Caslano Blues 2026

Caslano gears up for its Blues Week.

Time is ticking away, and in Caslano it's already time to start thinking ahead to the twelfth edition of the Blues festival, from 17 to 21 June. Since its launch in 2013, the festival has grown exponentially in both quality and numbers, and has become a popular and increasingly well-attended fixture of the summer music scene, and not just in the canton. Caslano Blues 2026 will continue to follow the formula that has been refined with each edition, divided into what might be described as four distinct stages, each different from the other, yet complementary to one another.

Caslano will once again be offering a long weekend of blues this year, starting with the traditional first two evenings on Wednesday and Thursday, allowing the public to get up close and personal with the musicians in six venues around the village in the Malcantone region, before moving on to the two stages set up in the magnificent Piazza Lago on Friday and Saturday evenings, where the festival will conclude at midday on Sunday with the much-loved “jam session”, featuring many of the performers from the previous evenings. The programme will be rounded off by the “blues cruises” organised by Lugano Region (long-standing sponsor of Caslano Blues alongside the local Pro and the Municipality) on Thursday and Saturday, departing from Lugano with live acoustic music on board.

The line-up features around 25 performances: some twenty bands have been announced for this twelfth edition, coming from all over Europe as well as the United States. A sneak preview of some of the names? Shari Puorto, Jane Jeresa and Acantha Lang: three exceptionally talented artists with different styles, but who share the same infectious energy on stage. Caslano Blues 2026 will take place from 17 to 21 June.

Artists

Shari Puorto Band (USA)

• Wednesday 17th of June, Trainoni Court (11:00 pm – 12:30 am)
• Thursday 18th of June, Streciöö Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)
• Saturday 20th of June, Main Stage (8:45 pm – 10:15 pm)
• Sunday 21st of June, Piazza Lago (11:30 am – 1:30 pm)

Arriving directly from Maryland for a unique and exclusive European stop, Shari Puorto and her band will be spending the whole week in Caslano! Acclaimed for her captivating blend of blues, roots rock and American music, Shari is a singer with a richly expressive voice and an electrifying stage presence.

Joe Colombo Trio (CH)

• Wednesday 17th of June, Crugnola Court (8:45 pm – 11:15 pm)

Returning to Caslano for one of the now rare concerts in his home canton is Joe Colombo, ever-popular for his bottleneck slide technique and utter devotion to the blues in all its forms. He is accompanied by two long-standing friends: Rocco Lombardi on drums and Gian-Andrea Costa on bass.

Bluesick (CH)

• Wednesday 17th of June, Fieni Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)

Finalists at the Swiss Blues Challenge 2022, Bluesick captivate audiences with their authentic and genuine blues and blues rock. This likeable and energetic band from St. Gallen Oberland delivers riveting renditions of classics from various eras: from B.B. King to Jimi Hendrix, and from Gary Moore to Joe Bonamassa.

Riki Massini (ITA)

• Wednesday 17th of June, Redaelli Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)

Inspired by Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher, Riki Massini from Biella has borrowed a few tricks of the trade to forge his own musical identity, characterised by rich blues rock, both electric and acoustic. For this latest line-up, he is joined in Caslano by Pep Amato Raines on bass and Umberto Cesarano on percussion.

Gianluca De Palo (ITA)

• Wednesday 17th of June, Streciöö Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)

Milano-based guitarist and singer Gianluca De Palo and his band journey through the rural blues of Mississippi’s roots to the sounds of Chicago. Their performance is intense and engaging, transporting the listener on an emotional journey through the stories and experiences that make up the blues.

Paolo Fabris & Andrea Zinzi (ITA/CH)

• Wednesday 17th of June, Trainoni Court (9:30 pm – 10:30 pm)

An acoustic duo put together especially for Caslano Blues 2026 by two guitarists and singers of the calibre of Paolo Fabris and Andrea Zinzi is nothing short of exceptional: the former hails from Como and has Italian-Dutch roots, whilst the latter is a true-blue Momò and a member of Make Plain; both artists are hugely popular and highly regarded on the music scene, extending far beyond the canton and the blues genre.

Stefano Barigazzi Band (ITA/CH)

• Wednesday 17th of June, Morotti Court (9:00 pm – 11:30 pm)

Winner of the 2019 Italian Blues Challenge, Stefano Barigazzi is a young man with a gritty vocal tone and a guitar style reminiscent of the old Mississippi bluesmen. His trio is completed by Fabio Bianchi (bass tuba) and Toby Glaser (drums), former members of the Mojo Workers led by the late Marco Marchi.

• Jane Jeresa & Morblus (ITA)
• Thursday 18th of June, Trainoni Court (11:00 pm – 12:30 am)
• Friday 19th of June, Main Stage (10:45 pm – 12:30 am)
• Sunday 21st of June, Piazza Lago (11:30 am – 1:30 pm)

Originally from Africa and now living in Pavia, singer-songwriter Jane Jeresa is an emerging figure on the Italian gospel, soul and blues scene. Her voice and charisma blend perfectly with the energy of Verona-based guitarist Roberto Morbioli and his band Morblus, who have been her touring companions for several years now.

Riccardo Staraj & Midnight Blues Band (CRO)

• Thursday 18th of June, Crugnola Court (8:45 pm – 11:15 pm)
• Friday 19th of June, Main Stage (8:45 pm – 10:15 pm)

Two years on, Riccardo Staraj and his Midnight Blues Band return to Caslano with their energy and creativity. The Croatian singer and poet likes to say that his role models are those who have managed to translate their poetry into high-calibre rock and blues performances, namely Lou Reed, Jim Morrison and Nick Cave.

Steve Arvey (USA)

• Thursday 18th of June, Morotti Court (9:00 pm – 11:30 pm)
• Friday 19th of June, Buvette Stage (7:15 pm – 8:45 pm)

Steve Arvey began his career playing on the Chicago blues circuit in the 1970s, sharing the stage with many of the Windy City’s legendary bluesmen. Now based in Florida, he is regarded as one of the world’s finest cigar-box guitarists and is a regular fixture at major festivals.

Leo Ghiringhelli Power Trio (ITA)

• Thursday 18th of June, Trainoni Court (9:30 pm – 10:30 pm)

High-energy rock-blues, along with traditional blues, make up the set list offered by guitarist Leo Ghiringhelli from Milan, who previously represented Italy at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Joining him in this Power Trio project are Sergio Ratti on drums and Joe Barreca on bass.

Bo Weavil (FRA)

• Thursday 18th of June, Redaelli Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)

The Frenchman, Bo Weavil, is a bluesman at heart and has embellished this universal language by blending it with touches of funk-rock, soul and Afro-groove. A multi-instrumentalist who started out as a one-man band, his guitar delivers a rich, powerful and off-beat rhythm, whilst his vocals are punctuated by rich, ringing harmonica riffs.

Cross˂˃Fires Blues Band (CH/ITA)

• Thursday 18th of June, Fieni Court (8:30 pm – 11:00 pm)

The band, founded by the Ticino-based guitarist and promoter Riki Braga, has been performing internationally for almost forty years. The Cross˂˃Fires will be performing in Caslano with singer Isa Casucci, guitarist Luca Meneghello, bassist Carmelo Isgro, keyboardist Miki Fazio and drummer Sergio Ratti.

Henry’s Blues Duo (ITA)

• Thursday 18th of June, Blues Cruises

Milano-based harmonica player and singer Enrico Penati, whose musical work is dedicated to the pursuit of a personal style, will be accompanying the first series of “Blues Cruises”. He shares a genuine rapport with the eclectic guitarist and singer Giorgio Fassi, which has resulted in the Henry’s Blues Duo project.

Rycover+Ati (CH)

• Friday 19th of June, Buvette Stage (12:30 am – 02:00 am)

This Ticino-based band treats the audience to an exhilarating journey through covers of famous rock-blues tracks from the 1970s to the present day, performed and ‘revisited’ with boundless passion and energy. The task of getting Piazza Lago dancing to round off Friday’s evening falls to Rycover+Ati…

Mad Groove & The Soul Doctors (ITA)

• Sabato 20 giugno, Buvette Stage (7:15 pm – 8:45 pm)

This six-piece band from Italy's Piedmont region covers the greatest hits of soul music and Motown Records. An enthralling journey through the world of soul music, ranging from Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, James Brown, Earth, Wind & Fire and Etta James, right through to Bruno Mars, Amy Winehouse and Joss Stone.

Paolo Fabris Trio (ITA)

• Saturday 20th of June, Buvette Stage (12:30 am – 2:00 am)

Following Wednesday’s acoustic session, Paolo Fabris from Como will return to the stage to round off Saturday night, this time with his electric trio: a promise of pure blues, rock and funk energy from a guitarist who has already shared the stage with Robben Ford, Ian Siegal, Sugar Blue and many others.

Acantha Lang (USA)

• Saturday 20th of June, Buvette Stage (10:45 pm – 12:30 am)

Acantha Lang, from New Orleans, has soul and blues running through her veins. Inspired by legends such as Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples and Nina Simone, Acantha has a captivating and powerful voice. In the midst of an intensive tour of Spain, she will make an exclusive stop in Caslano with her six-piece band.

Angelo “Leadbelly” Rossi & Max Prandi (ITA)

• Saturday 20th of June, Blues Cruises

Saturday’s ‘Blues Cruises’ are led by the voices and guitars, rich in emotion and personality, of two historic and highly regarded Lombard bluesmen: Max Prandi (a first-time guest in Caslano) and Angelo ‘Leadbelly’ Rossi (a long-standing regular at our festival).