Porretta Soul Festival

The 37th edition of the Porretta Soul Festival was held from July 24th to 27th, 2025, at Rufus Thomas Park in Porretta Terme, in the Municipality of Alto Reno Terme (Bologna). On stage, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame Band, twelve musicians led by Kurt Clayton, accompanied a rich cast of soul and rhythm & blues voices: guests included Jonté Mayon, Jerome Chism, Lil Rounds, Carlos Strong, Al Kapeezy, Crystal Thomas, Vincent Carr, John Németh & The Blue Dreamers, The Blackburn Brothers, and the return of Andrew Strong, the voice from the film The Commitments, with the Dublin Soul.

As is tradition, alongside the main evenings, the festival offered free concerts at the Rufus Thomas Café Stage in Piazza della Libertà, performances by the Oversoul Street Band, and a Street Food Village, enlivening the entire spa town in the Bolognese Apennines.