Farewell Tour), Whitesnake, Mr.Big, Europe, Epica, Duff McKagan's Loaded, The Cavalera Conspiracy, Baptized in Blood!!!
Not enough???
Wait until July the 6th, back to Arena Concerti, for the first time in Italy the date all were expecting: The Big 4!!! Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax will definitively set afire Rho Exhibition.
Having said that, the hunger of every heavy rock fan could well be appeased, so let's move to the very center of Milan, in particular to the beatiful Arena Civica next to Parco Sempione, the biggest central park of the city. Here "Milano Jazzin' Festival" will take place from 5 to 24 of July. There will be many proper jazz concerts not just at the Arena, but throughout the city busy clubs: anyway the main events at the Arena Civica will embrace different genres and are not to be missed by anyone who just loves... music!!! At the moment the confirmed acts are: Arcade Fire (July 5), An Evening with Burt Bacharach and Mario Biondi (July 6), Cypress Hill + Public Enemy (July 12), Paul Simon (July 17), Ben Harper + Robert Plant and Band Of Joy (July 20).
Finally one of the main events of this intense Milan summer will be at San Siro football stadium where the re-united Take That will perform for all their old and new fans, supported by an extraordinary comeback in Italy: Pet Shop Boys!!!

Other gigs in Milan during summer 2011: Bob Dylan June the 22nd at the Alcatraz, Blink 182 June the 27th at Forum Assago, The Strokes July the 12th at Arena Concerti Rho.

If you still want to leave Milan after all this, just travel a little bit south-west outside the city and reach Vigevano, where in the magic location of the Sforzesco Castle, the festival "10 Giorni Suonati" will take place, for ten days in June-July 2011. At the moment acts confirmed are first-class ones: Primus (June 26), Black Country Communion + John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (June 28), Jeff Beck (June 29), Brian Setzer (July 2), The Black Crowes (July 7), John Mellencamp (July 9), Jack Johnson (July 24). Not bad, really!!!

Let's cross the western border of Lombardy region and we are in Piedmont, enchanting with its lakes, hills, vineyards, castles, Alps, brought to the world's attention during the winter Olympic Games of Turin 2006.
An interesting and relatively recent venue for live music is in Romagnano Sesia, village next to Novara: the Rock'n'Roll Arena, part of a small brand chain (2 other Rock'n'Roll venues are also in Milan and Rho). Every month the live progam is full of good acts, at the moment we can appreciate their schedule for May 2011 with main live acts such as glam rock icon Michael Monroe, industrial-thrash gods Voivod, death-metal bands like Hate Eternal and Rotting Christ and many evenings with rock discopub and good tribute bands.
Reaching Piedmont capital Turin, in June and July we will have two main live music events. The traditional "Traffic Free Festival", usually in the middle of July, with international rock stars playing in a context of ethnical music, poetry, readings, markets and a lot of fun. The second event is "Colonia Sonora", which takes place in Parco della Certosa - Collegno, right outside Turin. From 17 June to 31 July, almost 2 months of great live music and performances. At the moment Korn are confirmed for the 1rst of July and many more acts (Italian and international) will be confirmed soon.

If you choose North-West Italy this summer... Enjoy your (heavy) holiday!!!