GroundUP Music Festival 2026

The second edition of the **GroundUP Music Festival** is scheduled for June 26-28 once again in Alberobello, in the heart of the UNESCO heritage trulli.

Conceived and directed by Michael League, the leader and mind behind Snarky Puppy, the GroundUP Music Festival reaffirms its position among the most significant events in the international scene, thanks to a diverse program of jazz, world music, electronic, and contemporary songwriting. It's not just concerts, but an immersive experience that combines performances, meetings, and artistic sharing in one of Italy's most iconic locations.

**Friday, June 26 — Villa Main Stage — from 8:30 PM**

**SNARKY PUPPY + GUEST SERENA BRANCALE**

Collective winner of five Grammy Awards led by Michael League, Snarky Puppy is one of the most influential realities in contemporary music, capable of blending jazz, funk, soul, rock, and electronic into a unique and constantly evolving language. Famous for their highly improvisational live performances, they will bring to the stage Serena Brancale, a Bari artist who merges jazz, nu soul, and Mediterranean tradition with a strong contemporary identity. Following the viral success of "Baccalà" and her recent appearances at the Sanremo Festival, Brancale confirms her status as one of the most original voices in the new Italian pop scene.

**MARK GUILIANA**

Regarded as one of the most innovative drummers in the international scene, Mark Guiliana traverses jazz, electronic, and experimental rock with a visionary and personal style. In addition to a solid artistic career, he has collaborated with St. Vincent, Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam/Soundgarden), Brad Mehldau, and David Bowie on the album "Blackstar," becoming a cult figure in contemporary drumming over time.

**BECCA STEVENS & THE SECRET TRIO**

A two-time Grammy nominee, Becca Stevens combines folk, jazz, indie, and world music with refined and deeply emotional writing. Together with The Secret Trio — a formation that blends Middle Eastern, Balkan, and contemporary jazz traditions — she creates a project rich in sound intertwinements and improvisation.

**Friday, June 26 — TRULLO SOVRANO Stage — from 6:00 PM
LAU NOAH**

A Catalan multi-instrumentalist celebrated by artists such as Jacob Collier and Chris Thile, Lau Noah is one of the most original independent songwriters in the new international scene. Her compositions weave together guitar virtuosity, voice, and contemporary folk sensibility.

**Saturday, June 27 — Villa Main Stage — from 8:30 PM**

**SNARKY PUPPY + GUEST MATTEO MANCUSO**

Snarky Puppy returns to the Main Stage with a special set alongside Matteo Mancuso, a Sicilian talent considered one of the most surprising guitarists of his generation. Famous for his fingerstyle technique applied to electric guitar, Mancuso has been described by Steve Vai and Al Di Meola as a true force of nature.

**VICTORIA CANAL**

A Spanish-American singer-songwriter with a strong artistic identity, Victoria Canal combines introspection, contemporary pop writing, and international sensibility. Winner of the Ivor Novello Rising Star Award, she has performed alongside Coldplay and Hozier.

**SALOMÃO SOARES & VANESSA MORENO**

The Brazilian duo formed by Salomão Soares and Vanessa Moreno reinterprets the tradition of South American song with elegance and modernity. Blending jazz, piano, and refined vocal harmonies, the "Outros Ventos" project builds a continuous dialogue between tradition and contemporaneity.

**Saturday, June 27 — Trullo Sovrano Stage — from 6:00 PM
MARIA MAZZOTTA**

Among the most intense voices in European world music, Maria Mazzotta effortlessly traverses the sounds of Southern Italy and Balkan influences, uniting vocal research and popular tradition. With the "Amoreamaro" project, she has performed over 300 concerts in 25 countries, appearing at the world's leading festivals dedicated to world music.

**Sunday, June 28 — VILLA MAIN STAGE — from 8:30 PM**

**SNARKY PUPPY + GUEST GIANLUCA PETRELLA**

For the final night, Snarky Puppy hosts Gianluca Petrella, one of the most influential Italian musicians on the international scene. A visionary trombonist and producer, he navigates jazz, electronic, and sound experimentation with projects like "Cosmic Renaissance."

**ANNE PACEO**

Among the most authoritative figures in contemporary European jazz, Anne Paceo has won three Victoires du Jazz and is recognized for her musical language that intertwines spirituality, electronics, and improvisation. Her music crosses over to jazz, sonic exploration, and contemporary songwriting.

**BAB L' BLUZ**

Born in Marrakech, Bab L' Bluz merges Gnawa rhythms, psychedelic rock, and Moroccan traditions into a hypnotic and liberating sound. Led by singer and guitarist Yousra Mansour, the band is now one of the most explosive entities in the new international world scene.

**Sunday, June 28 — TRULLO SOVRANO STAGE — from 6:00 PM**

**SHAI MAESTRO**

Regarded as one of the most talented pianists of his generation, Shai Maestro has built an intense and recognizable musical voice amidst contemporary jazz, improvisation, and cinematic lyricism. Following his experience in Avishai Cohen's band, he has solidified his international career with albums released for ECM.