Mamerto Blues 2026 - Second Edition

Piazza Umberto I · Oppido Mamertina, Costa Viola, Calabria

5 August 2026 – 6 August 2026

Mamerto Blues returns to Oppido Mamertina for its second edition: two evenings in piazza Umberto I, on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 August 2026, with four acts on the bill. On 5 August Hat in the Garret open the night, followed by the Sebastiano Lillo Trio; on 6 August Enzo Tropepe plays the opening set and is then followed by Jayk Walkr, who comes from New York. Music starts at 9:30 pm and admission is free. Artistic direction is by Vincenzo Tropepe and Pino Polistena, and the festival presents itself with the payoff «Live blues. Real emotions.», backed by the Municipality of Oppido Mamertina and the local Pro Loco. It follows the first edition in 2025, three nights in piazza Umberto I closed by American artist Peter Karp: a festival that brought quality blues to the slopes of the Aspromonte, in a town of just a few thousand people.

Two nights of blues on the Aspromonte

Mamerto Blues returns to Oppido Mamertina for its second edition: two evenings, on 5 and 6 August 2026, with two concerts each night — an opening act and the main set. The festival presents itself with the payoff «Live blues. Real emotions.» and sticks to the format of its first edition: live blues, local names alongside guests from further afield, in a town of a few thousand inhabitants on the slopes of the Aspromonte, above the Piana di Gioia Tauro. Admission is free and music starts at 9:30 pm on both nights.

Wednesday 5 August: Hat in the Garret and the Sebastiano Lillo Trio

The first night opens with the Hat in the Garret set. The Sebastiano Lillo Trio then takes the stage to close the opening evening. Music starts at 9:30 pm, as it did in the festival's first edition.

Thursday 6 August: Enzo Tropepe and Jayk Walkr from New York

The second night opens with Enzo Tropepe and continues with Jayk Walkr, billed on the poster as a guest coming from New York. It is the slot that in the first edition belonged to Peter Karp, who came from Nashville: this year too the festival closes with a musician arriving from the United States, the choice that more than any other defines the ambition of the event.

Who is behind the festival

Artistic direction is by Vincenzo Tropepe and Pino Polistena, as stated on the poster. The festival works with Cheap Thrills Booking Agency on booking and carries the logos of the Municipality of Oppido Mamertina and of the local Pro Loco; in the first edition the patronage also included the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria.

Where it comes from: the 2025 first edition

Mamerto Blues was born in 2025 from the initiative of local musicians, among them Vincenzo Tropepe, who took care of its artistic direction. The first edition ran from 31 July to 2 August 2025 in piazza Umberto I, with concerts from 9:30 pm and a three-part format: the first night devoted to emerging bands competing to open the finale, the second to established groups — including Walking Trees and Southern Blues Society — and the third to international headliner Peter Karp from Nashville. The festival was described as «a bridge between generations», designed to let younger audiences discover the deep roots of this music; the 2025 edition was also covered by the specialist blues press.

Where it takes place and how to plan

The concerts are held in piazza Umberto I, in the centre of Oppido Mamertina: the same square that hosted the first edition and the town's main gathering place, so the stage is a short walk from the bars and shops of the centre. Oppido Mamertina is reached by car from the Piana di Gioia Tauro, driving up inland, and it makes a good base for anyone wanting to combine an evening of music with a day in the Aspromonte. For a stop or dinner in town, see the businesses in Oppido Mamertina; other summer dates are listed in the events section and, if you are staying a few days, you will find holiday rentals here.

Frequently asked questions

When does Mamerto Blues 2026 take place?

On Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 August 2026, in Oppido Mamertina, province of Reggio Calabria. It is the festival's second edition.

Who is playing?

On 5 August Hat in the Garret open and the Sebastiano Lillo Trio follows; on 6 August the opening act is Enzo Tropepe, followed by Jayk Walkr, billed on the poster as coming from New York.

Where are the concerts held?

In piazza Umberto I, in the centre of Oppido Mamertina: the same square that hosted the first edition of the festival in 2025.

What time do the concerts start?

At 9:30 pm on both 5 and 6 August: the opening act first, then the main set of the evening.

Do I need a ticket?

No, admission is free on both nights: you simply turn up in piazza Umberto I and take a seat.

Who organises Mamerto Blues?

Artistic direction is by Vincenzo Tropepe and Pino Polistena; the poster carries the logos of Cheap Thrills Booking Agency, the Municipality of Oppido Mamertina and the local Pro Loco. The festival was created in 2025 on the initiative of local musicians.

What was the first edition like?

Three nights, from 31 July to 2 August 2025, in piazza Umberto I: the first with emerging bands competing, the second with established groups such as Walking Trees and Southern Blues Society, the third with US headliner Peter Karp, who came from Nashville.

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