The Valley of Soul in Vergato
Free soul concert in the heart of Vergato, a traveling stop of the Porretta Soul Festival in the Bolognese Apennines
About The Valley of Soul
Soul Comes Down to Vergato
The Valley of Soul is the traveling and free event that accompanies the famous Porretta Soul Festival, considered the most beloved soul festival in Europe. While the heart of the festival beats in Porretta Terme (Alto Reno Terme), the same international protagonists of soul, blues, and rhythm & blues go on tour in the municipalities of the Bolognese Apennines for a series of free evening concerts. Among the historic stops is the Municipality of Vergato, in the Province of Bologna, where the concert is usually held in Piazza dei Capitani della Montagna, in the heart of the town along the Reno valley.
An Evening of International Music, Free
For one evening, Vergato transforms into an open-air stage: the groove of Memphis and Mississippi resonates through the town's houses, offering the community and visitors a quality concert without a ticket. It's a concrete way to link great music to the territory of Emilia-Romagna, bringing the voices of American soul music to those who don't reach the main stage of the Rufus Thomas Park in Porretta.
A Festival with a Great History
The Valley of Soul was born as an offshoot of the Porretta Soul Festival, founded in 1988 by the cultural association Sweet Soul Music and directed by Graziano Uliani. In almost forty years of activity, Porretta has become a global benchmark for fans of the genre, hosting legends of Stax and American soul music. The traveling event extends this spirit to neighboring towns like Vergato, Tolè, Camugnano, and Grizzana Morandi, in collaboration with the Union of Municipalities of the Bolognese Apennines.
What to Expect
- A free concert with free admission, in the evening.
- International soul, blues, and R&B artists, the same ones who liven up the Porretta Soul Festival.
- The setting of Vergato's center, usually in Piazza dei Capitani della Montagna.
- An intimate and familiar atmosphere, very different from large music gatherings.
For those visiting the Bolognese Apennines at the end of July, the Vergato stop of The Valley of Soul is the perfect opportunity to combine the discovery of the territory with the hottest soundtrack there is.
The Valley of Soul — edition 2026
The Valley of Soul in Vergato — July 27, 2026
On July 27, 2026, soul returns to Vergato with an evening of the traveling event The Valley of Soul, the territorial and free offshoot of the Porretta Soul Festival. The concert, with free admission, is usually held in Piazza dei Capitani della Montagna, in the heart of the Municipality of Vergato (Province of Bologna).
Announced on stage are Thornetta Davis & ZBlues Band: the "Queen of Detroit Blues", one of the most acclaimed voices of the 38th edition of the festival. The Vergato stop opens the series of traveling concerts which, in the following days, also touches Tolè, Camugnano, Rocchetta Mattei, and Grizzana Morandi, in parallel with the four main evenings of the Porretta Soul Festival at Rufus Thomas Park (July 23-26). The artistic direction is by Graziano Uliani.
Programme The Valley of Soul 2026
The Vergato Evening
Monday, July 27, 2026 — free evening concert by The Valley of Soul, usually in Piazza dei Capitani della Montagna in Vergato.
- On the bill: Thornetta Davis & ZBlues Band — soul and blues voice from Detroit, also a protagonist of the main festival in Porretta.
- Free admission, in the evening.
The Other 2026 Traveling Stops
- July 28 — Tolè: Thornetta Davis & ZBlues Band.
- July 29 — Camugnano: Thornetta Davis & ZBlues Band.
- July 30 — Rocchetta Mattei (Grizzana Morandi): Mitch Woods & His Rockin' 88s.
- July 31 — Grizzana Morandi: Bononia Sound Machine.
The Main Festival in Porretta (July 23-26)
The four evenings at Rufus Thomas Park in Porretta Terme host, among others, Eric Gales, Lenny Williams, Curtis Salgado & Soul Shot Band, Tad Robinson, The Sweethearts, and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame Band, with Rick Hutton as Master of Ceremonies. The precise time of the Vergato stop will be announced by the organizers closer to the event.
Highlights The Valley of Soul 2026
Prices The Valley of Soul 2026
Practical information — The Valley of Soul
Where
Municipality of Vergato (BO), Emilia-Romagna. The usual venue for the stop is Piazza dei Capitani della Montagna, in the center of the town.
How to Get There
By car along the SS64 Porrettana which goes up the Reno valley, or from the A1 motorway (Sasso Marconi exit). By train on the Bologna–Pistoia line (Porrettana), which stops at Vergato station. Easily reachable from Porretta Terme and other towns in the Alto Reno area.
Admission and Times
The Valley of Soul concert in Vergato is free and open to the public, in the evening. The exact date and times are published by the organizers closer to the event.
Tips
Arrive early to find a spot in the square and enjoy the atmosphere of the Apennine village before the concert begins.
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Where does it take place — The Valley of Soul
Piazza dei Capitani della Montagna