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Free for all to enjoy

These are the great performing artists that will be at Festa this year, supported in part by grants from King County’s 4Culture, The Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, and other supporters as noted. Our MC’s will be Tony LaStella and David Madrid.

Refer to the Festa Weekend Schedule for the most up to date and complete listing of performers and show times.

Performers for our 2023 Festa

The Anthony “Nino” Lane Band

A rockin' 6-piece covering all your Italian favorites through the decades with an emphasis on danceability!

Moretti Main Stage
Saturday, 2:00pm and 6:30pm
Sunday, 4;00pm

The Anthony “Nino” Lane Band

A rockin’ 6-piece from Salinas, CA called the Anthony “Nino” Lane Band, covering all your Italian favorites through the decades with an emphasis on danceability! They will be doing three shows for us over the weekend so watch for those, especially on Saturday evening, the night of the “All-Star Italian Jam.”

Sponsored in part by a grant from King County’s 4Culture.

anthonylaneband.com/

Cory Pesaturo

3-Time World Champion Accordionist from Rhode Island, Cory Pesaturo also plays the piano, clarinet, and saxophone.

Wine Garden
Saturday, 4:00pm and 7:15pm in the ALL-STAR Dance and Show
Sunday, 4:00pm

Cory Pesaturo

World Champion Accordionist.
Playing since the age of nine, in 2002 Cory became the youngest person to win the National Accordion Championship, then won the Coupe Mondiale World Digital Accordion Championship in Auckland, New Zealand in 2009 — becoming the first American to win a World Accordion Championship since 1980.
Website

Seattle Opera Presents...

Resident Artists Camille Ortiz and Michael J. Hawk perform in a preview for the Seattle Opera's 'open house' which starts immediately after at 1:00pm.

Moretti Main Stage
Saturday, 12:00pm

Seattle Opera

Camille Ortiz, Soprano (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico): Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Oregon, Camille has appeared recently with Opera Lafayette at the Kennedy Center, Opera Orlando, and Boston Baroque.  Michael J. Hawk, Baritone (Fredonia, NY): A graduate of LA Opera’s Young Artist Program, Michael’s recently appeared with LA Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and the Buffalo Philharmonic. Camille and Michael will appear in Seattle Opera’s 60th Anniversary Concert & Gala and cover various operas such as Das Rheingold, Alcina and The Barber of Seville.

Website

Seattle Mandolin Orchestra

Large and unique ensemble playing beautiful Italian music on mandolins.

Moretti Main Stage
Saturday, 11:00am
Sunday, 11:00am

Seattle Mandolin Orchestra

Returning to Festa year after year, this large and unique ensemble plays beautiful Italian music on mandolins of myriad sizes.
Sponsored in part by a grant from the Seattle Office of Art & Culture.

seattlemandolin.org

Danny Quintero

Known throughout the NW as a great Sinatra-like song stylist.

Moretti Main Stage,
Saturday, 3:00pm

Danny Quintero

“Danny Q.” is known throughout the NW as a great Sinatra-like song stylist. When not fronting a 16-piece Big Band at nightclubs like Tula’s, he shows off his silky voice in more intimate gigs with a quartet.

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The Space Noodles

Founded in 2021 by native-Italians living in the Seattle area, they've been playing at numerous venues in Seattle, mainly under the music program of the Italian Cultural Association "Il Punto".

Moretti Main Stage
Saturday, 4:00pm

The Space Noodles

Playing very danceable Italian pop-rock ranging from the classic songwriters to the very latest releases.


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Fortissimo! with La Mezzanotte Trio

Known for many years as "Seattle's Three Tenors;" Gino Lucchetti, Stephen Wall, Chai Ahrenius, accompanied by Bonnie Birch, Nick Heiting and Paul Ostler.

Moretti Main Stage
Saturday, 12:00pm and 5:00pm

Fortissimo!

Known for many years as “Seattle’s Three Tenors,” these singers have been show-stoppers at Festa for over 20 years. Gino Lucchetti, Stephen Wall, Chai Ahrenius, brilliant operatic talents in their own right are awesome together! Always a standing ovation.

The Rob Porcaro Band

Rob Porcaro, singing since he was 9 years of age. In the late 60's, he fronted the legendary "Thin Red Line."

Moretti Main Stage
Saturday, 5:00pm

The Rob Porcaro Band

Now a regular on the Moretti Main stage, Rob Porcaro hails from Toronto, Canada and has been singing since he was 9 years old. In the late 60’s, he fronted the legendary “Thin Red Line” and immigrated with them to Seattle where he now sings at festivals like the Bite of Seattle the Taste of Tacoma and the San Gennaro Festival.

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Tony La Stella & The Goombas

Internationally Acclaimed Tenor and Guitarist with a Powerful Band play Italian Pop, Sinatra and "Italianized" Rock Classics.

Moretti Main Stage
Saturday, 3:00pm and 7:15pm with the Italian "All-star" Dance and Show
Sunday, 2:00pm

Tony La Stella

Mamma Mia! “Sorrento, Sinatra and Italianized Rock-n-Roll”…Tony & The Goombas will play your favorites for listening and dancing… leading to the BIG Saturday night “All-Star Dance & Jam” with a second show Sunday afternoon

Sponsored by the ABC Italian Radio Show (KMET Palm Springs) & La Stella Foundation.

tonylastella.com

Andrea Algieri

Lead singer of Mbrascatu, the popular indy "tarantella rock" band from Portland, OR.

Wine Garden
Saturday, 12:00pm
Sunday, 12:00pm

Andrea Algieri

Leader and lead singer of Mbrascatu, the popular, indy, “Tarantella rock” band from Portland, OR. Andrea will be appearing in the Wine Garden from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM, both days.

mbrascatu.com

Julie Cascioppo

Seattle's "Sicilian Diva" entertains audiences in Paris, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Hamburg, Brussels, New York, LA and San Francisco.

Moretti Main Stage
Sunday, 1:00pm

Julie Cascioppo

Seattle’s “Sicilian Diva” entertains audiences worldwide. When in Seattle, she’s usually at Vito’s or similar intimate cabarets. At Festa, Julie loves to play to her Italian side, performing songs from her childhood.

juliesings.com

Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band

Classic Italian marches and excerpts from "Aida" and "il Trovatore."

Moretti Main Stage
Saturday, 1:00pm

Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band

Saturday afternoon on the Moretti Main stage, The Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band presented classic Italian marches including the “March of the Bersaglieri” and “A Frangesa,” as well as excerpts from “Aida” and “il Trovatore.” Guaranteed to wake you up!

sedentarysousa.com

La Mezzanotte Trio

Bonnie Birch, Nick Heiting and Paul Ostler; traditional Italian music at its finest.

Moretti Main Stage
Saturday, 12:00pm and 5:00pm, with Fortissimo!

Wine Garden
Saturday, 2:00pm (Bonnie Birch)
Sunday, 2:00pm

La Mezzanotte Trio

Consisting of Bonnie Birch, Nick Heiting and Paul Ostler, they’ll appear on the Moretti Main stage and also accompany Fortissimo! Hear musical samples and learn all about them at their website.

bonniebirch.com

Mary Marchese and the Rave Band

Mary has been performing around the US and the world since the 80's. Come dance to some fun Italian-American and traditional Italian tunes!

Moretti Main Stage
Sunday, 3:00pm

Mary Marchese & the Rave Band

Mary has been performing around the US and the world since the 80’s. Including performing for our troops in Korea, Guam, Okinawa, The Philippines, Diego Garcia, Hawaii, Turkey, Greece, Spain and ITALY! Come dance to some fun Italian-American and traditional Italian tunes!

Bob Bailey III

A comedy star and our Grape Stomp caller, also known as "Doc Bailey".

Grape Stomp Area
Saturday, 11:40 - 4:00pm

Bob Bailey III

Our Grape Stomp caller, also known as “Doc Bailey” loves to make Seattle laugh. Around the world he’s a comedy star but at home he’s just a funny guy from Ballard.

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Performances from our 2020 Virtual Festa

With special thanks to Seattle Center and our amazing sponsors, we’ve been able to record and now stream the following performances directly to you.

PART ONE

List of Artists in Order of Appearance

Fortissimo!, Danny Quintero, Julie Cascioppo, Tony La Stella, Seattle Mandolin Orchestra, The Primo Basso Band, Rob Porcaro, Mary Marchese – That’s Amore, La Mezzanotte Trio (Slideshow), Dennis from Dennis & the Jets, La MezzaNotte Trio, The Rigatones, Tony La Stella & The Goombas.

Special thanks to Seattle Center and our amazing sponsors!

PART TWO

List of Artists in Order of Appearance

The Rigatones, Danny Quintero, Mary Marchese, Fortissimo! The Tarantellas, Rob Porcaro, The Primo Basso Band, La Mezzanotte Trio (Slideshow), Mbrascatu, Tony La Stella & The Goombas, Fortissimo!, Julie Cascioppo, The Primo Basso Band, Fortissimo!

Special thanks to Seattle Center and our amazing sponsors!

Additional musical performances

Thanks to Festa regulars, the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra and Mbrascatu.

A unique performance of ‘La Vita è Bella’ (‘Life is Beautiful’) by members of the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra, playing a socially-distanced session filmed entirely from their homes.

A great video by Mbrascatu who have played the Italian Festival for many years. This indy ensemble from Portland, Oregon plays original material sung in the Calabrese dialect and never fails to get the crowd on its feet. Gypsy-rock at its most exciting!