PLAY WITH US AT REEPERBAHN: SOUNDS FROM EMILIA-ROMAGNA

Emilia-Romagna’s music scene lands in the beating heart of Hamburg with PLAY WITH US – Sounds From Emilia-Romagna, the showcase that on Thursday, September 18, will bring the best of the regional independent scene to the Sommer Salon stage, as part of Reeperbahn Festival 2025.

Promoted by Emilia-Romagna Music Export – the project by Emilia-Romagna Music Commission and ATER Fondazione to support the internationalization of regional music -, the event shines a spotlight on four projects that, each in their own way, express the vitality of a land that has always been a crossroads of sounds, ideas, and experimentation: from the retro-futurist psychedelic riffs of Korobu (Locomotiv Records) to the refined art pop of Gaia Banfi (Trovarobato), through the cosmic folk of James Jonathan Clancy (Maple Death Records), and the electro-punk energy of R.Y.F. (Bronson Recordings).

A mosaic of genres that reflects the richness of a territory where music is not only tradition – from town bands to conservatories – but also a continuous forge of new sonic identities. Behind these names lies a network of independent labels that stand strong against the major record industry by focusing on quality, research, and cultural rootedness.

Korobu is part of Locomotiv Records, a label born from the iconic Bologna-based club of the same name, which also includes artists like I Hate My Village and NADt Orchestra.
R.Y.F. is one of the leading names of Bronson Recordings, linked to the well-known Ravenna venue that continues to discover new voices – such as Leatherette and Cemento Atlantico – and to support emerging talent through its innovative scouting contest La Zona D’Ombra.
Gaia Banfi is the latest bet from Trovarobato, a historic stronghold of the Bologna indie scene. Her debut album La Maccaia, released in April, follows the traces of memory to tell a timeless story, using a deeply personal language in which songwriting, pop, and electronic experimentation blend naturally.
James Jonathan Clancy, through his Maple Death Records, is already a reference point for fans of the alternative and experimental scene, well beyond Italian borders.

Reeperbahn Festival is one of the most important meeting points for the international music scene. It hosts a wide range of emerging and established artists, offering an immersion into current and future trends in global pop music. It is also a key platform for record labels, publishers, event organizers, and other industry professionals, facilitating networking and discussion on key topics.

A valuable opportunity to showcase the best of our music production.

The Hamburg showcase is organized by Emilia-Romagna Music Export – the regional music export initiative promoted by Emilia-Romagna Music Commission and ATER Fondazione – in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute of Hamburg.