Busking bluegrass in Bologna

Bononia Grass - Paolo Ercoli, Gian Luca Naldi, Giovani Stefanini, Giovanni Zordan and Perdo JudwkoskiWere you to find yourself visiting an outdoor arts festival in Italy this summer, would you expect to run up on a bluegrass band?

If you were in Bologna recently, you might have found Bononia Grass performing on the street for a crowd of appreciative listeners. The guys got some video from the festival, and posted it on YouTube.

Band members include Giovanni Stefanini on mandolin and lead vocals, Paolo Ercoli on dobro and vocals, Gian Luca Naldi on banjo and vocals, Giovanni Zordan guitar and vocal, and Pedro Judwkoski on bass.

Luca shared few words about the band and playing bluegrass in Europe.

“We have having fun, we are working hard to become better. You know, bluegrass music is not simple to play and we are determinate to do it HONESTLY (not something similar). It’s already a miracle that five Italian guys are still a unit after all these years, but we love what we play.

At North Wales festival we have had the good luck to meet Greg Cahill and his band, Special Consensus. It is so important to see and listen to a great band like them. And Greg is a super fine picker and person. Just in time because we were really depressed at that time.”

You can find out more about Bononia Grass by visiting their web site or MySpace page.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.