Liri Blues Festival

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The Liri Blues Festival is a free, annual blues celebration in Isola del Liri, a small town between Rome and Naples in Italy. It takes place every July and has been held since 1988. Most main events happen in Piazza Boncompagni, with concerts on the streets and late-night jam sessions.

The festival began as a way to help a town hit hard by factory closures. It was created by Luciano Duro and run for many years by Jazz'n'Arts before Duke & Bird took over. Volunteers and blues lovers, like Mario Insenga, have supported the festival from the start.

In its early years, the festival drew big names such as Albert King, Pinetop Perkins, and Buddy Guy. In the 1990s it widened its scope beyond pure blues, hosting artists like Jorma Kaukonen, Canned Heat, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Pentangle, Fairport Convention, Elliott Murphy, and The Fleshtones, while still keeping a strong blues focus with performers like Luther Allison, Son Seals, and Jimmy Rogers. Some guest groups mixed genres, such as Blue Stuff with James Cotton and Rockin’ Dopsie performing Neapolitan blues in dialect.

The festival grew to involve other towns—Ferentino for jazz and Veroli for gospel and soul—but Isola del Liri remained the heart of Liri Blues. By the end of the century the event stretched over about 11 days in the province. In 1997, the town twinned with New Orleans, and the celebrations included collaborations with New Orleans musicians. The festival even helped New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, organizing a charity event called New Orleans Day.

In 2002, RAI Radio 1 began to cover the festival live, and the connection with New Orleans continued to be a highlight. Notable moments include John Mayall’s 2001 performance, the 20th anniversary in 2007, and the 2006 tribute CD recorded live at Liri Blues. Dr. John closed the 2010 festival, reinforcing the strong link between Isola del Liri and Louisiana.

Over the years, many U.S. blues legends, European performers, and Italian artists have appeared at Liri Blues, making it one of the most important blues events in Italy. The town’s famous waterfall and its welcoming atmosphere add to the festival’s unique charm.