‘Burning Rosettas’. Dogliani Castello April 2019

Text Paul Winter

“Humpa” what sounds like a cheering for the Icelandic national team, is actually the word for a Finnish Polka.

Why this type of music can be heard in Piedmont is a long story.

It began in the rehearsal room of the percussionist, Tibor, of the legendary “Blue Monday Blues Band”.

No – actually, it began in the sauna of the bass player, Gernot, of the legendary “Diamond Dog”.

Or was it at the workshop of the legendary Finnish “Harley grease monkey” and landscape gardner Tuomo?

Most likely it was because Gernot’s Vespa was waiting to be repaired in Tuomo’s shop, and Tibor showed up and because he had nothing better to do, started beating on the oil barrels. The other gentlemen realized the opportunity right away, and before the evening and two cases of Mohren beer were gone, a new band saw the light of day.

As for naming the band, the gentlemen assured us that it had to do with the performance they went through the morning after eating a chili from Gernot’s legendary kitchen.

What does all of this have to do with Piedmont?

Well, “SerafinaQuota” is actually guilty. The culture association opened its freshly painted doors to welcome the “Burning Rosettas” as artists in residence.

After nesting in the Casa in Dogliani Castello, the band built up their Marshall Towers at the Teatro Sacra Famiglia, rehearsed and drank, recorded, and performed.

In the Barolo Bar in Monforte d’Alba, in the ‘Il Berlino’ in Ceva and most recently in the Teatro itself, in front of the astonished honorees of the Città di Dogliani.

Her music – Humpa – Rock’n’Roll with Brazilian country vibes – sparked a storm of enthusiasm. A cultural highlight of the season, as everyone assured.

*Paul Winter composes and produces music for theatre, dance and film. He’s writing songs and was introduced to the art business’s quirkiness at the Institute for Sound Technology and Electroacoustic Music in Vienna. He is curating the Serafina Artist in Residence program for musicians.