Salvaterra Rock is a festival that takes place every year in a small town in northern Italy, nestled in the countryside between Modena and Reggio Emilia (about an hour drive from Musixmatch HQ in Bologna). It usually lasts four evenings and provides a space for Rock lovers to celebrate local tribute bands while enjoying traditional Emilian food and other specialities. 

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This music festival was born in 1986 as a chance to showcase local bands and create a space for members of the community to unite in solidarity and celebration on the May Day national holiday. In its early years, it was held in the town square with a simple stage and makeshift equipment.

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Over the years, the festival has grown more and more and has enjoyed ever strengthening success. It’s now typically held each June in the new parish centre of Salvaterra, where it was moved in the 2000s to accommodate the increasing number of attendees. In addition to local bands, well-known official cover bands have also been invited to perform as the festival has developed.

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One of Musixmatch’s Senior Engineers, Simone, is a huge fan of the festival and helps organize it each year as a volunteer. He told me Salvaterra is always a ‘special moment…because it’s a time when (he) reconnects with many dear friends and people, sharing the joy of working together in a light-hearted way for (their) town to create a moment of community gathering’.

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Speaking more specifically about this year’s event, he told me he ‘really enjoyed the group that played on the final night, Sunday: the Blood Brothers, a tribute band to Bruce Springsteen. They were a very energetic and engaging band and (he) especially appreciated the singer’s voice’.

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Each year, an official theme is chosen for Salvaterra, strengthening the communal aspect of the event and giving all participants a central idea to unite around. The theme chosen for 2025 was ‘peace’, which was marked with two giant letters in the middle of the festival grounds where people were encouraged to write down ‘la canzone che ti dà pace’ (the song that gives you peace).

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It’s a theme that’s especially important right now and it’s wonderful to see residents of Salvaterra and beyond come together in its name. 

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The Salvaterra Rock festival is a great example of the power of music and community, especially when they come together! Be sure to follow the event’s Instagram page for more pictures from this year’s edition, and information for those to come!