Suonagli Folk Festival

A festival dedicated to Southern folk music

The Suonagli Folk Festival has become one of the most anticipated events in the cultural autumn of Molfetta, in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in the heart of Puglia. Created to showcase the traditional music and dance of Southern Italy—from Salento's pizzica to the tammurriata and the wider Mediterranean repertoire—the festival is organized by the Fabulanova cultural association. For seven years, they have curated the event by blending education, performance, and community participation.

Much more than just a concert

Suonagli is not just live music; it is an entire day designed as a journey of discovery and celebration. It begins in the afternoon with a pizzica workshop, which is free and open to everyone, allowing even beginners to learn the steps of this traditional dance. The program continues with photography exhibitions dedicated to the rituals and communities of Southern Italy, as well as book presentations and conferences on tarantism and folk culture, offering deep insight into the anthropological significance of these traditions.

The day culminates in the evening with a dance concert: the square transforms into a large circle where the audience dances late into the night to the rhythm of tambourines, accordions, violins, and guitars. This is the festival's beating heart, the moment when tradition ceases to be a memory and becomes a shared celebration.

A free event for everyone

The Suonagli Folk Festival offers free admission and welcomes a wide audience: folk music lovers, families, young people, and tourists eager to discover the most authentic soul of Puglian and Southern culture. The event typically takes place in city venues such as the Fabbrica di San Domenico and is part of the event calendar promoted in collaboration with the Molfetta municipal administration.

Pizzica and tarantism, a heritage to be experienced

At the center of the festival is the rediscovery of Mediterranean tarantism and the healing and community music that shaped the history of the South. Through dance, images, and words, Suonagli introduces even the younger generations to an intangible heritage that belongs to Puglia and the entire Mediterranean, keeping it alive in its most joyful and collective form.