AppaloosaAppaloosa was founded in 1998 in Livorno (Tuscany) thanks to Enrico Pistoia and Niccolò Mazzantini . After some changes in the line-up, a number of gigs and their first recording sessions, in  2000 they were joined by drummer Marco Zaninello. At this time they also decided to devote their music to an instrumental sound which blends noise tones with funk and psychedelic attitudes. in April 2004 Simone Di Maggio joined the band, bringing some laptop electronics to their compositions.  They have played at many important festivals and did a mini tour in Spain in 2005 supported by videomaker Martino Chiti.

Bobo RondelliBobo (Roberto) Rondelli is well-known in Livorno as the lead singer with the Ottavo Padiglione, a group formed in 1992. Bobo was behind the band and wrote most of their songs, recording their first album in 1993. The band soon became known outside Tuscany, especially for the sharp humour of Bobo's song lyrics, often painting an ironic picture of the band's home town, Livorno.

He went solo in the late 1990s and produced his first solo album, Figlio del Nulla, in 2001. In 2002 his second album, Disperati, Intellettuali, Ubriaconi, was entirely arranged and produced by Stefano Bollani, the well-known Italian jazz pianist and composer.

CarneigraCarneigra, with their current line-up, have been playing together since 2004, although the band has been going since 2000. The name derives from  the combination of the words carne and negra, taken from a song by the Italian singersongwriter De André.

Their songs reflect the “Mediterranean soul” of Livorno and their lyrics have clear social and political connotations. The musicians all come from different musical backgrounds, ranging from classical to jazz and rock, and these influences all come together in Carneigra creating their own individual style.

Disvega have been together since 2002. They already have several recordings under their belts and have played at the opening of art exhibitions at the Bottini d'Olio in Livorno and at the Bottega del Caffé, bringing together music and art. They also played at the Effetto Venezia festival in Livorno in 2007.

Genre: acoustic rock, new wave, electronic

Line Up:
Cecilia Torlai (vocals and backing)
David Marsili (guitar and vocals)
Massimo Ruberti (bass)
Paolo Spaziosi (drums)
Roberto Mangoni (piano and keyboard)

EgonEgon was formed in 2002 by Marco Capozzi and Marco Liuni who started off as a guitar duo. They were later joined by bass player Francesco D'Angelo and drummer Alberto Battocchi. These days Battocchi is the band's sound engineer and the drums are played by Federico Melosi.

The band has won several important Italian music awards including the Ritmi Globali Europei competition in Treviso in 2004.

Giles Foster on The Soul Contact CD CoverGiles Foster has lived and worked in Livorno, Tuscany, for longer than he probably cares to remember, but he is originally from Salisbury in England and comes from a family of musicians.

Giles sings and plays the acoustic guitar, and writes his own songs which, influenced by some of the all-time greats like The Rolling Stones and David Bowie, communicate his great love of life.

Gli Ambasciatori dell'Amore ('Ambassadors of Love') are an eccentric line-up of 6 Livornese musicians bringing Italian music from the '60s to the stage in their original and entertaining style.

Genre: "Love Beat Rock"

Line Up:
Manfredi AKA Roberto Alessandri  (bass guitar)
Joseph AKA Luca Valdembrini  (vocals, piano and Hammond organ)
Paolino AKA Federico Bellini  (vocals and guitar)
Goffredo AKA Gabriele Lessi  (guitar)
Alano AKA Stefano Contesini  (trumpet)
Giuliano AKA Federico Melosi (drums and percussion)

Guerrilla Farming have been playing together since 1998 and regularly play live in and around Livorno and in Tuscany. In 2007 they have appeared at venues in Pisa and Capraia as well as in their home town of Livorno. 

Genre:
"Reggae and Jamaican Sounds".

Line Up:
Paolo Barsanti (vocals)
Roberto Sassu (electric guitar)
Hebel Bianucci (rhythm guitar)
Matteo Sarti (keyboard and backing vocals)
Roly Calabrò (bass)
Mirco Pacini (percussion, backing vocals)
David Domilici (percussion, backing vocals)
Davide Arnone (drums, backing vocals)

Hollowblue have mixed backgrounds: their lead singer is from Livorno while the others come from Pisa and Bath in the UK. They released their first disc at the end of 2004 on Suiteside Records, while their latest recording is due to come out in mid-January 2008. They have collaborated with Anthony Reynolds from the English group Jack, and have been met with enthusiastic reviews. They were finalists in selections for the 2007 Heineken Jamming Festival.

Genre:

Line Up:
Gianluca Maria Sorace (vocals, electric and acoustic guitar)
Marco Calderisi (electric guitars)
Ellie Young (cello and piano)
Giancarlo Russo (bass guitar)
Federico Moi (drums)

Humanoira were formed in 1999 by Riccardo Vivaldi and Davide Varriale, school friends whose musical career began by playing in a garage where they often got into trouble with the neighbours. Since then they have progressed to four members and have taken part in various music competitions, getting into the finals at Arezzo Wave in 2003 and at Musica Viva in 2005.

Genre: indie rock, electronic