It's time to set off again; our summer 2011 live music journey stopped in Umbria region (some news ago), now it's time to explore 3 regions that border with it: North-East we find Le Marche, the land of one of the greatest Italian poets, Leopardi, recently promoted in a sublime spot by Dustin Hoffman, with its incomparable landscapes made of green hills and blue sea. South-East we find Abruzzo with its Gran Sasso (the highest mountain of the Appenines), the National Natutal Park and the Adriatic seaside coasts. South-West we find Lazio, a region full of history at every single step, obviously strongly linked to its capital, the eternal Rome.

As concerns live music two great events will take place in Marche region this summer: the first is Vasco Rossi concert in Ancona's Conero Stadium on 5 June, that will open his summer live tour; as it usually happens almost every year since 1990, Vasco Rossi will perform in the biggest Italian stadiums and arenas and it is invariably a sold out everywhere!!! Don't miss it if you are there... he is the biggest rockstar in Italy, worshipped by his innumerable fans and there's always a great atmosphere at his gigs. The second event we want to report is a great happening with 2 hardcore punk crossover bands together in the same night, they both return to Italy after long time: Bad Religion + Suicidal Tendencies, in Senigallia (on Marche seaside) on 9 August. A fantastic date for this genre's lovers!!!

Abruzzo region will see its main live music event in Pescara, located on the Adriatic coast. The "Indie Rocket Festival" will end there its adrenaline itinerant format from 1 to 3 July and will host the best Italian indie artists (and some international to be announced too).

And now on the opposite western side of Italy, towards the Tirreno sea coasts, we reach the gates of the eternal city: Rome. This year there is an unprecedented summer live music offer. We have to say that Rome has always somehow suffered the rilvalry with Milan (the "northern capital") as concerns live music. Milan has always had more suitable venues and spaces for live concerts, but in this summer 2011 Rome can have its "revenge", or at least can well compete.

The "Estate Romana" 2011 starts with an electronic event, the "Ultrasonic Rome Electronic Festival" at the beginning of June. The main dates will be the live performances at the Palazzo dei Congressi of Dj Tiesto (2 June) and David Guetta (11 June).
On 30 June the hardcore punk crossover seminal band Corrosion Of Conformity will clash the stage of the Init venue in Via Tuscolana.
The main rock event in town (also for its duration from June to July 2011) will surely be "Rock in Roma", at the Ippodromo delle Capannelle (Via Appia Nuova towards Ciampino airport, South-East Rome); this year really a fantastic live offer, for all tastes. Look at this:
30 Seconds To Mars (18 June), Avenged Sevenfold (21 June), Alessandro Mannarino (23 June), Korn (29 June), Subsonica (30 June), Black Label Society (3 July), Dream Theater + Gamma Ray + Anathema (4 July), Afterhours (6 July), Fabri Fibra (9 July), The Chemical Brothers (13 July), Franco Battiato (15 July), Caparezza (16 July), Almamegretta and Raiz Reunion Tour (17 July), Daniele Silvestri (18 July), Ben Harper, Robert Plant & the Band of Joy (19 July), Skunk Anansie (20 July), Elio e Le Storie Tese (21 July), Jamiroquai (22 July), Jack Johnson (23 July), Moby + After Show with very special guest DJ Set (24 July), Slash feat Myles Kennedy + Special Guest (29 July).
This sounds really good!!!
But in July 2011 you will really have a hard time in Rome and you'll have to make important and heavy choices (unless you could split in two!!!): because at Auditorium della Musica (right on the opposite side of Rome as compared to the "Rock In Roma" venue) the program of the festival "Luglio suona bene" (= "July sounds good") is intense too, with some history of music going on there. Listen: warm-up with Einstürzende Neubauten (1 June), then Raphael Gualazzi (24 June), Pooh (25 June), Roberto Vecchioni (26 June), John Mayall (27 June), The Manhattan Transfer (28 June), La Notte della Taranta, Ludovico Einaudi (30 June), Ricky Martin (2 July), Burt Bacharach (3 July), Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band (4 July), Chicago (9 July), John Mellencamp (10 July), D.Douglas E. Rava A. Cohen U. Caine L. Ho C. Penn (11 July), Cyndi Lauper (11 July), George Benson (12 July), Elton John And His Band (13 July), Primal Scream perform Screamadelica (22 July), Lou Reed "Sweet tooth" (25 July), Caro Emerald (26 July), Joe Cocker (27 July), Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club feat. Omara Portuondo (28 July), Sting "Symphonicity Summer Tour 2011" (30 July), Stefano Bollani (1 August), Giovanni Allevi (2 August).

Can you do it in Rome this July ;-)

Enjoy central Italy and complete your visit in Rome with some great (music) stuff!!!