KAREL MUSIC EXPO 2024 – LINEUP
The lineup for the eighteenth Karel Music Expo, scheduled to take place in Cagliari from September 5 to 7., has been announced.
Alongside the already confirmed Motorpsycho, I Hate My Village, Cristina Donà, and Saverio Lanza, the festival will also feature Lilies On Mars & Stefano Guzzetti, WhiteFang, Giulia Leone, Massimiliano Larocca, Pink Haus, Joshburger, and Traum.
Following the previously announced headliners – Cristina Donà and Saverio Lanza, I Hate My Village, and the Norwegian band Motorpsycho – the Karel Music Expo, taking place in Cagliari from September 5 to 7, reveals the other names in the lineup for its eighteenth edition: Giulia Leone, WhiteFang, Massimiliano Larocca, Pink Haus, Joshburger, Traum, Lilies On Mars & Stefano Guzzetti.
This completes the lineup for the festival of music and resilient culture, conceived and organized by the Vox Day cooperative, with artistic direction by Davide Catinari, who observes: ‘The 2024 edition, the eighteenth, is born under the banner of the synthesis between global and local, a perpetual sound motion underpinned by the theme “Movements,” where the meeting of cultures, roots, and people continues to be a shared experience both on and off the stage. A surprise that renews itself every year, because the audience of KME is aware of the philosophy that drives this event, which since 2007 has presented numerous international artists and more, often in absolute preview for Sardinia, in order to expand the offering of music without masters and without borders, through the essential support for the dissemination of music from projects and bands from all over the world, including islands.’”
Thursday, September 5th
The protagonist of the opening act of the eighteenth Karel Music Expo will be playing on home turf on Thursday, September 5, at 8:00 PM. Taking the stage first at Lazzaretto—a multifunctional art and culture center in the Sant’Elia district, which once again serves as the welcoming “home” of the festival—will be Cagliari-born Giulia Leone; born in 2001, with a background in piano and vocal studies, her young career already boasts a spot in the finals of the Poetto Fest Contest in 2023 and, in the same year, winning three of the five prizes up for grabs at the Muvi Music Contest.
Sardinia has also given birth to Whitefang, who will take the spotlight in the following set. This project, born from the inspiration of Sardinian musician Luca Cadeddu Palmas, is rooted in the bohemian atmosphere of Galway, Ireland. WhiteFang blends post-rock sounds with the eclecticism of “world folk,” creating a sonic journey that alternates between moments of quiet reflection and dynamic explosions. His debut album, Into the Woods, was released in 2021, followed this year by the EP Prenda, while a new record is set for release in October.
The third performer of the opening night, Massimiliano Larocca will arrive at the Karel Music Expo riding the wave of his latest album, released last autumn with the prestigious production signature of Hugo Race. In Dàimon—this is its title—the Florentine singer-songwriter, active in the music scene since the mid-’90s, crafts ten intimate songs drawing from dark blues, film music, and traditional songwriting, narrating a journey to the end of the “night of the soul,” a personal path that transforms into a collective one. For his September 5 performance in Cagliari, Massimiliano Larocca (vocals and guitar) will be joined by Neapolitan singer-songwriter Federica Ottombrino (vocals and melodica).
Closing the first series of performances will be Cristina Donà and Saverio Lanza with their show “Guiding Spirits”: a performance that promises to be rich and varied, combining the repertoire of the Milanese singer-songwriter—one of the most original voices in the Italian music scene—with the works of artists who have nourished their souls and influenced their artistic journey. Cristina Donà’s songs, often co-written with Saverio Lanza, will intertwine with the works of their “guiding spirits,” from Battisti to the Bee Gees, Monteverdi to the Beatles, Sinead O’Connor, De Gregori, Björk, David Bowie, and many more—vastly different worlds linked by the red thread of Cristina Donà and Saverio Lanza’s music in a vibrant, curious, poetic, and profound show.
As the stage lights dim, the music will continue with the aftershow, a post-concert event featuring a different guest each night. Kicking off the first aftershow will be Alessandro Muroni, a musician, composer, and artistic director of the group Charme de Caroline, who is also active in theater, where he has composed music and songs for various performances.
Friday September 6th
The second evening of KME, on Friday, September 6, will open with the alternative sounds of Pink Haus—a blend of synths, delay, and reverb, with heavily processed vocals and songs that shift from almost Brit rock riffs to industrial soundscapes. Active since 2011, the Sardinian musician, who performs on stage wearing a mask, released his first EP in 2018, followed by the album Arpeggios in 2020 and the EP Surrender last September. A new release is expected soon, currently still in production.
A wall of sound sculpted by fuzz guitars and pulsating basses, where the abstract and the defined merge through sinuous harmonies, ethereal voices, and electronics: this is how the second set presents itself, featuring the duo Lilies On Mars alongside the composer, producer, and sound designer from Cagliari, Stefano Guzzetti. A musical encounter that led to the recording of an album set to be released soon. Formed by Sardinian musicians and composers Lisa Masia and Marina Cristofalo, Lilies On Mars have released five albums, toured across Europe and the United States, and collaborated with various artists, including Franco Battiato and, more recently, Malian griot Baba Sissoko. Autore di colonne sonore per il cinema, e non solo (ha lavorato, tra gli altri, per Dolce & Gabbana e l’editrice Einaudi per i trailer di diversi libri), nel corso degli anni Stefano Guzzetti ha ottenuto oltre 32 milioni di play su tutte le piattaforme di streaming e fatto tournée negli Stati Uniti, in Europa e in Giappone. La sua vasta discografia spazia da album in piano solo ad altri per ensemble; nella compilation “Fleurs” spicca la partecipazione della cantante Lisa Gerrard dei Dead Can Dance.
Electronic music takes the stage once again at KME, this time intertwined with desert blues, rock, and the syncopated rhythms of African percussion in the music of I Hate My Village—one of the most original and compelling acts to emerge from the Italian music scene in recent years. The band was formed in 2018 from the collaboration between drummer Fabio Rondanini (Calibro 35, Afterhours) and guitarist Adriano Viterbini (Bud Spencer Blues Explosion, among others), later joined by producer Marco Fasolo (Jennifer Gentle) on bass and singer Alberto Ferrari (Verdena). Their second album, Nevermind The Tempo, was released in May 2023 on Locomotiv Records, following their critically acclaimed debut album I Hate My Village (2019).
After the concert, the aftershow space will feature a music selection curated by Valentino Murru, drummer and founding member of the Cagliari-based band Antennah, and the mastermind behind a new electronic project blending pop, ambient, dance, and techno: Black Solanas. Joining him will be Occasional Travelmate (Mike Marchesan).
Saturday, September 7th
The final night of KME, on Saturday, September 7, will kick off with the alternative rock of Joshburger, born Joshua Alessandro Terranova—a talented Sardinian-British multi-instrumentalist, born in 2001, who blends stoner, prog, and experimental elements with distorted guitars, electronic music, recurring themes, and unpredictable rhythms.
In 2021, he released his debut album, Mosaic, followed last year by Observer Paradox, while a new release is currently in the works.
A versatile and eclectic artist, Joshburger takes the world of rock to another planet—his performances, unique creative universe, and musical exploration make him instantly recognizable.
Up next, dreamlike atmospheres with a distinctly stoner sound, enriched by progressive and electronic digressions, in the music of Traum—a band bringing together four well-known names from the Italian alternative rock scene, driven by the need to translate their interpretation of existence into music.
On guitars: Luca Ciffo (Fuzz Orchestra) and Lorenzo Stecconi (Lento), with Luca T. Mai (Zu) on synth and sax, and Paolo Mongardi (Fuzz Orchestra, Zeus!) on drums and percussion.
Traum, meaning “dream” in German, builds and shapes its music from a oneiric dimension, a concept reflected in the title of their self-titled debut album, released last March via Subsound Records. The album stems from an artistic residency that began in 2022, forming the foundation of their creative process.
The final act of the 18th KME will bring to the Lazzaretto stage one of the most anticipated names: Norwegian legends Motorpsycho, an absolute authority in Northern European louder psych-rock, masters of musical cut-up, and a source of inspiration for an entire generation of bands. Their powerful, swirling sound seamlessly blends stoner, heavy rock, psychedelia, prog, and folk.
Founded in 1989 in Trondheim, the band made its recording debut in 1991 with Lobotomizer, kicking off a long and prolific discography, which most recently includes Yay!, released last year. This album marks a return to more relaxed sonic atmospheres, inspired by the 1960s English folk scene, moving away from the monolithic Scandinavian riffs that have long defined their sound.
After the main stage lights dim, the final aftershow will revolve around the musical selections of Gianluca Galletti, a Cagliari-based guitarist active since the late 1980s with Alcove and Frogs, as well as with Joe Perrino in the early Rolling Gangsters and Daniele Tarchiani of the Florentine band Anhima (formerly Dharma).
TICKETS
September 5h
Full ticket: €25.00 + presale fees
(At the box office the evening of the concert euro 30,00; Ticket reduced Sardinia youth card holders euro 24,00)
September 6h
Full ticket: €25.00 + presale fees
(At the box office the evening of the concert euro 30,00; Ticket reduced Sardinia youth card holders euro 24,00)
September 7th
Full ticket: € 27.00 + presale fees
(At the box office the evening of the concert euro 32,00; Ticket reduced Sardinia youth card holders euro 26,00)
September 5th/6th/7th
Three-evening pass: €65.00 + presale fees
(€80.00 at the box office)
At the Karel Music Expo, as usual, it will be possible to purchase a tasting menu featuring classic or vegetarian multiethnic dishes curated by Carovana SMI / Stazione di Transito.
By selecting the “with tasting” option, guests can pre-purchase the Saperi in Transito – Multicultural Tasting Menu for €15 per day in addition to the single ticket price, or €45 for the three-night festival pass. Details on each evening’s menu will be announced later.
Tickets are available for pre-sale on the Vivaticket website and at all Vivaticket sales points.
CAGLIARI: Box Office – tel +39 070/657428
QUARTU SANT’ELENA: Punto SNAI – tel +39 070/8675739
SAN GAVINO: Punto SNAI – tel +39 3290376137
CARBONIA: Biagetti Dischi – tel 0781/64429
SANLURI: S’Arey Viaggi – tel 070/2357208
TERRALBA: Babbayola Viaggi – tel 0783/296541
TORTOLÌ: Il Tabacchino – tel 0782/624020
SASSARI: Le Ragazze Terribili – tel 079/278275
LURAS: Movida Cafè – tel 079/648032
The 18th edition of Karel Music Expo is organized by Vox Day Cooperative with the support of:
Regione Autonoma della Sardegna (Department of Public Education, Information, Entertainment, and Sports & Department of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Trade), Municipality of Cagliari (Department of Culture), Fondazione di Sardegna. In collaboration with: Centro Scuola Luigi Pirandello, Factory, Fondazione di ricerca “Giuseppe Siotto”, Le Officine, MusicArtService, Cooperativa Sant’Elia 2003, APS I Love Sardegna, Ajò in Pullman, AgriLogica, Maison Savoia, T-Hotel, Esibirsi, Ondeindiependenti.com, Rete dei Festival, Exitwell, Rock The South Malta, FormResonance, Gigmit, Music Club, Offset, Sentire Ascoltare, ScarryMonster Booking, Carovana SMI, Stazione di Transito.
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Infoline Vox Day: +39 070/840345 – info@voxday.com
www.karelmusicexpo.com – www.voxday.com
