Astrale
Estragon Club celebrates over 30 years of musical innovation in Bologna with the launch of Astrale, an artistic exploration directed by Pasquale Pezzillo. Featuring live music, visual installations, and techno sessions, Astrale blends genres and showcases international talent, including The Lemon Twigs and Julie’s Haircut. This dynamic cultural experience connects music, community, and creativity.
via IG @estragonclub
Estragon Club, established in 1992, is now a local, national, and international institution in Bologna. It has hosted bands from all over the world who have now reached the top, making it the go-to venue for letting loose to the most disparate beats and sounds. Now, Estragon Club presents Astrale: an artistic space exploration starting in October under the artistic direction of Pasquale Pezzillo (JoyCut), which will engage the audience over the coming months with weekly midweek events.
Astrale is a telescope exploring the celestial music industry, bringing the electronic sounds of Steve Hauschildt and Niklas Paschburg to its spaceship, Estragon. It will also feature the electro-pop vibes of Douglas Dare and Stegonaute, the psychedelic and shoegaze rock of Julie’s Haircut and Sugar for the Pill, and the alternative rock of The Lemon Twigs. Before and after the shows—enriched with installations, photo exhibitions, and projections—BLU will guide visiting astronauts with a selection of techno sounds.
We had a conversation with Pasquale Pezzillo about the history and the significance of the project for him, Estragon, and the city of Bologna.
“We are talking about 32 years of history, experience, concerts in the city, resistance, and independence. For once, beyond the narratives, the mere numerical fact unequivocally comforts us, highlighting the solidity, consistency, and seriousness of this particular ‘courageous vessel’, linked to an ever-renewed vocation for seeking meaningful content. This has resulted in adaptive, transformative versatility, which, season after season, has allowed a group of young people, in love with music and imbued with the ideals of the old left, to distinguish themselves and form a consortium of professionals. Estragon is not just a club; it organizes and produces national and international events while promoting work through training and hospitality, with the inclusive goal of integrating communities into a harmonious and respectful plurality. These aspects are articulated through shared sensitivities, knowledge of the territory, attention to spaces, and the ability to identify and create new ones, all while addressing the dynamic needs of an ever-growing citizenry and, consequently, an increasingly centralized periphery. The DiMondi Festival at Piazza Lucio Dalla and BOtanique in the summer, for instance, are excellent offshoots and points of reference for all segments of the community, bridging sports and artistic synesthesias, fairs, and markets. This ensures that every individual can benefit from access to cultural offerings, which are so precious they cannot and should not be exclusive. Being a citizen isn’t just about possessing a document; one becomes a citizen by actively participating in the life of the city. That’s the engine that sustains and propels Estragon. It’s wonderful to be part of it, and it’s surprising to see how it continues to resist in a complex society like today’s, where offering emotionally engaging content is becoming increasingly risky.”
Astrale, starting in October, aims to create a space that features many voices and diverse contributions, fostering a safe environment for everyone.
“What moved us was an expressive urgency. Today, as mentioned earlier, achieving freedom of maneuver within the cultural industry is increasingly difficult. Venues like Estragon must confront the overwhelming power of monopolistic, omnivorous agencies that, if not meticulously rationed and filtered, would irreversibly dictate the programmatic character and identity of the club. Instead, a club is born to express dissent, freedom, dialectic. Music, like other arts, should offer visions of the world that differ from the status quo, expanding horizons and providing dreamy destinations, while breaking away from passive homogenization. In the same way, a club must seek out, identify, and welcome the most marginalized voices, protecting and cherishing them, returning that positive residue to its audience. Today, curating a club’s programming independently—without yielding to the ‘seasonal products’ offered by agencies—is one of the most courageous forms of rebellion, a revolutionary act.”
Steve Hauschildt, Douglas Dare, Stegonaute, Julie’s Haircut, The Lemon Twigs—these are some of the protagonists of the Astrale revolution. A sophisticated lineup, yet contemporary and fresh.
Astrale’s mission is to reposition the club at the center of the community—a gravitational hub for music lovers and artists alike. Astrale embodies an analog, collective opening, presenting a series of special concerts. A telescope from our astronomical observatory. This serial, mid-week format will host, in a new version of Estragon, a select group of striking artists who have responded with enthusiasm and generosity to our invitation: to perform exclusive and unique concerts, whose themes are tied to the current condition of our contemporaneity. Each evening will feature two performances in a reimagined Estragon, divided into two distinct areas. One will serve as a seating area for the performances, while the other will encourage movement before and after the shows enriched by installations, photographic exhibitions, projections, a taproom, and musical selections curated by resident DJ, BLU. Our hope is that the audience will be liberated from the weight of reality, and allow themselves to be swept away by the beauty of sound in this galaxy. We invited the artists imagining ourselves as active spectators. In this open dialogue with the club, the spectator is fundamental. They must preserve a precious ambition, understanding that their presence is so vital and strong that it can drive the club’s programming to continually stand out, explore new avenues, and unearth hidden gems, all while distinguishing itself by quality. ‘Ok, I’m participating, and by participating I support the artist. Today, thanks to this attentive program, I know I’m going to witness something that, in two years, I will be forced to see elsewhere, far away, maybe at an international festival with prohibitive costs.’ The essence of Astrale is to empower the audience, fostering a virtuous synergy between the venue, the content, and the attendees. This magic can only occur when spectators recognize their role; their participation is crucial in launching and sustaining the careers of artists and bands. When you acknowledge the quality, affection, and passion of a band through your presence and support, that act becomes incredibly powerful. Having faith in the club and its programming—and being present—allows less established artists to gain the recognition they deserve. Astrale aims to always provide a stage to those who deserve it.
Estragon is a constant point of reference not only in Bologna but nationally, throughout Europe, and beyond. Over the years, it has meant a great deal, both in Pasquale’s role as an artistic director and as a music lover and musician.
“When I think of our meetings and the courage it takes to embark on this adventure—designing the format, defining its principles, seeking its name, and allocating resources to a risky investment—I’ve always only thought of the artists. There are so many out there, forgotten or undervalued. It’s no coincidence that we chose the name ‘Astrale’. It symbolizes the front view of a telescope lens, exploring constellations among the galaxies. Estragon is, in many ways, an outpost—a space platform, a spaceship in motion. When you enter the venue, it feels as if you’ve stepped into the belly of a giant airplane, a spaceship, ready for takeoff. We are the Estragonauts, and our is part of this journey. Together, we are on a quest for a destination. This is the dream made real, transformed into a responsibility by a group of passionate young individuals determined to redefine their destinies and turn music into a shared commitment, a way of life. Estragon embodies the poetic essence of that dream.”
Today, you're an Estragonaut. Is there something from your past that has influenced this vision and the path you’ve chosen with Estragon and Astrale?
“For me, it’s simple: I am a militant, radical, deeply rooted. Being part of a community is a form of love. My band embodies a community of shared affinities, focused on the joy of being together. Over the years, we’ve learned to discern what is beneficial for the whole. By eliminating negativity, the outcome, even through subtraction, is always virtuous. This kind of experience, applied to life as a band member, enables me, within Estragon, to humanize the artist to such an extent that I genuinely understand them. By showing that we care about every tender detail, we can offer them the opportunity to feel gratified and fulfilled, thanking them, through our service, for their expressive effort. My experiences with JOYCUT have reinforced the essential importance and sensitive value of an artistic curator. This person who can put economic considerations into perspective, also brings experiential, emotional, and inspirational value to the music they select. Estragon is much more than just a club. You need to attend it regularly to truly understand it. Astrale takes place on Wednesdays in October, November, and December—an unmissable opportunity to discover it.”
ASTRALE Events at Estragon, Bologna
9/10 Steve Hauschildt + Niklas Paschburg
20/11 Douglas Dare + Stegonaute
4/12 Julie's Haircut + Sugar For The Pill
11/12 The Lemon Twigs (ITA exclusive)
Every concert will see the participation of BLU and her musical selection.
