Fantastic Negrito, Jet, Darkness and Jethro Tull headline the Pistoia Blues Festival 2026 (July 4-10)

Just a few days remain before the start of the 45th edition of the Pistoia Blues Festival in Piazza Duomo in Pistoia, whose beating “rock blues” heart will pulse on July 4, 5, 8 and 10, featuring performances respectively by Fantastic Negrito, Jet, The Darkness and Jethro Tull, alongside a host of exceptional “guest stars” such as Eric Steckel and Walter Trout, two of the most authoritative figures in world blues.

Saturday, July 4 brings the incredible show of Fantastic Negrito and his band. Fantastic Negrito (stage name of American guitarist Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz) will perform on one of only two summer dates scheduled in Italy. Fantastic Negrito is one of the most original and innovative artists on the contemporary American music scene. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he has built a personal artistic path blending blues, soul, funk and roots music, tackling social, identity and political themes. His music, deeply rooted in the African-American tradition, develops in a contemporary and experimental direction, making him one of the most representative voices in the evolution of blues in the 21st century. His presence strengthens the festival's international standing and its openness to contemporary languages. The same evening will also see a performance by American singer and guitarist Eric Steckel, already ranked among the 100 greatest blues guitarists of all time and an undisputed star of contemporary blues. An American guitarist and songwriter, Eric Steckel is considered one of the most interesting talents on the contemporary blues-rock scene. Blessed with extraordinary technique and a strong stage presence, he attracted international attention from a very young age, building a solid career over time between the United States and Europe. His style combines the tradition of electric blues with the power of rock, with clear echoes of masters like Stevie Ray Vaughan, reinterpreted through a modern idiom. His presence at the festival is a concrete example of how blues continues to renew itself through new generations of musicians. The same sonic coordinates guide the sound of Electric Cherry, a band that last year released the album “Cherry Heart”, catching the attention of both audiences and the specialist press. This marks the Rome-based quartet's first appearance at the Festival, which is always on the lookout for top-quality rock blues bands. Opening the evening will be the winners of the Obiettivo Bluesin contest: AfterTaste from Florence.

Sunday, July 5 will see JET, the record-breaking Australian band fronted by Nic Cester, perform in Piazza Duomo in Pistoia. It's their first time at the prestigious Tuscan festival. Jet are an Australian band that conquered the international scene thanks to an energetic, direct sound strongly influenced by blues-rooted classic rock. After their huge success in the early 2000s, the band returned to the scene bringing back an immediate, powerful musical language. Their style harks back to the roots of rock'n'roll and garage rock, with a strong live component that fits well with the spirit of the festival. Their presence helps broaden the audience and build a bridge between tradition and contemporaneity. Before them, the great Walter Trout, American guitarist, singer and songwriter, considered a living legend of blues rock. Walter Trout is one of the most authoritative and respected figures in blues-rock worldwide. With a career spanning over four decades, he has collaborated with legendary artists and built a solo path marked by great expressive intensity and guitar virtuosity. His music is deeply tied to the electric blues tradition, but enriched with rock energy and an emotional depth that make him one of the most authentic performers of the genre. His presence at Pistoia Blues represents a direct link to the festival's history and original identity. Opening the show will be the young Prato-based band Bluagata, one of the most original rock bands from the area. The group, fronted by singers Alessia and Margherita, recently released their fourth album “Fra la violenza e la gentilezza”, produced by Alessio Camagni (Ministri), who has worked with the band since their debut in 2017: over the years the band has never stopped, continuing to bring their music to clubs and festivals across Italy. This marks their second appearance on the festival bill. Opening the evening will be the winners of the Obiettivo Bluesin contest: Mel and the Double Soul from Catania.

The Hawkins brothers' The Darkness will set the festival stage ablaze on July 8, supported by two other notable acts, Messa and Florence's Spleen, for an unmissable evening. For The Darkness, it's a very welcome return after their successful appearance exactly ten years ago, in 2015, when they performed alongside Black Label Society. The band's growth has been exponential on the wave of their new album (their eighth), “Dreams of Toast”, released this year. “Dreams On Toast” has become their most successful album since their iconic debut “Permission To Land”, a record recently recognized as the best-selling British rock album of the 21st century. Backed by tremendous stage presence, The Darkness are among the leading exponents of contemporary rock inspired by the classic sounds of the '70s. Their style, ironic and spectacular, combines musical virtuosity with a strong performative element. Their presence helps strengthen the festival's international appeal and broaden its dialogue with different audiences, while maintaining a connection to rock's blues-derived roots. Before their performance, the stage will belong to Messa, one of the most internationally acclaimed Italian acts in the heavy, doom and experimental rock scene. Their music is marked by a strongly evocative quality, blending elements of rock, jazz, ambient and Mediterranean influences. Although not directly rooted in blues, their expressive approach retains an emotional depth and sonic exploration that align them with the spirit of the festival, understood as a space for cross-contamination and experimentation. Rounding out the evening will be an opening set from Spleen, a young Tuscan act representing the festival's ongoing work of scouting and promoting local talent. The project stands out for its contemporary approach to songwriting and a strong sonic identity. Also added to the bill is the third winner of the Obiettivo Bluesin contest, Woody Bones from Cremona.

Closing out the Blues Festival will be Jethro Tull, making their fourth appearance at the historic Pistoia event: the band that helped write the history of British progressive rock previously took the Piazza Duomo stage in 1999, 2003 and 2008. The legendary prog band behind “Aqualung” and “Locomotive Breath” has announced they will continue the “Curiosity Tour” into 2026 to showcase their latest album, “Curious Ruminant”. Made up of nine new tracks ranging in length from two and a half minutes to almost seventeen minutes, “Curious Ruminant” is an album largely performed by the full band. Musicians featured include former keyboardist Andrew Giddings and drummer James Duncan, alongside current band members David Goodier, John O'Hara, Scott Hammond and, making his recording debut with the group, guitarist Jack Clark. Jethro Tull represent, in every respect, one of the most iconic acts in the history of European rock, having developed over the course of their career a unique musical language capable of blending rock, blues, folk and progressive. Their presence at the festival carries great symbolic and cultural weight, representing a bridge between European musical tradition and the African-American roots of the blues, in an evolutionary and innovative key. Opening the show will be STREA, the stage name of Irene Ettori, a rare young performer of ethereal rock/prog/folk. Her debut “Gold and Mess” features a remarkable guest appearance by Colin Edwin, former bassist of Porcupine Tree, and an emotional poetic sensibility that mark her out as a major talent to watch.

Pistoia's July events aren't limited to the Blues Festival alone but also include other happenings such as the Storytellers section (by now a well-established date with great Italian singer-songwriters), which this year will feature a single show on July 2 with Marco Masini (opening act Maurizio Pirovano), while the Claudio Baglioni date has been postponed (along with the entire first leg of his summer tour) to July 6, 2027. Piazza Duomo will also host Il Volo (July 3) and Enrico Brignano (July 6, 2026) as special events.

Tickets for all shows are available for pre-sale on the Ticketone, Ticketmaster, VivaTicket circuits (for select shows only) and authorized retailers.

PISTOIA BLUES FESTIVAL

July 4

FANTASTIC NEGRITO

Eric Steckel

Electric Cherry

AfterTaste

July 5

JET 

Walter Trout 

Bluagata

Mel and the Double Soul

July 8

THE DARKNESS 

Messa

Spleen

Woody Bones

July 10

JETHRO TULL 

Strea

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