Nextones Transforms an Abandoned Italian Quarry into a Breathtaking Music Experience
Medieval villages, thermal baths, alpine walks, megalithic complexes and an abandoned quarry make for an outstanding setting to this breathtaking Italian festival.
"This year's festival invites visitors to explore not just art, but terrain — Nextones becomes a journey," says Nextones artistic director, Ruggero Pietromarchi . "While our core remains rooted in the dramatic quarry of Tones Teatro Natura and the surreal rock formations of Orridi di Uriezzo, this year the festival branches out into new parts of the Ossola Valley."
Tones on the Stones, the collective spearheading Nextones, converted the long abandoned Roncino quarry in the small village of Oira into a large stone theatre, surrounded by the valley’s rugged, mountainous landscape.
"We try to shift the focus from consumption to connection."
The theatre is the centrepiece of the event, which sees the space transform into a site for cultural communion, with unique performances that combine electronic soundscapes with live sets engaged with its place. Outside of the festival, the site is used for continued research into technologies that bring outdoor events such as Nextones to life. This year, the festival evolves in ambition, experience and setting.
Each location is thoughtfully paired to artistic endeavour: this year will feature sound installations from the likes of Michela de Mattei & Palm Wine featuring underwater speakers placed in pools of the Premia Thermal Baths, and the presentation of acoustic journeys by percussionist Julian Sartorius as he navigates his way along the Domodossola to the summit of Weissmies with drumsticks in tow. There programme also features hikes to megalithic complexes and medieval villages, complemented by live performances by Sara Berts and EartHeart.
The festival also brings together artists for unprecedented live sets, collaborations and projects, always tied to place, sensation and innovation. Italian composer Caterina Barbieri teams up with Mancunian ambient duo Space Afrika to present their forthcoming album; Objekt and CCL go b2b with their eclectic, bassy sounds; and other performances include Aya & MFO, GiGi FM, Heith, Ehua and Butttechno.
"We try to treat each space not as a stage to fill, but as a place to understand."
An event so deeply tied to nature, defined so intrinsically with setting, it is perhaps unsurprising that the festival operates under a strict sustainability ethos. "We try to treat each space not as a stage to fill, but as a place to understand. That sensitivity is something we carry throughout the whole process," says Ruggero. "We keep the scale intentional and grounded, and choose artists and formats that respond to the environment rather than dominate it. All the daily activities are a way we try to shift the focus from consumption to connection."
Date and Location
Nextones is taking place at Tones Teatro Natura from the 17-20 July 2025.
Transport
The closest airport is Milan Malpensa Airport, where you can take a shuttle to the festival. If you are already local to the area, there are other public transport options you can find on their website.
Accommodation
You can camp in the festival’s campsite or use this interactive map to find accommodation nearby.
