This week many people sat beneath the covered seating at the Johnny Moscardini sports stadium to enjoy this year’s annual Fish and Chips Festival.
Freshly cooked pasta, grilled steak and sausages were also on the menu, but this evening all eyes were on the fresh, crispy fish and chips that can only be enjoyed once a year, prepared by the experienced hands of the AS Barga kitchen team, which has been serving fish and chips for 40 years.
Part of the story behind the Fish and Chips Festival goes back to the late nineteenth century, when difficult economic conditions led many people to leave Barga for the industrial centres of Scotland.
In places such as Ayr, Largs, Glasgow and Greenock, Italian immigrants sold fish and chips in winter and ice cream in summer to hungry dockers and shipbuilders, helping to create a culinary culture that continues to this day.
Names such as Nardini, Conti and Marchetti became familiar sights on Scottish high streets as the Italians worked tirelessly to establish their businesses.
Some of the emigrants eventually returned to Barga in retirement and, as a tribute to that history of emigration and homecoming, the Fish and Chips Festival was established more than 40 years ago.
This evening brought the 2026 Sagra del Pesce e Patate to a close, with The Aristodemos and friends providing the music for the final night.
The Aristodemos are musical group based in Barga, Tuscany, known for reviving Italian swing music from the 1930s to the 1950s. The band originally formed in 2009 around the local bar, Da Aristo, in Barga Vecchia, and has become a staple in the town’s cultural scene.
The group’s performances are deeply rooted in traditional Italian music, which they blend with elements of jazz and folk, creating a unique and nostalgic sound that resonates with both locals and visitors.
The lineup has evolved over time, with the core members including Alessandro Rizzardi (mandolin and saxophone), Fabio Guazzelli (guitar), Keane (cajon and percussion), Leo Gnesi (double bass), Francesco Massagli (fisarmonica) and Andrea Gonnella on vocals.
The Aristodemos often perform at local events, including impromptu concerts in Barga’s squares, and are celebrated for their lively and engaging shows.
Their performances are not just concerts but cultural experiences that reflect the vibrant artistic community of Barga, a city known for its rich history and connection to the arts.
The band has been particularly active in promoting and preserving the musical heritage of Italy through their distinctive style.
Gli Aristodemos sono un gruppo musicale con base a Barga, in Toscana, noto per aver riportato in vita la musica swing italiana degli anni ’30 e ’50.
La band si è formata originariamente nel 2009 intorno al bar locale Da Aristo, a Barga Vecchia, ed è diventata un punto fermo della scena culturale della città.
Le esibizioni del gruppo sono profondamente radicate nella musica tradizionale italiana, che fondono con elementi di jazz e folk, creando un suono unico e nostalgico che risuona sia tra i locali che tra i visitatori.
La formazione si è evoluta nel tempo, con i membri principali tra cui Alessandro Rizzardi (mandolino e sax), Fabio Guazzelli (chitarra), Keane (cajon e percussioni), Leo Gnesi (contrabbasso), Francesco Massagli (fisarmonica) e Andrea Gonnella alla voce.
Gli Aristodemos si esibiscono spesso in eventi locali, inclusi concerti improvvisati nelle piazze di Barga, e sono apprezzati per i loro spettacoli vivaci e coinvolgenti.
Le loro performance non sono solo concerti, ma vere e proprie esperienze culturali che riflettono la vibrante comunità artistica di Barga, una città nota per la sua ricca storia e connessione con le arti.
La band è stata particolarmente attiva nella promozione e nella conservazione del patrimonio musicale italiano attraverso il loro stile distintivo.
