Eugenio Bennato to perform on Grimaldi Lines' literary cruise to Barcelona

Italian singer-songwriter Eugenio Bennato (born Naples, 1976) will be a protagonist of Grimaldi Lines' cruise 'Una Nave di libri per Barcellona', departing from Civitavecchia on April 20-25 aboard the Cruise Roma. Invited by the Italian Cultural Institute of Barcelona for the 'Aspettando San Jordi' concert on April 22, Bennato will perform with his band Taranta Power. The event is part of the Erasmus+-funded Progetto Desibook, aiming to promote intercultural dialogue and European consciousness among youth from Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Spain, and Italy. Bennato reflects on the symbolic power of the ship and book, recalling his first childhood voyage with brothers Edoardo and Giorgio, which also stopped in Barcelona. He discusses his musical project 'Vento Popolare', a synthesis of travels including a recent tour in India where he collaborated with the Yar Mohammad band, resulting in the new song 'Musica dal mondo'. Bennato notes a renewed interest among young people in author music and folk, contrasting with trap and rap. He expresses concern over current conflicts in Ukraine-Russia and Gaza, emphasizing the cruise's peaceful message. He cites influences such as Federico García Lorca, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Milan Kundera, and Italo Calvino. Bennato also serves as artistic director and jury president of the Premio Gian Maria Testa, honoring the late singer-songwriter.