RAANDOOM INSIDE: Color Fest
Let’s say it’s the week of Ferragosto, and in a stunning region with crystal-clear seas and a big heart, there’s a festival with an incredible, diverse lineup that gets over 6,000 people dancing. Let’s say none of them give a fuck about the flaming hot sun because, really, what else can you do at 3 PM but dance and hug the people around you? After all, that’s all we really have: our shared humanity.
exclusive pic for media coverage via @loraw._
We had the privilege of attending the 2024 edition of Color Fest, and believe us when we say we couldn’t have spent Ferragosto in a better way. The festival took place at a truly special location: Agriturismo Costantino in Maida. Nearby, we found a small bar where we stopped to ask for a bottle of water but ended up sharing a platter of local meats and cheeses, chatting warmly with the owner. Divided into two stages and set up like an immense dance floor for partying, the festival proved to be an event you simply cannot miss - you’ll want to come back next year, instead.
The smaller stage, Stage B, featured performances by Coca Puma, Bassolino, and Il Mago del Gelato, along with international acts like Ko Shin Moon and Lip Critic. This stage area was small and more resembled the courtyard of a farmhouse (which it actually is) than a typical festival venue. However, this only enhanced its unique rural charm and perfectly embodied the artistic direction’s goal of creating a space where everyone could dance together closely, moving as one to the same beat. The main stage area, where Editors, Cosmo, and Fulminacci performed, was surrounded by beautiful olive trees and was very spacious. Many people watched the concerts from small stone walls, creating an incredibly picturesque scene, with people spread out everywhere to listen, hug, drink beers, and share kisses. The live performances were unforgettable: many people were moved to tears during Editors’ concert, people shouted defiance at the government and also exchanged kisses during Cosmo’s performance, and everyone danced their hearts out with their eyes closed to the rhythms of Populous and Clap Clap; arms raised to the sky, moving fluidly to the rhythm of the bass drum.
There are few things I’m sure of in this life, but I can say without a doubt that at Color Fest, I felt like part of something really beautiful. There was an incredible sense of humanity in the air, as if everyone was there with one simple goal: to move their feet without any pretenses. In that moment, we were all rich: we felt a huge sense of freedom and a love for it that is rarely felt. Color Fest is a manifesto against the endless loops of routine and banality. It’s a festival that’s intricate and rich in non-material ways - in today’s world, feelings of confusion are our constant companions, and it’s important to learn how to tame and manage them. Color Fest serves as a pause from daily emotional turmoil, from the anxieties and stress of having to keep moving forward. It’s a moment of sweet inertia, a break from the relentless search for something elusive, allowing us to realize that the melting pot of people and sensations around us is what makes us feel alive, what makes us rich, and what contributes to our growth. Music is a universal language, and what Color Fest has achieved is finding its own space by creating coherent lineups that keep the energy high. Nearly 12 hours of nonstop music, and no one was tired. Everyone grooved under the speakers, everyone smiled, everyone just went with the flow.
exclusive pic for media coverage via @loraw._
People are generally the best part of any festival, but at Color Fest, they were probably even more so. It was amazing to see generational gaps disappear: throughout the evenings, there were plenty of young people, but also many adults, some of them even with daughters and sons. It was a unique symphony of colors and characters, we were all chill and united in a beautiful reality. What made everything flow so smoothly was also the attention to detail from the organizers, starting with the high-quality Food & Beverage stands. Drinks included the “Spritz Calabro” (a spritz with chili pepper, typical in the region) and an amazing selection of craft beers. This detail made a difference as it’s always great to have something from the region featured at a festival. In addition, various branded goodies were handed out, including stickers and pins, which many people quickly attached to their tote bags or shirts. This level of effort is what took the festival to the next level: connecting with festival-goers by considering what could enhance their experience beyond just the music, even through simple merchandise.
Every night at Color Fest was a celebration of life. The sky turned orange, and the garden was filled with dreamy-eyed people sipping drinks and eating “testacce” (a typical dish similar to focaccia), with pregnant women or those carrying children on their shoulders, individuals who were alone but never truly alone - oh, how light-hearted we were! It’s incredible how we have a thousand worries on our minds to manage, yet just a few notes were enough to make us lose ourselves, hand in hand, grooving away without hesitation or fear, because, in the end, there’s nothing we cannot handle. After all, if life is as simple as a city festival, and if I can be moved by watching people simply exist, then maybe there’s still hope for all of us.
