URLO DI VIGEVANO TRANSFORMS HISTORIC CASTLE INTO MUSIC HUB

Before even becoming an official Association, Urlo di Vigevano was a cultural movement born as a reaction to the lack of stimuli in the monotonous life of a provincial town — an outburst triggered by the ecological and social atmosphere of recent years in cities that are in dire need of art.

In practical terms, it's a young collective of people who, since 2023, have been organizing events in the city center, gaining attention and respect from many, both within and beyond Vigevano’s borders. Our projects didn’t go unnoticed by the local government, which over the years has granted us access to the spaces of the Castello Sforzesco di Vigevano — a gem in the heart of the historic center, an immense garden surrounded by rooms that five hundred years ago saw courtly ladies and princes walk through, and which today host electronic music sets, concerts, performances, and art installations.

How did Urlo di Vigevano come into being, and what values drive your collective? What kind of music do you promote?

Urlo didn’t begin with a set intention; it emerged spontaneously, without any specific goals. Only after the first event did we realize its potential to become a cultural point of reference for the city — a decentralized, itinerant hub, much like many recent festivals that forgo fixed venues to create opportunities for cultural exchange around the world. In its own small way — since it's still a small festival — Urlo tries to do the same: staying dynamic, bringing the people of the city together in different central locations, many of which, despite being close to home, often go unnoticed. At the same time, we realized the tourism potential of our events: we believe that Vigevano is unjustly overlooked by potential visitors who are often unaware of the beauty the area has to offer. Another one of our goals is to keep events inclusive: admission is completely free, with no tickets or guest list registration required. There are no VIP tables or private areas — everyone shares the same space, dancing, drinking, and eating together. We don’t define ourselves by specific music genres. We love to offer the stage to artists who embody our philosophy of rebellion, but also of commitment and determination. This might make it harder to build a solid identity, but staying open to everyone and creating moments of absolute freedom is our priority. We want to fight the vain desire to place oneself at the center and instead create occasions for fun and reflection — moments that encourage people to think about their connection to a shared context, whether that's their city or, on a larger scale, the ecosystem we all live in.

Who is your reference community, and what kind of relationship do you have with your audience?

At the moment, we have a small community centered around Vigevano and its surrounding areas. As mentioned before, we’ve never imposed strict limits on our content, which has allowed us to connect with different generations and cultures. We are definitely a “popular” festival in our intention to unite and build cohesion among our audience, but we never do so at the expense of meaning and quality — we carefully curate each event to find common ground between different perspectives.

How do you select the artists and projects that take part in the festival?

The festival is divided into two main sections — one at the beginning and one at the end of summer. The first, in June, features a long lineup of electronic music from early afternoon until 2 AM. We try to match the music style to the time of day, but even then, you might hear anything from disco to techno, minimal to drum and bass. The September edition is focused on live music, offering the stage to musicians, singers, and bands mostly from the Rap, Rock, and Indie scenes. In both cases, again, we don’t want to be too rigid in our selection process. We always aim to collaborate with artists who align with our values. The one consistent element is our commitment to offering a significant platform to emerging artists and DJs, while also including more established names in the music scene. We love working with young artists who dream of shouting their music to the world — those who haven’t had the chance to perform for a large audience often bring an even stronger energy than those who are already used to the spotlight.

The next edition is scheduled for June 13–15. Would you like to tell us something about the venue and the lineup?

In just a few weeks, the first chapter of the season will begin: we’re super excited and can’t wait to welcome new artists and first-time visitors. On June 13, 14, and 15, we’ll be in the garden of the Cavallerizza di Vigevano, a unique location where the historic character of the buildings creates a striking contrast with electronic music sets and live painting performances. The lineup is packed with amazing DJs, mostly from the new Milanese underground scene, along with our long-time collaborators who’ve been with us since the beginning. Behind the decks, you’ll see: Davide Dev, Eva Bloo, Bopintrouble, Ulsa, Kick the Beat, Locosente, Andrea Cavalleri, and Tommaso Alfano.
In addition to the DJ sets, there will also be a photography exhibition on interior design, a long row of stalls featuring works by local artisans, and of course food & beverage stands with a dedicated dining area. All specific information and directions to the event venue can be found on the event’s Instagram page: @urlodivigevano.