Four days of great music at Rufus Thomas Park, featuring international headliners, lifetime achievement awards and the usual festive atmosphere that transforms the Apennines into the soul capital of Europe every year.
The 38th edition of the Porretta Soul Festival, held from 23 to 26 July at Rufus Thomas Park, has just come to a close and the overall outcome is undoubtedly positive: top-class artists, a huge turnout, impeccable organisation and, why not, weather that allowed all the evenings to go ahead without a hitch.
To finalise the festival’s line-up, last October the festival’s long-standing artistic director and founder, Graziano Uliani, travelled personally to Memphis to select the artists to bring to the stage in Porretta, and on that occasion he received the Legacy Award from the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, in recognition of his nearly forty-year commitment to keeping the tradition of the ‘Memphis Sound’ alive in Europe.
These days, in Porretta, the soulful atmosphere is palpable everywhere: in the murals dedicated to the legends of the genre, dotted throughout the town; in the music playing at all hours thanks to performances by around twenty Italian bands on the stage set up in Piazza della Libertà; in the soundchecks open to the public; in the travelling Oversoul Street Band, which has brought its music to the town’s streets; and in the ever-present Bluesmobile — the 1974 Dodge Monaco, a perfect replica of the one driven by Jake and Elwood Blues in the famous film, brought to Porretta every year by Erwin Siesling — a constant subject for photos and selfies. The numerous festival T-shirts worn by guests (the new 2026 design is particularly popular) also helped to create this special atmosphere.
The 2026 edition also marked the reopening to the public, after more than twenty years of neglect, of the Piazzetta Liberty in Terme Alte, the setting for the traditional Sunday morning gospel concert, performed this year by the Revelation Gospel Choir conducted by Lorenza Catricalà.
As has been the case since the festival’s earliest editions, the role of master of ceremonies and presenter for the evenings was once again entrusted to Rick Hutton, who, with his usual charm, skill and passion, hosted the four evenings in exemplary fashion.
The house band, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame All Star Band, was also back: twelve versatile and highly talented musicians who, under the direction of Kurt “KC” Clayton, provided musical and vocal backing for the artists on the programme.
Here’s a quick round-up of the long evenings of music:
Thursday 23 July: the evening kicks off with The Özdemirs and Curtis Salgado
The Özdemirs: the renowned European house band, a staple for American stars (on this occasion without bassist Erkan, who was stranded in Germany, but enriched by Alberto Marsico on keyboards, Christian Altehülshorst on trumpet and Diego Borotti on saxophone) opened the festival with their old-school groove, also providing the rhythmic backbone for several sets. During their set, there was time for a brief preview of Tad Robinson.
Mitch Woods & Bononia Sound Machine: an explosive fusion of the boogie-woogie and jump blues piano playing of New York virtuoso Mitch Woods and the power of the famous 12-piece Bolognese big band founded by Lorenzo Bombacini. The show was rounded off by the acrobatic choreography of the dancers from the MoveT association in Reggio Emilia.
Sandy Carroll: the singer-songwriter and pianist from Tennessee, inextricably linked to the history of Memphis and Sun Records, presented a refined blend of soul, blues and country, accompanied by the Memphis Music Hall of Fame Band and the Jewels choir.
Curtis Salgado & Soul Shot Band: a harmonica legend with a gritty voice (the artist who inspired John Belushi to create the Blues Brothers), Salgado set the arena alight alongside the New England-based band in a show brimming with emotional intensity.
Friday 24 July: Eric Gales and the surprise appearance by Dot Moore
Tad Robinson & The Özdemirs: the Chicago crooner, with ten Blues Music Awards nominations to his name, captivated purists with intense ballads and visceral harmonica solos.
Memphis Music Hall of Fame Band & The Jewels: the house band led by Kurt Clayton and the magnificent ensemble of solo vocalists, The Jewels, thrilled the crowd with powerful reinterpretations of soul classics. The band then provided backing for the artists who took to the stage throughout the festival.
Eric Gales, described by Joe Bonamassa as “the best guitarist in the world”, was undoubtedly one of the most eagerly awaited artists in Porretta. The Memphis-based artist, visibly moved as he remembered his brother Manuel — known on stage as Little Jimmy King, a blues guitarist who passed away in 2002 — demonstrated extraordinary willpower: despite physical problems that forced him to play whilst seated, he enchanted the park with his unique ‘reverse’ left-handed style, blending psychedelic blues, rock and gospel sounds.
Dot. Moore: added to the line-up at short notice, the young singer from Tennessee won over the crowd thanks to her extraordinary vocal range and a visceral gospel style.
Bigg Robb: an icon of southern soul and heir to Roger Troutman’s P-Funk, he swept the audience off their feet with his use of the talkbox, rousing rhythms, dazzling outfits and plenty of humour.
During the evening, the 2026 Sweet Soul Music Award was presented to Jerry Phillips in recognition of the Phillips dynasty’s historic contribution to the evolution of African-American music. Phillips also performed live on guitar and vocals.
Saturday 25 July: the great Lenny Williams and the tribute to Albhy Galuten
Thornetta Davis & ZBlues Band: the multi-award-winning ‘Queen of Detroit Blues’, accompanied by the ZBlues Band led by her husband James Anderson and a rich horn section, gave a masterclass in performance and stage presence.
Karen Wolfe: having grown up alongside Denise LaSalle, the artist brought to the stage an overwhelming burst of southern soul-blues with direct and biting lyrics.
Lenny Williams: the legendary frontman of Tower of Power, the voice behind classics such as “So Very Hard to Go”, delivered one of the most intense and historic moments of the festival, displaying impeccable elegance and still-crystal-clear high notes, accompanied by the Memphis Orchestra and the Jewels.
The evening saw the presentation of the Sweet Soul Music Legacy Award to Albhy Galuten, the world-renowned producer known for his work with the Bee Gees, Barbra Streisand and Eric Clapton, and for the soundtrack to *Saturday Night Fever*. The award was intended to celebrate his pivotal, behind-the-scenes contribution to shaping the modern sound.
Sunday 26 July: the grand closing party with John Ellison
As mentioned, Sunday morning is dedicated to gospel: in the newly restored Piazzetta delle Terme Alte, the Revelation Gospel Choir performed to a large audience. As expected, the festival’s closing night features a recap of the previous evenings, with a few exceptions: the travelling band Oversoul Streetband will open the proceedings, followed by John Ellison & The Carpenter Ants. The former frontman of the Soul Brothers Six – who penned the timeless ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’ in 1967 – looked incredibly stylish in an all-white outfit. Together with the Carpenter Ants (Michael Lipton, Ted Harrison and James Willie Little Jr.), he swept the square up in a huge street party blending funk, gospel and Appalachian roots.
Next, all the stars of the previous evenings returned to the stage for a final embrace with the audience, who had followed, applauded, cheered and danced along with them throughout the festival.
See you in 2027
With its fringe events (Eventi Off and The Valley of Soul) and the enthusiasm shown by the international artists themselves for the warm welcome they received, the festival has once again proved itself to be a unique highlight on the European festival scene.
The dates for the 39th edition have already been set: 22 to 25 July 2027. Make a note of it in your diary!
Links
The festival’s official website, Porrettasoulfestival.it, features all the information, the festival’s history, artists’ biographies and much more.
Official social media channels: Facebook porretta.soul.festival; Instagram porrettasoulfestival.
Full videos of all the evenings from the 38th edition of the festival, as well as those from previous years, are available on Lepidatv.it.
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