“Territori Blues” is the theme of the third evening of Tremezzina Music Festival 2019, scheduled for Wednesday, August 14 at Parco Teresio Olivelli in Tremezzo from 9:00 pm.
Another great news at the end of the Festival with an evening entirely dedicated to blues, especially the <strong>traditional blues</strong> performed with acoustic instruments. Veronica Sbergia & Max De Bernardi trio, considered one of the best European country-blues, folk and ragtime bands, will be presenting the show, opening the stage to an extraordinary character, a real living legend, the American from Boston Watermelon Slim, born Bill Homans. With his voice, the harmonica, the dobro played with the slide and accompanied by the great “one man band” Max Prandi, will ignite the audience of the park Teresio Olivelli.
Program
9:00 pm – Veronica Sbergia & Max De Bernardi trio
- Veronica Sbergia: vocals, ukulele, washboard, kazoo
- Max De Bernardi: ukulele and acoustic guitars, vocals
- Dario Polerani: vocals, doublebass
Max De Bernardi, a great connoisseur of the country blues genre, explores a musical territory between the piedmont blues and the ragtime characterized by a fingerpicking cadenced by the basses without superfluous technicalities. In addition to the acoustic and resophonic guitar, he also plays the mandolin and ukulele. It was formed musically in the late 70s by listening to the great masters of Country Blues Blind Blake, Leadbelly, Rev, Gary Davis, Sam Chatmon, Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, soon forging a very personal style. Veronica Sbergia is a singer, ukulelist and washboard player. The versatility of her voice has led her in the past to The most diverse musical genres, from pop to folk, soul, funk and jazz, are presented in the blues, but it is in the blues that it finds its ideal expression. Over the last few years, thanks to the collaboration with Max De Bernardi, focused on the study and research of the blues of the origins.
Together, in 2009, they gave life to the project Veronica & The Red Wine Serenaders, ensemble acclaimed by the national specialized press as the most beautiful European reality in terms of country-blues, ragtime, hokum and jugband music and they win 1st place at the European Blues Challenge 2013.
At the beginning of 2017 they decided to close the RWS chapter and start a new musical path under the name of Max & Veronica. The repertoire focuses on American roots music, not only blues, but also country, folk, ragtime and swing. All played with acoustic instruments and with attention to tradition, at the same time succeeding in making this musical proposal fresh and extremely enjoyable by the public.
10:15 pm – Watermelon Slim downhome blues feat. Max Prandi
- Watermelon Slim: vocals, harmonica, dobro with slide
- Max Prandi: drums
Bill Homans, best known in the world under the pseudonym of Watermelon Slim, since the seventies offers his blues expressing a particular way of playing the dobro with the slide.
His musical style is rooted in the blues played in the Mississippi Delta, enhancing its expressiveness with his remarkable technique and his personal touch.
A multifaceted and multi-instrumental performer (he plays the harmonica masterfully and, more rarely, the electric guitar), he has performed over the years with blues musicians of considerable artistic importance, such as John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, Champion Jack Dupree, Bonnie Raitt, “Country” Joe McDonald and Henry Vestine of Canned Heat.
Having voluntarily enlisted in the Vietnam war, after months of forced hospitalisation, he returned home as an anti-war activist, a role for which he was politically recognised and respected. His homeless life and a serious heart attack did not interfere with his intellectual preparation: in years of frenetic life Slim was able to achieve two degrees in history and journalism and numerous and prestigious awards for his musical activity.
The Milanese bluesman Max Prandi, singer, multi-instrumentalist and one man band in pure “down home” style, will accompany him on stage at TMF.
For further information
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