When I see this image from September 2014, I remember the tears I shed as I listened to Fratelli Mancuso performing “Bella Maria” in the alleyway of Sutera, Sicily for our small-group. I am a huge fan of Lorenzo and Enzo’s music–I feel their harmonies in every cell of my body. The fact that I…
Tag: live music
Sicily’s Carmen Consoli In New York City
Carmen Consoli, one of Italy’s most outstanding and successful performing songwriters, who is from the slopes of Mount Etna, performed in New York City this past evening. She brought her Eco di Sirene (Echo of Sirens) world tour to an adoring audience on the Lower East Side. Needless to say, I geeked out. I have…
Hypnotized In Siracusa’s Piazza del Duomo
Ortigia’s Piazza del Duomo seduces me with her beauty, but then, when she adds in the harmonies and melodies of an accordion player, I’m hypnotized.
Serenade in Sicily
Last night our musician friends Ettore and Alfredo invited us to witness a pre-wedding serenade they were asked to perform. 100 friends and family came to listen and surprise the bride-to-be. Not the traditional intimate moment that has existed for centuries, but still, a wonderful night to be part of! Of course, the ballad “Nicuzza”…
Return To Sicily For The Harmony Of Ferragosto
Ferragosto is upon us! And that means throughout Sicily (and Italy) there are feasts, music festivals, and gatherings of all sorts, like Ypsigrock (pictured) that took place over the weekend in Castelbuono, Palermo province. My cousin Filippo attended, and he sent me this photo of one of my musician heros, Alfio Antico, who performed on…
Bring Your Dancing Shoes
Being a musician myself, I am always seeking out other musicians while in Sicily, especially those versed in local folk music, like Ettore, Alfredo, and Totò, pictured here. I heard them first as part of a larger community ensemble in Porticello, my grandfather’s birthplace, in 2011. A couple of years later, I sought them out,…
Experience Sicilian Inspired Music in Connecticut
Concert! Join me (Allison Scola) and guitarist Joe Ravo on Sunday, April 8, in Farmington, Conn., when our Sicilian and Southern-Italian-inspired, American folk duo, Villa Palagonia, will perform a concert at the Sounding Board Coffeehouse. Agenda: Open Jam and Song Swap at 2PM; Concert at 3PM (2 sets with a 20-minute intermission). Where: The Lodge…
Join Us Sunday for Some Live Music
It’s been a busy, busy week–even though I’m in New York, I’m spreading Sicily-love throughout the land. Monday, I was in Bristol, Conn., talking to students of Italian language about Sicilian food, feasts, and festivals. Tuesday night, in cooperation with my friends of You, Me & Sicily, I spoke at the Italian American Museum of…
Dancing in the Hall of Mirrors
Tarantella anyone? Villa Palagonia, a band featuring guitarist Joe Ravo, bassist Greg Maker, percussionist Dave Mancuso, and me, Allison Scola, on vocals, clarinet, guitar, and frame drums, will be performing this coming Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7PM in New York City at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3 (185 Orchard Street). We invite you to come…
The Revelrous LassatilAbballari
If you are in the New York City area, you’ve got a fabulous opportunity on Thursday night to hear LassatilAbballari, a fantastic folk music group from Palermo, Sicily (pictured). They’ll be joining New York’s ambassador of Sicilian folk music Michela Musolino and her group, Rosa Tatuata, for their now, second annual La Primavera Vinni (Spring…