One hundred drummers, a single great orchestra, and Piazzale Segni transformed into an open-air stage. On Sunday, September 20, the Festa del Ritmo drew a large crowd for an afternoon dedicated to music and sharing.
Organized by the Bateras Beat Sassari school and directed by Fabrizio Murgia, the initiative brought together musicians of different ages from numerous locations across Sardinia. Among these were Muravera, Cagliari, La Maddalena, Ittiri, Olbia, Macomer, Thiesi, Sorso, Usini, Uri, and naturally Sassari.
A gathering born with the goal of taking music out of traditional spaces and creating a great collective moment open to the city.
From Queen to Tazenda: a square moving to the beat of the music
The absolute stars were, of course, the drummers, performing in unison a repertoire spanning genres and generations.
Piazzale Segni echoed with songs by Queen, AC/DC, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Survivor, right through to Italian music by 883 and Tazenda.
The performance was accompanied by sing-alongs, dancing, and audience participation, creating the festive atmosphere that organizers had envisioned from the event's unveiling.
The word Fabrizio Murgia chose to sum up the spirit of the day was simply "Together": musicians of different backgrounds, ages, and origins united by the same beat.
The Mayor opens the Festa del Ritmo
The event was officially kicked off by the Mayor of Sassari, Giuseppe Mascia, who took the stage alongside Culture Councillor Nicoletta Puggioni and City Councillor Noemi Piga.
"Long live rock 'n' roll!" was the mayor's greeting to open the day before handing the floor over to the drums.
The municipal administration's presence accompanied an event that aimed specifically at music's power to serve as a tool for social and intergenerational gathering.
From previous editions to Sassari's big celebration
The Festa del Ritmo did not start in Sassari. The format had already been held in other locations across the island, including Ossi, La Maddalena, and Macomer, before arriving in Fabrizio Murgia's home city.
On the eve of the event, we covered the arrival of over one hundred musicians in the city in our in-depth feature on the Festa del Ritmo in Sassari.
Expectations were high, and the public's response confirmed the interest in an unusual format capable of turning one of the city's largest spaces into a massive open-air rehearsal studio.
One hundred drum kits playing in unison and an entire square caught up in the same music: for one afternoon, Piazzale Segni became the beating heart of rhythm in Sardinia.