Farewell to Sergio Ricciardone, the man who changed Italian music and clubbing

When talking about Italian musical culture, one immediately thinks of singer-songwriters, of the San Siro stadium packed in front of a lone man on stage with a guitar in his arms. Yet, in the northern region, through the streets of Turin, one of the most important electronic music festivals in Europe has been taking place for over twenty years. The C2C (formerly Club To Club) has a profound history that traces its origins back to the early 2000s. It was in 2002 when Sergio Ricciardone founded the Associazione Culturale Situazione Xplosiva for the music we all know today as avant-pop. Before the whole world discovered the allure of electronic music, before its aesthetics were de-stigmatized, Ricciardone was one of the first to recognize the genre’s infinite potential and the explosive energy of its community. Those who had the honor of attending the festival’s early editions, those who still never miss a date, and those who have only recently discovered C2C all know the indescribable atmosphere that arises at Lingotto during those festive days: the city is buzzing, the streets are alive, and strangers in the city center exchange knowing glances as if to say «You’ll be there tonight, right?». In a world where subcultures are targeted and young lives are overwhelmed by anxiety, every year C2C opens its doors and invites the audience to discover what’s new, what’s beautiful. When the news of Sergio Ricciardone’s passing was shared on Tuesday, November 11, MP Marco Grimaldi played five seconds of electronic music in the Chamber of Montecitorio. Thanks to Ricciardone and C2C, the people's music knocked on the doors of institutions.

In over twenty years of history, C2C has hosted hundreds of artists with an enormous cultural impact. Just think that in 2014, Franco Battiato, one of the greatest singer-songwriters and a pioneer of electronic music in Italy, even appeared on the Festival’s stage. Alongside him, colossal figures of alternative music have performed at Lingotto, from Aphex Twin to Thom Yorke, from Arca to Sophie, and then Yves Tumor, Flying Lotus, Caribou, Caterina Barbieri, King Krule, and even Swans and Beach House. Along with unforgettable sets marked by artistic installations and dazzling light shows, C2C has not only created music but also culture. While the government was thinking about how to stop raves, close venues, and eliminate the few infrastructures in Italy that support new generations, the spaces of Lingotto provided a gathering place for those who feared losing the sound that shaped them. The Festival introduced a new way to explore alternative music, as well as an opportunity for all attendees to reconnect—with themselves, while technology pushed us to lose ourselves in a phone screen, and with others, after years of lockdown that had forced us to retreat into our homes. In the end, Ricciardone’s club wanted nothing more than this: «Let’s be honest, avant-pop means nothing other than forward, people». 

Ricciardone never settled for labels or boundaries. From the very beginning, he aimed to take electronic music out of the clubs, proving that this genre was not just the soundtrack of the night but an artistic and cultural language capable of telling the story of the present and the future. This is evident from the artists who have performed on the festival’s stage, ranging from major stars to the most experimental talents like Arca and Caterina Barbieri, as well as its international ambitions. In recent years, C2C has expanded its horizons even further. Its arrival in New York, with an event scheduled for May 2025 at the Knockdown Center in Queens, marks a new chapter in this journey. As Ricciardone himself stated in an interview with Rolling Stone reported by Artribune: «Bringing C2C Festival to the United States represents a crucial moment in our journey. We are excited to share our artistic vision dedicated to the spirit of the avant-garde and the new pop with new communities, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and continuing to redefine music and art on a global scale». This ability to evolve without ever losing its identity is what has always made C2C a unique festival. It is not just a showcase for music but a place where art becomes an experience, where the audience plays an active role in the narrative. The festival has always aimed to create an environment where people can feel free to express themselves, as Ricciardone emphasized: «People must feel free within the festival experience […] The goal is to create a multisensory experience that can give people – for a few hours – a place where they can express their freedoms».

The future of C2C seems clear: to continue exploring new languages, breaking down barriers between musical genres and artistic disciplines, and bringing its vision to increasingly international contexts. If the festival has managed to make what was once considered niche into something popular, the next goal is perhaps even more ambitious: to redefine the very boundaries of what we call music and performance. Sergio Ricciardone leaves behind an immense legacy. His passing is a loss for the Italian cultural scene, but his dream continues to live on. The baton now passes to those who shared his vision: ensuring that C2C remains a laboratory of ideas, a place where avant-garde becomes pop, and where music continues to transform the world.