Allo Sbagliato is the new Milanese space created to do things in reverse, with the creative direction of Marco Mengoni: from 5 November to 19 December we will experience seven weeks with evenings each different from the previous one but the same thing is that cell phones cannot be used: upon arrival at the theatre, the phone will be placed in a resealable case to keep in your pocket or bag; only in case of emergency will it be possible to unlock the case by going to the "telephone use" area, indicated by the signs in the theater.
The creative director of Sbagliato is Marco Mengoni himself, in his first role in this role. For Marco, "wrong" is everything that is not canonical: what surprises, surprises and which, even just for a detail, is not what is expected. An idea that becomes the underlying theme of the entire project, from the program to the setup up to the way of experiencing the evening.
There will be no shortage of live performances by the singer-songwriter, 26 extraordinary live evenings with his band, in which Marco Mengoni will perform among his audience, to eliminate every barrier. From the opening on November 5th until December 19th, Marco will perform with fifteen dates in November and eleven in December - produced and organized by Live Nation, distributed over the seven weeks of programming, and among the guests there will be Luca Ravenna, Faccianuvola, Mace, Benjamin Clementine, Rareş, Sayf, Nuzzo and Di Biase. Between one concert and another, the program will be completed with events dedicated to comedy, evenings with musical guests and a DJ set with Marco who could appear in the most diverse guises.
Lo Sbagliato is a multidisciplinary container in which music, art, theatre, comedy and design meet, mix and contaminate each other; a place with a hybrid identity, deliberately outside the box, where underground atmospheres, vintage references and contemporary design coexist without following precise rules. A 500-seat venue, "big enough", which declares its nature right from its name.
Marco tell me about this new experience...wrong.
It will be an open club, I will perform four evenings a week, not always the same evenings, the others there will be other artists that I have chosen as artistic director of Sbagliato. Some names of the artists we will host at Sbagliato are Faccianuvola, Rares, Mace, Nuzzo and Di Biase, Luca Ravenna, Sayf and Benjamin Clementine. It will be an offline club with the phones inside placed in an envelope to fully enjoy the show: there will be around 500 people per evening, the stage is for the public and the artist is at the center of the construction site which, however, could then be dismantled.
How did you choose your travel companions?
I went to listen to some for my own pleasure but without knowing that I would do this. I already followed Sayf before our featuring, I envy Faccianuvola's way of writing, I would have liked to write some of his songs myself. All the artists however got to my stomach.
Why Wrong?
Maybe because it's right or maybe because it's wrong in this era where everyone is looking for big places, I'm looking for intimacy. I haven't read the articles on summer gigantism but I know it's a trend, building a stadium is nice for everyone. It went well for me, my tour won an award for the highest number of spectators. I have lived special years and now I want to get off the stage.
How do you purchase tickets? The cost?
You enter from the entrance...the ticket can be purchased online and will be printed since everything will be offline. Tickets on stage are 29 and cost 200 euros, those sitting in the parterre, around the artists, 150, and those standing 100 euros. Maybe we'll do something targeted for everyone, it could be on television.
These are certainly not cheap prices.
I see it a bit like a dinner in a starred restaurant once a year, it's a special moment that must remain in the mind. It's nice to be a little disconnected and concentrate on sounds specifically designed for the evening. With this I am not saying that they will be the star of music but it will be a special experience.
What can you tell me about your set?
For my concerts, and perhaps the others too, there will be no sequences or anything else, before each piece we will say a two three like we used to. My band is made up of 12 people, including me, it will be a soul band, I will do a lot of covers of the ones I like, of artists who have always inspired me and I mention Al Green and Marvin Gaye for everyone. Don't expect Due Vite or L'Essenziale, there won't be any singles but all the pieces that made my records important especially for me, the so-called B-sides. So don't let the public complain, the set list will be decided every evening and I could just mention the hits but I repeat I could.
When does the Sbagliato construction site open?
It opens on November 5th and will be open until December 19th, it could be evenings, mornings, afternoons... if in doubt, come whenever you want.
And what will happen after?
It's Christmas and it's my birthday. The venue will continue, I hope it won't be demolished after our performances. I chose this place to give it my new look for these two months, then we will undress it and it will live its own life. Mine is a residency, they pay me for two months then I leave the baton to someone who comes later.
How did the idea come about?
It was born as a birthday present for my 30th birthday which was 7 years ago but then things happened that didn't make me reel off the project, I wanted an intimate place to be in contact with the public and the musicians without having a tight set list or studied movements. I would like every evening to be at full speed, based on our moods and moods. We don't have a guideline, we go the old way with the spies like in the seventies.
How did you think about the setup?
I collaborated with everyone to do ad hoc things, I didn't want club seats but designer ones to be more comfortable than the San Siro seats which when I was there I had my knees on the back of the one in front. Painters will exhibit their works and then there will be lighting designers. At the moment I haven't drawn anything of my own.
Why Milan?
I wanted to stay close to home, I have a snack and come to play. I live here and to warm up the engines it's better here. We will see later if the format will continue, we favor the here and now.
Can I define it as a proof of love towards your fans?
It's a different experience, I don't know if there will be a sequel. If you miss this moment, nothing will change in my life or in my career.
