On Sunday, June 21, the opening night of the "Sugar is Back 2026" festival brings to the stage of Piazza Matteotti in Capoliveri a debut with a bang under the sign of Black Music. The theme of the first night, "Women in Soul, Blues, Dance, Funk & Black Music," will feature the extraordinary Australian singer Katia Fuscaldo as the headliner, accompanied for the occasion by a band of true monuments of international live music.
An eclectic artist with overwhelming vocals, Katia Fuscaldo has more than two decades as a lead vocalist on Australia's top stages, with acclaimed tours to China and Malaysia. A backing vocalist for pop star Jessica Mauboy and official voice of the acclaimed YouTube series Mighty Car Mods, she has climbed the R&B/Soul and Reggae charts with the band Righteous Voodoo. Having recently moved to Italy, Katia brings all her interpretive power to Elba in a set list that will range from contemporary pop to old-school disco to deep soul.
Accompanying Fuscaldo on this musical journey will be a lineup of star performers who have written indelible pages of Italian and international music:
Cico Cicognani (Bass): Founder of the legendary Jestofunk, he boasts a mind-boggling list of collaborations that includes such world music mainstays as Whitney Houston, Randy Crawford, Shaggy, Scott Henderson and Steve Gadd, as well as homegrown bigwigs like Laura Pausini.
Pier Foschi (Drums): A historic rhythmic engine of Italian music, he has played steadily with Jovanotti and collaborated in the studio and on tours of such giants as Pino Daniele, Adriano Celentano, Ligabue, Piero Pelù, Laura Pausini, Nek and Al Bano.
Completing the exceptional line-up on stage are Lorenzo Pagani (Piano and Voice), Corrado Cacciaguerra (Guitar) and Riccardo Caroli (Sax). A stellar band capable of unleashing a crazy groove, perfect for reviving the energy and incendiary atmospheres of the unforgettable Sugar Reef.
