From 25 June to 17 August, rock conquers Pellegrino Parmense, Borgotaro, Bardi, Bedonia and Bore, with a free admission program ranging from Texan country-punk to Italian blues
The TaroCenoRock Festival is back again in 2026, the festival that for years has been bringing great live music to the villages of Alta Val Taro and Val Ceno, under the claim “Il Taro e il Ceno nel segno del Rock”.
The calendar opens on June 25 in Pellegrino Parmense with The Vandoliers, continues on July 9 in Borgotaro with Plastic Haze, on July 26 in Bardi with the Mule Variations, on August 15 in Bedonia with the Daniele Tenca Band and closes on August 17 in Bore with the Giuseppe Scarpato Band. All appointments are free admission and start at 9.30 pm.
The initiative, included in the MIC fest 2026 festival calendar created by Enrico Grignaffini, is carried out as part of the project “From Taro to Ceno between passages and landscapes”, promoted by the Municipality of Borgotaro (leader) together with Albareto, Bedonia, Tornolo, Bardi, Bore, Pellegrino and Varsi, funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region and carried out by Confcommercio Parma through STS CAT srl.
In addition, the Festival is part of the project “Tourism promotion – Parma Valleys”, carried out by the Union of Municipalities of the Taro and Ceno Valleys in complementarity and continuity with the Emilian Apennines, thanks to the European funds of the Emilia-Romagna Region.
It starts on June 25 at Pellegrino Parmense with one of the most eagerly awaited events: The Vandoliers arrive on stage, a Texan band considered in the United States one of the most popular live bands of the moment, capable of combining the tight rhythms of punk with the Tex-Mex tradition, enriched by mariachi winds, in a sound that recalls names such as The Pogues, The Clash, Los Lobos and The Waterboys. They have shared the stage with Flogging Molly and the Turnpike Troubadours and are touring their latest albumLife Behind Bars, produced by Grammy winner Ted Hutt (The Gaslight Anthem, Flogging Molly): an album marked by the personal journey of frontwoman Jenni Rose, who has chosen to publicly tell her transition through intense, sincere and energetic songs.
On 9 July , the festival moves to Borgotaro with Plastic Haze, a Roman rock band born in October 2021 from the meeting between Marco Bucci (vocals), Giuseppe di Pasqua (bass), Mattia Pilloni (drums) and Jacopo Sabbadini (guitar). After their recording debut withRealtà Distorte (2023) and a series of awards – including the final at 1MNext23 and Musica Contro le Mafie, participation in “Sogni di Gloria” on Rai Radio2 and a sold out at Largo Venue – in 2025 the band participated in X Factor, conquering the audience with their versions ofTime Is Running Out, Rolling in the DeepandRunning Up That Hill. From there a growing following on social media and sold out concerts, including the one at the Monk in Rome, followed by a tour between Milan and Bologna. The group is currently working on the new album.
On July 26, Bardi hosts the Mule Variations, a project by singer-songwriter Kevin Connolly, active on the Boston scene together with some of the best musicians in the city. Inspired by Tom Waits, JJ Cale, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters and Pops Staples, the band offers a repertoire that ranges from blues, soul, pop and country, alternating original songs with an energetic tribute to the great names of Americana.
On August 15 the festival returns to Bedonia with the Daniele Tenca Band. Milanese singer-songwriter, born in 1971, Daniele Tenca has reinvented himself as a bluesman since 2010, after an initial artistic phase in the name of Springsteen-style rock. Withalbums such as Blues for the Working Class, Wake Up Nation, Love is the Only Law (co-produced with Guy Davis) and the latestJust a Dream (2023, Appaloosa/IRD), he has brought blues-rock to Italian and international stages – including the International Blues Challenge in Memphis – attentive to social issues, from the world of work to the fight against discrimination, up to environmental protection.
The festival closes on August 17 in Bore with the Giuseppe Scarpato Band. Neapolitan guitarist, born in 1973, Giuseppe Scarpato founded the Hillside Power Trio in the 90s and since then he has put his guitar – between rock, blues, jazz and country – at the service of numerous artists, becoming one of Edoardo Bennato’s historical collaborators as a session musician, arranger and producer. Since 2009 he has also been a permanent teacher of Rock, Blues and Hard Rock at the Lizard in Fiesole.
For info: https://www.turismovaltaro.it/torna-il-taroceno-rock-festival-cinque-serate-di-musica-live-tra-le-valli-del-taro-e-del-ceno/– 0525 96796
E-mail: info@turismovaltaro.it
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