In Cammino con la Musica – Festival of Deepening Popular Music

A festival to rediscover the roots of popular music

In Cammino con la Musica is the festival dedicated to deepening popular music that takes place in Bardi, a charming village in the upper Val Ceno, in the Province of Parma and in Emilia-Romagna. Founded in 2023 on the initiative of the Associazione Musica d'Appennino, in collaboration with local cultural entities such as Il Cammino Valceno, the event aims to educate and spread the passion for popular music, traditional culture, and the roots of our peoples and those from afar.

A different theme for each edition

The distinctive feature of the festival is the choice of a monographic theme for each event, addressed with educational rigor but in a form accessible to all. The first edition was entirely dedicated to the Emilian piva, the enigmatic bagpipe of the Parmesan and Piacenza tradition. In subsequent years, the festival has explored the instrumental music and dances of the Four Provinces — the culturally homogeneous area between the provinces of Piacenza, Pavia, Alessandria, and Genoa — with instruments such as the piffero and the müsa, an ancient bagpipe that fell out of use.

The 2026 edition: Kurdish music

The edition of June 14, 2026 broadens its scope beyond the Apennine borders and proposes Kurdish music and its evolution as its theme. A journey that, faithful to the spirit of the festival, dialogues with the musical traditions of our Apennines and those of a distant people, inviting the public to reflect on shared roots and the transformations of popular music over time.

Education, instruments, and concert

The festival's format usually alternates an educational segment, with the presentation and listening of traditional instruments, moments dedicated to popular dances, and a live concert entrusted to groups and musicians specializing in traditional repertoire. In past editions, prominent names in Apennine and Piedmontese popular music have participated in the festival, in an intimate and engaging atmosphere.

Where it takes place

The festival takes place at the Casa della Gioventù (Sala Lituania) in Bardi, in the heart of the Municipality of Bardi, dominated by the famous Castle perched on a rocky spur. Admission is usually free and the event is also broadcast live streaming on the territory's social channels, reaching even those who cannot be present. A valuable event for ethnomusicology enthusiasts, scholars, and the curious about the sonic traditions of the Apennines and the world.