Materia Festival – The Mycelium Forest

An electronic music festival in the heart of the Florentine hills

Materia Festival – The Mycelium Forest is a fresh initiative that brings electronic music out of the clubs and into nature, among the hills of Scandicci, in the province of Florence (Tuscany). The chosen venue is the evocative Cappella della Madonna della Rosa, a historic building nestled in the woods along Via dell'Arrigo, restored for the occasion and transformed into an open-air stage. Here, the ritual dimension of the site blends with clubbing culture to create an experience that is part party, part listening session, and part social gathering.

The meaning of the name

The subtitle The Mycelium Forest evokes the underground fungal network through which trees in a forest communicate, exchanging nutrients and information. For the organizers, it is the perfect image of the community the festival aims to build: an invisible web of people, artists, and local entities bound by shared values. Each edition is designed as an invitation to rediscover a place in a new light, enhancing its surroundings.

The musical program

The first edition features a true sound marathon: twelve hours of electronic music, from 12:00 PM to midnight. Eight artists from the local scene will take the stage, with a selection ranging from techno to more sophisticated sounds:

• Slow Sound System
• Hertzcollision
• Ed Amorosi
• Michael Byrne
• Artemis
• Blu
• Gaya
• Julian

The entire day is accompanied by a curated lighting and visual setup, designed to engage with the natural setting and the architecture of the chapel.

Atmosphere and community

More than just a concert, Materia Festival is intended as a collective ritual that unites nature, music, and sociality. For those who want to experience the day at a leisurely pace, a comfort area is set up with food and beverage service, where you can stop between sets and enjoy the tranquility of the woods. Access is reserved for association members, in line with the participatory and community spirit of the project.

Scandicci and the local area

The initiative is part of the Scandicci Open City 2026 program, a widespread festival that enlivens the Municipality of Scandicci with artistic and musical events. The festival represents a cultural challenge for the area: bringing a new audience to discover hidden corners of the Florentine hills, just a few kilometers from the center of Florence, and adding value to forgotten spaces through music and gathering.