RITUAL – Open Air Psytrance

A sonic ritual at Rupe del Pescale

RITUAL is a series of free open-air gatherings dedicated to psytrance and progressive culture, held in Prignano sulla Secchia, a small Apennine municipality in the province of Modena, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. The setting is not a car park or a warehouse, but a place steeped in history: the archaeological site of Rupe del Pescale, a rocky spur overlooking the Secchia valley inhabited since prehistoric times. It is precisely this dialogue between landscape, nature, and electronic sound that gives the project its unique identity.

How each gathering works

Each edition of RITUAL is a full day of music: the line-up unfolds from 10:00 AM until midnight, fourteen continuous hours during which the sun rises high, crosses the cliff, and sets behind the hills. The musical journey often starts with the softer, more organic sounds of psy bass and progressive, gradually building towards full-on in the central and evening hours. There is also space for live performances: some editions have hosted live looping sets with analog instruments, synthesizers, and tribal percussion, halfway between a concert and the collective ritual that gives the series its name.

Free entry and community spirit

One of RITUAL's distinctive features is its free admission: entry is always free, in line with the non-commercial spirit of the psytrance and goa scene. Refreshment stands and food trucks are usually available on site, while the public enjoys the day outdoors, amidst the meadows, woods, and paths of the archaeological site. It is an event designed for those seeking an experience different from clubbing: dancing, listening, sharing, and connecting with a place that has over six thousand years of history behind it.

A series spread throughout the season

RITUAL is not a single event but a calendar of gatherings spread over the warmer months, from late spring to summer. Each date brings a different line-up, featuring artists and crews from the Italian psytrance scene and international guests, so that each gathering has its own character while remaining true to the formula of the open-air day at Rupe del Pescale. For those visiting the Modenese Apennines, it is also an opportunity to discover a little-known corner of the Prignano sulla Secchia area.