Figli della Stessa Rabbia

A festival born in the Roman suburbs

Figli della Stessa Rabbia is a festival of social, student, and trade union activism that brings the park of the Circolo ARCI Concetto Marchesi to life every September. Located at via del Frantoio 9c, in the Tiburtino III district of Rome, the event takes its name as an explicit tribute to a song by the Banda Bassotti, a group historically linked to this very community center—a clear statement of the event's cultural roots.

Promoted by the USB (Unione Sindacale di Base) alongside a network of associations, committees, and youth organizations, the festival is built on the idea that political and social battles—housing, labor, education, public services, and local territories—are not separate issues, but parts of the same journey. This shapes the two-day format: it is not just a concert lineup, but a space where assemblies, stalls, and live music coexist.

The format: daytime debates, evening concerts

The structure is well-established. The days begin with assemblies and debates hosted in the park, featuring speakers from trade unions, student movements, housing rights activists, and local neighborhood groups. Surrounding these discussion areas are stalls representing various associations, solidarity campaigns, and independent publishers.

As evening falls, the focus shifts to the stage: evening concerts begin at 9:00 PM on both days and are the festival's most popular draw. Past lineups reflect the event's musical identity, drawing from street punk, ska, reggae, and traditional Roman folk music.

• Assemblies and debates in the park, with guests from across Italy
• Stalls featuring associations, campaigns, and local groups
• Cuisine and food stands open for dinner, offering popular dishes at affordable prices
• Live concerts starting at 9:00 PM on both evenings
• External initiatives, such as marches and commemorations in neighboring districts

The Circolo Concetto Marchesi, a piece of Tiburtino history

The Circolo ARCI Concetto Marchesi is no ordinary venue. For decades, it has been a cultural stronghold of Tiburtino III, a historic working-class district in Rome's eastern periphery, hosting generations of concerts, neighborhood festivals, and community activities. Its park, which turns into an open-air arena in summer, provides the natural setting for the festival: trees, a stage, food stands, and long tables give the event an atmosphere that is both intimate and collective, far removed from large commercial festivals.

For those visiting Rome off the beaten path, Figli della Stessa Rabbia is a chance to discover a part of the city rarely seen in guidebooks: the eastern suburbs, their history of struggles for housing and services, and the vitality of the neighborhood networks that still thrive there today.

An intergenerational audience

The festival brings together students, workers, union militants, local families, and curious visitors drawn by the music. It is an intergenerational crowd that fills the park from late afternoon until late at night. The formula—access to the community center, popular food, and an open-air stage—keeps the event accessible and distinguishes it from the paid commercial events of the Roman season.

When to go

The event is held every year in the first half of September, when the Roman heat begins to fade and the city finds its rhythm again after the summer. It lasts just two days, usually Friday and Saturday, concentrating the entire program; it is best to arrive early to follow the afternoon debates and stay for the evening concert.