Poggio Picenze in Blues

International blues at the foot of the Gran Sasso

Poggio Picenze in Blues is one of the longest-running and most beloved music festivals in the L'Aquila area. Every year, in the heart of Poggio Picenze—a small town in the province of L'Aquila nestled in the Abruzzo landscape beneath the Gran Sasso massif—the municipal amphitheatre next to Piazza Salvatore Massonio transforms into an open-air stage for high-caliber blues, featuring renowned national and international artists.

Over twenty years of history

The festival was born in 1999 from a desire to share the identity and soul of this place through music. What started as a small local initiative has grown into a staple of the summer event calendar in inland Abruzzo. In 2025, the festival celebrated its twentieth edition, reaffirming its mission to bridge the gap between a quiet inland village and the grand tradition of African American and European blues.

Artistic direction and organization

The artistic direction is led by musician Francesco Cerasoli, who has brought world-class voices and guitarists to Poggio Picenze over the years. The event is promoted by the Municipality of Poggio Picenze in collaboration with local associations, including No Limits Bike and Frequenze del Gran Sasso, with the support of many young local volunteers also involved in social and charitable initiatives.

Live music and village vibes

Concerts are typically held in the evening and are free of charge, set in an intimate and convivial atmosphere that is part of the event's unique charm. Over the years, the stage has hosted internationally acclaimed bluesmen and singers from both the American and British scenes. Beyond the music, there is no shortage of traditional Abruzzese flavors: the festival area features stands and food trucks serving local products and the famous arrosticini.

A festival to experience in Abruzzo

Poggio Picenze in Blues is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the Abruzzo region, combining high-quality international music programming with the pleasure of an evening in an Apennine village. It is an event that, edition after edition, proves how even small towns can become blues capitals for a few summer nights.