Balamondo World Music Festival – Raoul's Summer
The Romagna folk dance music that meets the world, on Ferragosto night in Gatteo Mare
About Balamondo – Raoul's Summer
A Night Dedicated to the King of Liscio
The Balamondo World Music Festival – Raoul's Summer is one of the most heartfelt musical events of the summer in Gatteo Mare, the seaside resort in the Municipality of Gatteo, in the province of Forlì-Cesena (Emilia-Romagna). Every year, on the night of Ferragosto (August 15th), Piazza Romagna Mia becomes the stage for a great popular festival dedicated to liscio dancing and the memory of Raoul Casadei, the "king of liscio" who passed away in 2021, celebrated on his birthday.
Liscio as World Music
The Balamondo project was born from an idea by Mirko Casadei, Raoul's son and heir to the historic Orchestra Casadei, founded in 1928. The concept is simple and powerful: Romagna liscio, with its popular energy and its ability to make entire generations dance, is essentially a form of world music, capable of engaging with the musical traditions of every corner of the globe. Hence the name "Balamondo" — a dance that unites distant worlds — and a format that blends the Romagna waltz, mazurka, and polka with vocal pop, symphonic music, and international sounds.
A Tribute That Changes Every Year
The Ferragosto evening in Gatteo Mare is renewed with each edition with original productions and different guests: one year it's the encounter between the Mirko Casadei Big Band and a symphony orchestra, another year it's a dialogue with vocal groups and pop artists. The common thread remains the same: reinterpreting the great classics of the Casadei repertoire in a new and surprising way, while preserving the soul of Romagna that dances.
The Festival on the Romagna Coast
The event is part of a broader summer program that enlivens Gatteo Mare from May to September with over two hundred free events, including concerts, shows, and dance evenings. The night of August 15th, however, represents the highlight: thousands of people gather in Piazza Romagna Mia, including tourists from the Riviera and liscio enthusiasts from all over Romagna, to dance under the stars in one of the most authentic local traditions.
Why It's Worth It
- The unique atmosphere of Romagna's Ferragosto, between the sea and popular music
- Free admission (standing room) in the heart of the Riviera
- The quality of original productions by Mirko Casadei
- A journey into the tradition of liscio reinterpreted for today's audience
Balamondo – Raoul's Summer — edition 2026
For the 2026 edition, the Ferragosto event of the Balamondo World Music Festival – Raoul's Summer returns to Gatteo Mare on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in Piazza Romagna Mia. A long night dedicated to liscio and Raoul Casadei, celebrated on his birthday, with a production that focuses on the fusion of tradition and contemporaneity.
The event is part of Gatteo Mare's summer program, which in 2026 offers over two hundred events, and represents the most anticipated musical moment of the season on the coast of Forlì-Cesena.
Programme Balamondo – Raoul's Summer 2026
Saturday, August 15, 2026 — Piazza Romagna Mia, Gatteo Mare
- 9:30 PM — Grand Ferragosto evening dedicated to Raoul Casadei
- Mirko Casadei Big Band — the Romagna orchestra heir to the historic Casadei ensemble
- Guests: Neri per Caso — the famous vocal group, for a fusion of liscio and vocal pop
The evening offers an evocative musical fusion between liscio and vocal pop, where the energy of the Romagna orchestra meets the harmonic play of voices. Ticket office open in the square from 7:00 PM.
Highlights Balamondo – Raoul's Summer 2026
Prices Balamondo – Raoul's Summer 2026
Practical information — Balamondo – Raoul's Summer
How to Get There
Gatteo Mare is located on the Romagna Riviera, in the province of Forlì-Cesena. By car: take the Valle del Rubicone exit from the A14 motorway, then follow signs for Gatteo a Mare. By train: Gatteo a Mare station on the Bologna–Ancona line, a few minutes' walk from the center. Nearest airports: Rimini and Bologna.
Where It Takes Place
The Ferragosto event is held in Piazza Romagna Mia, in the heart of Gatteo Mare. The show starts at 9:30 PM.
Tickets
Free admission for standing places. Seated tickets cost €5.00, with the ticket office open on-site from 7:00 PM. For information: www.balamondo.it, [email protected], tel. +39 348 9491101.
Tips
Arrive early to find a spot in the square: the Ferragosto night attracts a large audience. The Riviera offers ample availability of hotels and accommodation, ideal for those who want to combine a seaside holiday with music.
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Where does it take place — Balamondo – Raoul's Summer
Piazza Romagna Mia, Gatteo Mare
Piazza Romagna Mia, 47043 Gatteo