Toscana Django Festival

Gypsy jazz in the Pistoia Mountains

In the heart of the Pistoia Mountains, within the municipality of San Marcello Piteglio (Province of Pistoia, Tuscany), the Toscana Django Festival brings swing music and Gypsy jazz to the woods, squares, and open-air gardens every August. Established in 2023, building on the experience of previous local manouche festivals, it has quickly become one of Italy's most anticipated events for fans of the genre, attracting musicians and audiences from across Europe.

In the spirit of Django Reinhardt

The festival is entirely dedicated to Gypsy jazz (jazz manouche), the guitar style invented by the legendary Romani guitarist Django Reinhardt (1910-1953), which remains vibrant across the continent today. In Pontepetri and the surrounding villages, this tradition engages with world music, singer-songwriter styles, and folk traditions in an informal atmosphere where established musicians and young students share the same stage. The days regularly conclude with collective jam sessions that last until late at night, the true beating heart of the event.

Concerts, courses, and masterclasses

The program blends three complementary elements. The evening concerts, usually at 9:30 PM, feature top-tier Italian and international guests; the afternoon concerts, which are free, bring life to the squares of the mountain villages; and finally, the educational section offers courses in guitar, singing, and music for children, alongside masterclasses led by guest artists. Students have the opportunity to perform and engage directly with the masters.

A festival spread across the territory

The headquarters is the educational garden of Pontepetri, but the festival is widespread: afternoon concerts and side events take place in San Marcello, Piteglio, Maresca, and the hamlet of Tafoni, showcasing the entire Pistoia Mountains and its local products. The organization is managed by the Associazione Quintocanto ETS, with artistic direction by guitarist Maurizio Geri, a leading figure in the Tuscan manouche scene. A spring preview, the Toscana Django Festival di Primavera, also takes place in May to anticipate the summer event.

Why it's worth it

• Four days of Gypsy jazz concerts with nationally and internationally renowned artists
• Free afternoon concerts in the squares of the mountain villages
• Jam sessions open until late at night
• Guitar, singing, and children's music courses and masterclasses
• An authentic, cool natural setting far from mass tourism