SOUL & BLUES Festival

Soul and Blues in the Heart of the Blue Mountains

The SOUL & BLUES Festival is the music event that transforms Piazza Alberico Gentili, the historic main square of San Ginesio (province of Macerata, in the Marche region), into a stage for soul, rhythm'n'blues, and gospel at the end of summer. For three consecutive evenings, the medieval village, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy and overlooking the Sibillini Mountains, hosts singers and bands often arriving directly from the United States, the birthplace of these genres.

The event is organized by the Pro Loco of San Ginesio (local tourist board) together with the Unione Montana dei Monti Azzurri (Mountain Union of the Blue Mountains), and is part of the town's rich summer program, which offers music, theater, and historical reenactments between July and August. The festival ideally connects with the great blues tradition of the Macerata area, for which the Marche region has become a reference point thanks to a network of festivals that bring African-American artists to the inland villages every summer.

A Square That Becomes an Open-Air Club

What makes this festival special is the setting: no large arenas, but an intimate square, surrounded by medieval buildings and views, where the audience experiences the concerts just a few meters from the artists. The atmosphere is that of an intimate and warm club, but outdoors, under the summer sky of San Ginesio. Soulful voices, brass instruments, and blues guitars fill the space, creating a direct and engaging experience.

When and Where

The events are held in the evening, with concerts generally starting at 9:30 PM, around the end of July and the beginning of August. All concerts take place in Piazza Alberico Gentili, in the historic center of San Ginesio. For the definitive program and any updates, it is advisable to follow the official channels of the Pro Loco of San Ginesio and the municipal tourism website.