A hot July for concerts

July is sounding good: a parade of international stars is heading to Italy for a month packed with live shows. And there will be no shortage of pop-rock legends: from Nick Cave to the Who, from Patti Smith to Morrissey, along with the Pet Shop Boys, the Black Keys and Smashing Pumpkins, right through to the thunderous return of Ac/Dc and ethno-world minstrel Manu Chao. Here are some of the main dates.

Nick Cave times five

Five dates, five symbolic locations, five unique chances to catch Nick Cave's solo tour, in a stripped-down setup (piano, voice, and Colin Greenwood's violin). It kicks off on July 16th in Mantua (Piazza Sordello), moves on to Lucca on the 17th (Piazza Napoleone), before arriving at the Amphitheatre of Pompeii on the 19th, one of the most striking settings of the entire European tour. It closes in Rome, at the Auditorium Parco della Musica – Cavea, with two consecutive nights: July 21st and 22nd. A rare chance to immerse yourself in the more intimate side of the Bard of Melbourne, amid bare ballads, mournful litanies and gripping blues-rock sermons.

Patti Smith, a liturgy for Venice

There's only one Italian date for Patti Smith, but it's a memorable one: July 7th in Venice, in the sumptuous setting of Piazza San Marco. With her longtime quartet, the high priestess of rock will deliver a concert that resembles a secular liturgy, paying tribute to her debut album "Horses", to which the upcoming tour will be dedicated, alongside eternal rock anthems like "People Have The Power", "Gloria" and "Because The Night".

Morrissey, the return of the English dandy

Loved, hated, never ignored: Morrissey is back in Italy for four dates. On July 23rd he'll open his Italian tour at the amphitheatre of the Vittoriale degli Italiani in Gardone Riviera, on July 26th he'll be in Lucca, also in Piazza Napoleone, on July 28th in Rome (Auditorium Parco della Musica), and finally on July 31st in Catania, in the stunning setting of Villa Bellini. The voice of the Smiths arrives after some uncertainty around the tour (several European dates were cancelled), but the Italian shows are confirmed and hotly anticipated.

The Who all’ultima chiamata

It will start right here in Italy: what's been billed as the farewell tour of one of the most iconic bands of all time, The Who. Anyone attending one of the two Italian dates - July 20th at the Anfiteatro Camerini in Piazzola sul Brenta and July 22nd at Parco della Musica in Milan (Segrate) - will get to hear "Pinball Wizard", "Who Are You", "Baba O'Riley" and countless other anthems from Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend's band live.

AC/DC, the epic of Imola

On July 20th, at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, the rock engine of one of the most beloved bands ever will roar back to life. AC/DC, with Brian Johnson back on vocals and Angus Young as tireless as ever, promise a sonic explosion running through "Highway To Hell", "Thunderstruck" and "Back In Black". This is one of those shows people will be talking about for years.

Alice Cooper, shock rock again

With more than sixty years of career behind him, Alice Cooper comes to Italy for a single summer date, Tuesday July 8th at the Sequoie Music Park in Bologna, the concert series held at Unipol Arena's Parco delle Caserme Rosse. Known as the architect of shock rock and one of the longest-running, most influential icons in rock history, Cooper - born Vincent Damon Furnier, 77, in Detroit - has around fifty releases to his name between studio albums, live records and compilations, with more than 50 million records sold worldwide.

Robert Plant goes folk

Another rock giant returning to Italy. Whoever gets a ticket for the July 13th show in Lucca (Piazza Napoleone) won't be hearing the former Led Zeppelin frontman's classic hard-rock repertoire, but rather that of Saving Grace, Plant's new outfit, in which he shares vocal duties with the excellent Suzi Dian.

Robbie Williams: pop and spectacle

Following the release of the biopic "Better Man", Robbie Williams is back in the live arena. His only Italian date is July 17th in Trieste, at Stadio Nereo Rocco. The show promises to be a big pop spectacle: witty, melodic, danceable. The setlist covers all the hits, from "Angels" to "Rock DJ".

Smashing Pumpkins and 90s alt-rock nostalgia

Those nostalgic for the 90s can mark July 30th in Milan, at Parco della Musica (Unaltrofestival) (and then August 1st at Rock in Roma), for the Smashing Pumpkins concert. Billy Corgan brings the current lineup to the stage, balancing classic tracks from "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness" with the new psychedelic visions of the recent "Aghori Mhori Mei".

Pet Shop Boys, beyond the synth-pop era

After two years, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, aka Pet Shop Boys, return to Italy for a single live show: July 20 in Lucca, in Piazza Napoleone. The set is expected to run just over two and a half hours, so there should be room for all the classics of their repertoire, from “West End Girls” to “It’s A Sin”.

Nile Rodgers & Chic, into the groove

The Italian mini-tour of Nile Rodgers & Chic, one of the most anticipated live shows of the summer, kicks off in Mantua on Tuesday, July 8. The legendary New York producer, guitarist and hitmaker will bring to the stage a genuine journey through music history: from funk to disco, all the way to the pop and electronic crossovers that have influenced generations of artists. With a career boasting over 500 million records sold and historic collaborations with David Bowie (“Let’s Dance”), Madonna (“Like A Virgin”), Diana Ross (“I’m Coming Out”) and Daft Punk (“Get Lucky”), Rodgers remains an essential touchstone on the international music scene. Here are all the Italian tour dates for Nile Rodgers: July 8 – Mantua – Mantova Summer Festival; July 9 – Marostica – Marostica Summer Festival Volksbank; July 15 – Rome – Cavea Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone; July 17 – Bari – Locus Festival; July 18 – Cattolica – Arena della Regina; July 19 – Lucca – Lucca Summer Festival.

Manu Chao, a borderless ethno party

Two dates for combat folk's multi-ethnic minstrel, made famous worldwide by the breakout success of “Clandestino“. Manu Chao will play on July 26 in Florence, at the Parco Mediceo di Pratolino, and on July 29 in Cernobbio, inside the park of Villa Erba. A concert that feels more like a collective celebration, blending folk, reggae, cumbia, punk and activism.

Alanis Morissette, the heroine of the 90s

Another major protagonist of the '90s returns to Italy, with two shows scheduled for June 22 in Codroipo and July 24 in Rome. The dates were announced as part of the Canadian artist's 2025 European and UK tour. Launched by the iconic album “Jagged Little Pill”, Alanis Morissette marked an entire generation with her songs: from the rebellious rage of “You Oughta Know”, to the poetry and lightness of “Isn’t It Ironic”, all the way to the introspection of “Thank U”.

Beth Gibbons, the muse of trip-hop

Beth Gibbons returns to Italy. The Portishead singer will play a single show in our country, on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Giardini di Triennale Milano, where she will perform live “Lives Outgrown“, her first solo album since the “Out Of Season” project with Rustin' Man. The evening is organized by Virus Concerts and NAO UAO. More than 16 years after Portishead's last tour, which also included Italy – their most recent live show dates back to 2022 for War Child – Beth Gibbons returns to the stage for an intense, deeply personal performance.

Ben Harper, a 7-date mini-tour

Ben Harper returns to Italy in July with no fewer than 7 concerts. One of the most versatile and sensitive singer-songwriters of his generation, Harper moves effortlessly across genres: from folk to soul, blues to rock, by way of reggae, funk and pop. The Italian tour opens on July 5 at the Comfort Festival® in Cinisello Balsamo (Milan), before continuing through a series of stops in some of the country's most stunning settings: July 13 in Bologna (Sequoie Music Park), July 15 in Pompeii, in the unique setting of the Anfiteatro degli Scavi, and July 16 in Fermo, in Piazza del Popolo. July 17 will see him at Villa Bertelli in Forte dei Marmi, while on July 19 Harper will take the natural stage of the Fusine Lakes, as part of the No Borders Music Festival in Tarvisio (Udine), before closing out on July 22 in Piazzola sul Brenta, at Villa Contarini.

Black Keys, rock's survivors

The 6-time Grammy-winning electro-rock duo return to Italy two years after a spectacular performance at Milan's I-Days, to present their latest album, “Ohio Players”. Dan Auerbach (vocals and guitar) and Patrick Carney (drums), aka Black Keys, have two dates on the calendar: July 15 in Romano D'Ezzelino – Villa Negri, and July 16 in Rome – Rock in Roma.

Bill Callahan, ballads from the post-Smog years

Bill Callahan returns to Italy after more than a decade for two exclusive live dates next summer, where he will present the audience with a selection of his most recent work. The Silver Spring singer-songwriter, one of the most distinctive voices on the contemporary American scene, will perform on July 13 in Gardone Riviera (Brescia) as part of the Tener-a-mente Festival, and on July 14 at the Teatro Romano in Ostia Antica. On both occasions he will be joined by musician Jerry David DeCicca.

Arab Strap, the Scottish duo's redemption

Arab Strap are heading back to Italy. By now we know the drill: the Scottish band is a sure thing for us, and this summer too we're getting ready to welcome them back on our stages. A year after their last Italian trek to present "I'm Totally Fine With It Don't Give A Fuck Anymore", Arab Strap return with three new dates in July: the 23rd in Bellaria Igea Marina (Rn), at Beky Bey, with The Murder Capital; the 24th in Rome, at Monk; the 25th in Pisa, at Giardino Scotto.

Ride the wave of great music

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