Memphis, Tennessee, is the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, home of the blues, and one of the Southern states where soul music originate. A similar music scene thrives 5,055 miles away in Porretta Terme, a small town in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region just over the border from Tuscany.
Besides being known for its thermal hot springs, Porretta is considered the “Soulsville, Europe” or the “showcase of Memphis sound,” according to Graziano Uliani, Porretta native, life-long soul music fan, and founder of the Porretta Soul Festival.
Although they are located at great distances, the two towns have created a family-like bond, laying the basis for their official establishment as sister cities, which took place this past February.
The sisterhood is rooted not only in Memphis’ notable founding and output of soul but also in Porretta, who inherited and promoted the musical genre in Europe.
It was the sixties when a new American sound reached the Italian radio, filling the adolescent ears of Graziano Uliani– a loud, but beautiful symphony of horns and expressive voices of soul music.
“I was literally captured,” he said, “The voice of Otis Redding has never abandoned me.”
In 1987, Uliani founded a cultural association called “Sweet Soul Music” to promote soul music and rhythm & blues in Italy after meeting one of the founding fathers of soul music—and one of his idols—Solomon Burke. He went on to organize a concert for Burke which was supposed to be a one-time soul music event. Uliani met Otis Redding’s family in Macon, Georgia on December 10, 1987 during the 20th anniversary death commemorations for the great artist. A few days earlier, in Memphis, he connected with The Memphis Horns and Rufus Thomas, pushing him to share the wondrous rhythms and sounds of soul music with Italy through his creation of the festival.
“The Porretta Soul Festival was born from my passion,” said Uliani.
According to Uliani, the festival follows a very precise mission: promoting artists from the Deep South of the U.S.A.
In an acknowledgment of his love and dedication to the promotion and genre of soul music, in 1992, Uliani was made an honorary citizen of Memphis through the help of the Commissioner of Memphis and Shelby Film Commissioner Linn Sitler. He was also given the keys to the city on behalf of the Memphis mayor at the time, Mayor W.W. Herenton.
This past September, Sitler contacted Uliani with the idea of pairing the cities, a cultural exchange that the Sister Cities International (SCI) immediately approved, thanks to a summary sent by Uliani to facilitate the establishment of a sister city relationship between Memphis and Porretta.
The lively Porretta Soul Festival draws a diversity of people of all ages, thousands each year to hear the colorful and passionate rhythms of soul, connecting the audience with renowned musicians through the sound and love for the music. According to Uliani, the festival brings new life to the soul music art form and to the artists, especially the ones from the 60s who “may have been forgotten.”
In previous years, artists like Swamp Dogg, Sam Moore, Bobby Rush, Curtis Salgado, Isaac Hayes, Wilson Picket and The Memphis Horns took the stage in Poretta with many more in different lineups. Italian street food is also provided by a variety of vendors ready to serve the fervent soul listeners.
Festival visitors can also find themselves amongst colorful murals and street art throughout the small Italian town, connecting the listeners with a visual and creative representation of the musical genre. Fifteen murals depict famous soul artists including “Soul Men” (ensemble with Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, James Carr, Eddie Hinton) by Antonion Cotecchia and “Soul Women” (ensemble with Ann Peebles, Mavis Staples, Irma Thomas, Mille Jackson, Carla Thomas, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Toni Green, Chick Rodgers) by Aurora Bresci. Other artists featured are The Memphis Horns and Dan Penn, painted by Ermanno Mari, Swamp Dogg by Nadia Vola, Otis Redding by Annalisa Fusilli and more.
While the sisterhood is heavily connected through music, the film industry creates a small but second strong bond between the cities. The annual Festival del Cinema di Porretta or the Porretta Film Festival promotes Italian cinema and culture to the public and different generations while providing an uplifting space for film enthusiasts. The festival also features short films from Memphis, another mutual cultural exchange in the arts.
The 37th edition of the Porretta Soul Festival will take place on July 24–27, 2025 at Rufus Thomas Park. According to Uliani, the confirmed artists for this year’s festivities are The Memphis Music Hall of Fame Band with guests Jerome Chism, Gerald Richardson, John Németh, Andrew Strong (from the cult movie Commitments) and Jonté Mayon. The mayor of Memphis and Shelby County officials will be in attendance along with soul aficionados from across the globe.
The music festival will also pay tribute to soul legend James Carr and his son Vincent Carr. Coming from Texas, Captain Jack Watson will be at Porretta Soul and in Europe for the first time. Many more guests will be included in the lineup and additional information can be found on the festival website. (Fiona Hasting)
