On a Sunday afternoon I wandered into Piazza Maggiore (Bologna’s main square) when I came upon this colorful van parked alongside a large stage that had been erected since I walked through there earlier in the day.
There weren’t many people hanging out in front of the stage and I decided that since I wasn’t in a hurry to go anywhere I would stay for a while, hoping to figure out what this was all about.
The guys in the band looked like old hippies and they seemed to be fooling around, rather than getting ready for a concert. I had hoped that they would start playing, but while I was there it seemed to be more of a sound check than anything. I’m still not sure what was really going on. I do know that Jimi Hendrix did play in Bologna in 1968, but this didn’t seem like a tribute to him. Anyone out there know anything about Hey Joe-Bologna?
Panini Girl 
May 19, 2012 at 4:18 am
It wasn’t a Hendrix thing Janie, but apparently an annual concert to support a charity established by a Franciscan father, Padre Marella. All the artists are enthusiastic volunteers I just read. The charity must do lots of good work. Piazza Maggiore is beautiful don’t you think? Hope this helps… Jxx
May 19, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Janine-thanks! I did look up “Hey Joe” after I posted and noticed that it happens every year and that Padre Marella helped the poor and also orphans. It was sort of a strange “happening”-unfortunately not much of an audience.
May 21, 2012 at 7:51 pm
are you sure they were not looking for joe pare???
ha-ha
May 22, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Gail-you are too funny!
May 22, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Don’t know a darn thing about it, but sure looks like a lot of fun!