GroundUP Music Festival Alberobello is back with a bang in 2026! It’s the special festival with most artists that you’ve never heard of (if you’re like me) but will become your favorites once you check them out! That is the very essence of all GroundUP Music Festivals put on by the organizers Michael League (of Snarky Puppy) and Paul Lehr (GroundUP Music).
Naturally the festival features three sets of the 5-time Grammy winning ensemble Snarky Puppy. The band is coming in hot off the receent release of their latest masterpiece, Somni (read review here) and U.S. tour debuting the album live (see Atlanta set in the video). That alone is enough to make this festival memorable.
But on top of all that, the organizers have assembled an performance roster that you won’t be able to see or top anywhere in the world. The performers come from all over and are all virtuosos in one way or another. There are amazing vocalists, great guitarists, horn players, pianists, and of course instruments that are non-traditional in Western music. It’s going to be a great way to go on a musical journey and explore the magical setting among the Trulli region of Alberobello, Italy. My personal tip to all is to come and enjoy the music and also be ready to enjoy some of the best ice cream in the world! Check out all of the guest performers as I cover the daily lineups below.
Mark Guiliana is a great New York-area drummer and familiar to me as a frequent collaborator with Brad Mehldau for several cool albums. More recently, he was a part of Michael League’s Blue Note NYC January 2026 residency for the first Between Two Drummers session with Nate Wood. He’s played with many of the leading young jazz musicians of this era, and his set will be top-flight.
Becca Stevens & The Secret Trio is sure to be a unique fest experience. I first saw Becca at the Family Dinner, Vol. 2 recording sessions and have been a fan ever since. She has a voice comparable to Joni Mitchell, in my view. Apparently (from the GroundUP website), “Becca was in awe witnessing The Secret Trio’s performance at the GroundUP Music Festival a few years ago.” I remember The Secret Trio from GrounUP Fest 2019 and they were amazing being made up of an oudist, kanunist and clarinetist who came together to create a new type of chamber music, combining the elements of sound, texture and rhythm with new and interesting approaches to their instruments. They perform original pieces and traditional melodies that fuse the microtonal modes and improvisation of the Middle East, dance beats of the Balkans, and elements of jazz, rock, classical and world music.
Serena Brancale is a “local” talent, from Bari, Italy where many of the festival goers will pass through. From what I have seen in the videos, she’s has quite great energy and stage presence. She sings a range of jazz, funk, and soul. As the opening day “guest,” I’d expect to see her perform several songs “Family Dinner” style with Snarky Puppy.
Lau Noah is a Spanish singer, instrumentalist, and composer. Apparently, she is the first Catalan artist to perform on Tiny Desk (see video), which Snarky Puppy also did. She plays contrapuntal guitar, which enables playing multiple melodic lines simultaneously. I’ve recently seen this with one of its pioneers—Stanley Jordan. Lau will perform a gorgeous set to start the festival.
Victoria Canal is a Spanish-American vocalist and pianist. To me, she sounds a bit like Norah Jones which is wonderful. She also has a connection to my hometown, Atlanta, having won a competition at a local soundroom, Eddie’s Attic, back in 2014 and her first album was recorded here as well. Victoria will be one of the featured artists on Saturday!
Salomão Soares & Vanessa Moreno are a Brazilian pianist-vocalist duo and follow in the GroundUP Music Festival tradition in bringing music from around the world to a growing fan base. The music video highlights Salomão’s lush playing and Vanessa’s silky voice. I think fans of Flora Purim will especially appreciate this set.
Matteo Mancuso is another Italian talent from Palermo! From what I see in videos and read on the internet, he’s considered one of the greatest guitarists of this generation. His right-hand fingering technique—”finger-walking”—is similar to bassists’ or flamenco players’. He can play at a speed that surpasses pick-style players. Many comments suggest he is among the best guitarists in the world, capable of blending complex jazz lines with rock intensity. His Family Dinner sit-in will be epic.
Maria Mazzotta is a singer of world music from Italy. For several years, she performed with Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, who appeared at GUMF Alberobello in 2025. According to her bio, “She moves in a natural, seamless way from the sounds of Southern Italy to the inflections of Balkan music, and captivates the audience with her sincere interpretation as she carries them along while immersing them into the cultures of the songs interpreted.” I love Eastern European and Balkan music so this will be a great opener on Saturday.
Anne Paceo is a French drummer who according to her bio, “developed a singular musical language where trance, spirituality, rhythmic power, and stylistic freedom merge into a deeply embodied and distinctive sound.” Judging from the video here and others, I’d agree and an super intrigued by what I’ve heard. She’s won numerous awards in the jazz world and this will be an explosive Sunday set.
Bab L’Bluz is a Moroccan-French rock band that plays instruments that many people, including myself, are less familiar with, including the electric awisha and electric gimbri. There has been a great connection between Michael League and Snarky Puppy and Moroccan music since the band played there in 2018 or 2019 (maybe earlier). Innov Gnawa has subsequently appeared at GroundUP in Miami. Of note is the double-necked gimbri in the video. This will expand our musical horizons!
Gianluca Petrella will be the Family Dinner-style guest on Sunday night. As best as I can recall, this will be the first time a trombonist will be a featured artist at a GroundUP Music Festival. There were some trombone parts on early Snarky Puppy albums—it would be incredible to see some of those rolled in, but in any case, adding some trombone “bottom” to the band’s horn array will be special.
Shai Maestro is a fantastic jazz pianist currently living in Spain. He’s a past collaborator with some big names in the jazz world including Avishai Cohen, Ben Wendel (Kneebody) and Michael Mayo (a Newport Jazz 2026 performer). Looking forward to getting moving on Sunday afternoon with this Trullo Sovrano Stage set.