Caslano Blues 2025

Free entry

Caslano: full on Blues

From 18 to 22 June, the 11th edition of the Malcantone festival.

From 18 to 22 June, the splendid courtyards and beautiful Piazza Lago will provide an inimitable setting for the eleventh edition of Caslano Blues, the first of the many musical events that have brightened up the Ticino summer since 2013. Over the years, the Malcantone blues festival has grown significantly, from the initial two evenings hosted on a single stage on the lakefront, to the current event spread over five days, two stages, six courtyards and even a series of blues ‘mini-cruises’.

Caslano Blues 2025 starts, as is now a well-established tradition, with two evenings in the centre of the village on Wednesday and Thursday (which this year coincide with the Corpus Domini holiday). Starting at 20.30 and continuing until after midnight, the following bands will be playing in six different courtyards: the Croatians Sunnysiders, the Italians Giuly Jackson & Brevablues, Geno & His Rockin' Dudes, Damn Dogs and Joe Valeriano, the Americans Kelly's Lot, the French Marjorie Martinez, the English Bex Marshall, and the bands of the Czech Petra Bornerova and of artists from the Ticino region Max Dega (who is the artistic director of Caslano Blues), Bat Battiston and Nino ‘Swiss Elvis’ Zucca.

On Friday 20 and Saturday 21 the Caslano festival moves to Piazza Lago, where there are two stages and a well-stocked food and wine ‘village’. The musical highlights - in addition to the previously mentioned Marjorie Martinez, Bex Marshall (this time together on stage) and Petra Bornerova – a previously unseen but exciting blues version of Bobby Solo, the equally anticipated Kings of the Blues (five American ‘veterans’ who have played with BB King and James Brown), the French Shaggy Dogs (returning to Caslano by popular demand), the Italian Midnight Blues Band and the Ticino bands Limited Edition and Sugar On.

The grand finale, as usual, will be on Sunday 22nd with ‘Midday Blues’ (in full aperitif-barbecue mode) with a jam session by the Kings of the Blues and other guests of Max Dega. And let's not forget the now well-established ‘Blues Cruises’ with various options on Thursday and Friday evenings and Sunday mornings, departing from the quay in Lugano (or Melide) and with local trips to Ponte Tresa: there's live music on board courtesy of Marco Marchi's Mojo duo.

Artists

Kelly’s Lot (USA)

• Wednesday 18th of June, Streciöo Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)
• Thursday 19th of June, Morotti Court (9:00 pm – 11:30 pm)

A folk singer-songwriter with a passion for the blues, Californian Kelly Zirbes has toured the United States and Europe with Texan guitarist Perry Robertson since 1994. They have released 17 CDs, the latest of which, ‘The Blues Remind Me’, celebrates their love of the blues and the 30th anniversary of Kelly's Lot.

Damn Dogs Duo (ITA)

• Wednesday 18th of June, Trainoni Court (8:45 pm – 9:45 pm)

Milan-based guitarists Angelo Albani and Damiano Marino proudly fly the blues rock flag, offering acoustic versions of old and new songs composed by their Damn Dogs quartet. Having released their first CD in 2022, a second is due out soon.

Giuly Jackson & Brevablues (ITA)

• Wednesday 18th of June, Trainoni Court (10:15 pm – 00:30 am)

The name Brevablues betrays the lake-side origins of the band, made up of drummer Luca Prina, bassist Michele Turello, keyboardist Carlo Carena, harmonica player Ernesto Marzi and guitarist and singer Massimo Lotici. Joining them in Caslano is Giulia Sperati, aka Giuly Jackson, a talented singer with a strong soul and funk flavour.

Swiss Elvis (SVI)

• Wednesday 18th of June, Crugnola Court (8:45 pm – 11:15 pm)

The son of emigrants from Ticino, Nino Zucca grew up in Florida. In 1972 he entered a competition and had a life-changing encounter: Presley himself, while presenting him with his prize for winning out of a group of 150 participants from all over the States, dubbed him ‘The Swiss Elvis’ and launched him on a career that has seen him perform all over the world.

Sunnysiders (CRO)

• Wednesday 18th of June, Fieni Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)
• Thursday 19th of June, Crugnola Court (8:45 pm – 11:15 pm)

Having already reached the semi-finals of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, this Croatian band play their own original songs and, as recently emphasised by a blues magazine, ‘they do it with a lot of originality and freshness, diverging to a large extent from the established standards of blues, whose “flavour” remains deep in their music’.

Bat Battiston Trio (SVI)

• Wednesday 18th of June, Sassi Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)

Once again Caslano is hosting another DOC bluesman from our area, the singer and guitarist Bat Battiston from Bellinzona, accompanied by his long-time friend Federico ‘Freddie’ Albertoni on bass and the young Michael Turlon from Blenio. An ‘energetic’ trio performing the classics of the likes of Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters…

Max Dega Band (SVI)

• Wednesday 18th of June, Morotti Court (9:00 pm – 11:30 pm)

A double finalist in the Swiss Blues Challenge and artistic director of Caslano Blues, once again this year, the Lugano-based guitarist Max Dega is headlining an evening in the courtyards, accompanied by his regulars Roby Panzeri on drums and Vanni Patriarca on bass. They are joined by the talented saxophonist Nicola Calgari.

Joe Valeriano Acoustic Duo

• Thursday 19th of June, Trainoni Court (8:45 pm – 9:45 pm)

Considered one of the best interpreters of Hendrix, Vaughan, Clapton and the classic blues legends, Joe Valeriano, with his vast experience behind him, performs songs in his own personal style. The Milan-based guitarist returns to Caslano for an acoustic performance, accompanied by his ever-present bassist Richard Manganiello.

Petra Bornerova Trio (CZ/SK)

• Thursday 19th of June, Sassi Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)
• Friday 20th of June, Buvette Stage (7:15 pm – 8:45 pm)

Already a popular guest at Caslano in 2023, this trio is made up of Czech singer and accordionist Petra Börnerová, her husband, Slovak guitarist Tomáš Bobek Bobrovniczký, and their 16-year-old son Tomáš Jr, on drums. Their set list is based on covers and their own compositions, with an intimate and engaging approach to the blues.

Bex Marshall (UK)

• Thursday 19th of June, Streciöo Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)

Winner of the British Blues Award and nominated several times for European Blues Awards, London singer-songwriter Bex Marshall has a unique guitar style, a combination of slide, blues rock, ragtime and roots pickin'. Her voice is a powerful fusion of blues “pain” and rock soul. Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin are, after all, her inspirations...

Marjorie Martinez (FRA)

• Thursday 19th of June, Trainoni Court (10:15 pm – 00:30 am)

French singer and musician Marjorie Martinez prefers old-time jazz and blues. Her voice is captivating for its expressiveness and the ease with which it captures the audience's emotions. For the past fifteen years she has been performing at festivals in Europe and the USA and has also had the honour of performing with the Nice Jazz Orchestra.

Bex Marshall & Marjorie Martinez (UK / FRA)

• Friday 20th of June, Main Stage (8:45 pm – 10:15 pm)

After the evening in the courtyards, on Friday Bex Marshall and Marjorie Martinez will take to the main stage for a super-concert with a full wind section, put together exclusively for Caslano Blues 2025 to signal a fruitful future collaboration between two artists capable of captivating their audience with a mix of rock-blues and soul-jazz of the highest level.

Geno & His Rockin’ Dudes (ITA)

• Thursday 19th of June, Fieni Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)

The band, led by guitarist and singer Geno, was formed to play RnR and R&B, and aims to get closer to the rhythmic emphasis of boogie, with a particular fondness for the music of Chuck Berry, with whom they were lucky enough to play and had the privilege of singing ‘Johnny B. Goode’ on his last European tour.

Bobby Solo (ITA)

• Friday 20th of June, Main Stage (10:45 pm – 00:30 am)

An icon of Italian music, Bobby Solo arrives in Caslano in a previously unseen version to present his new blues album. A blues band, in other words, with a guitar, a voice and a very extensive repertoire, characterised by the theme that runs through the blues classics of the Delta, from spirituals to work songs, from blues classics to R&R

Limited Edition (SVI)

• Friday 20th of June, Buvette Stage (00:30 am – 02:00 am)

This band from the Malcantone area, formed about fifteen years ago, plays great rock and blues classics from the 50s to the 90s. Their captivating live repertoire includes songs by legends such as Hendrix, Bowie, BB King, Vaughan, Dylan, Bonamassa, Tommy Castro, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Doors, ZZ Top and many others.

Midnight Blues Band (ITA)

• Saturday 21st of June, Buvette Stage (7:15 pm – 8:45 pm)

Formed in 2021, this group from Milan plays covers of the greatest artists from the rock and blues scene: Gary Moore, Jimi Hendrix, CSNY, Robben Ford, Cream, Eric Clapton, the Allman Brothers and so on. Alongside the founder Max Vicino (guitar and vocals) are Enzo Cafagna on bass, Carlo Zerri on keyboards and Franco Avella on drums.

Shaggy Dogs (FRA)

• Saturday 21st of June, Main Stage (8:45 pm – 10:15 pm)

Following two nights of the audience dancing until it dropped in the crowded Traioni courtyard, the Shaggy Dogs return by popular demand in Caslano. This time the Parisian band brings its ‘Fiesta Blues'n'Roll’ to the main stage: an explosive mix of R'n'B, soul and rockabilly guaranteed to get the Piazza Lago crowd going.

The Kings of Blues (USA)

• Saturday 21st of June, Main Stage (10:45 pm – 00:30 am)

The Kings of Blues’, or rather a band of authentic legends: pianist Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne (last year's winner of the Blues Grammy for best pianist!), guitarist Vasti Jackson, saxophonist Waldo Weathers (for many years in James Brown's band), bassist Russell Jackson and drummer Tony Coleman (both long-time members of BB King's band).

Sugar On (SVI)

• Saturday 21st of June, Buvette Stage (00:30 am – 02:00 am)

Sugar On, from Ticino, offer an exciting combination of 50s-inspired blues & rock. With K Soul (Katia Hercegfalvi) on vocals, Mario Andreoletti on keyboard and Gianluca Croci on guitar, they perform songs that focus on blues classics, giving them their own unique twist.

Marco Marchi Mojo Duo

• Thursday 19th of June, Blues Cruises
• Friday 20th of June, Blues Cruises
• Sunday 22nd of June, Blues Cruises

Winner of the 2022 Swiss Blues Award, Marco Marchi offers his fantastic acoustic repertoire that has allowed him to carve out a niche for himself on the European scene since 2009. Alongside him on the waves of the Caslano Blues Cruises 2025 is Danilo Moccia from Locarno, voted best trombonist several times by the Swiss magazine Jazz'n'More.