Blues music in Bellinzona originated within the walls of the legendary Grotto Pasinetti in the mid-1980s.
African-American music concerts were first held in Tessin in an open air setting in Piazza Governo in 1989, with the first edition of Piazza Blues Bellinzona.

The world's greatest blues artists have performed in the shadow of the Castles:
B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Gary Moore, Luther Allison, Bo Diddley, Bobby Rush, Koko Taylor, Ike Turner, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Joe Bonamassa, Otis Rush, Robert Crayto name but a few!

In 2010, the Blues Foundation in Memphis awarded the Piazza Blues Festival in Bellinzona the prestigious “KBA – Keeping the Blues Alive Award” as the best blues festival in Europe.

After 22 editions, the festival came to an end in 2010, but the baton was passed on to the Coopaso Cooperative, created to give continuity to live music after the closure of the legendary Grotto Pasinetti.

Thanks to the support of over 400 members and the commitment of a dozen volunteers, Coopaso organised concerts of various genres in different venues in the Bellinzona area for five years.

In 2015, the working group decided to revive the festival: initially under the name Bellinzona Blues Sessions, then, thanks to its great success, the name became Bellinzona Blues Festival, returning to its historic venue in Piazza Governo.

In 2019, the 5th edition of the revamped festival celebrated 30th anniversary of the blues in Bellinzona, an extraordinary milestone!

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Coopaso was dissolved.
Management costs and uncertainty about its future led to the festival being shut down.

Today, after a five-year wait, we are ready to start again, bringing a new festival dedicated to blues and its influence on modern music to Bellinzona.
Since the 1920s, blues has shaped genres such as jazz, rock, soul and hip hop, inspiring artists around the world.
Even today, blues remains a fundamental basis for music and influences constantly evolving styles, lyrics and instrumental techniques.

The commitment of this new working group is to maintain the quality and hospitality that have distinguished the festival for 30 years, giving our audience unforgettable moments, just as it has always been.

“The Blues is back in Town” is the historic slogan, coined many years ago and still incredibly relevant today.
We are very grateful to you for your support: your participation is the fuel for our organisational engine..

Once again, 25 July 2025 will be remembered as the beginning of a new and exciting adventure!