La Bev – Bonifica Emiliana Veneta was founded in 1998 by a group of musicians dedicated to researching, reviving, and crafting traditional repertoires and instruments: Marco Mainini, Alessandro Mottaran, Walter Rizzo, Claudio Caroli, and Luciano Giacometti. The group's repertoire is enriched by the ideas and sounds developed through the members' previous experiences, even beyond the folk scene. Their guiding principle and motivation lie in the need to reclaim traditional music culture and use it to express contemporary creativity by reinterpreting traditional dances and songs and composing original melodies and lyrics.

BEV has released three albums: Apotropaica (1999, named Best Album of the Year by the magazine Folk Bulletin), Variabile Naturale (2001), and Materiali Tradizionali (2006, selected among the top ten albums for the "Premio Nazionale Città di Loano"). They have performed numerous concerts in Italy and across Europe (Folk World's Best Loved Artists '97-2007).

Quattro, marking BEV's return to recording, is a tribute to one of their sources of inspiration: the music and instruments that resonate through the valleys and ridges of the northwestern Italian region known as the "Quattro Province," where the Apennines begin. The album consists of eleven tracks, with only two traditional pieces (Mond e pais e mond and Quattro). The remaining compositions breathe new melodies into the striking forms of traditional dances—such as Perigordini, Alessandrine, and Monferrine (Lingua madre, Leb, 5&6, oXaia)—or adapt storytelling elements in the style of folk singing, including stranòt or serenata, to convey personal experiences (Sull’alba, Libero stile, Serenata controtempo).

"We have done all this in our own way, fully aware that much more has been said about tradition than we ever could. Yet, despite this, we felt compelled to transform into a new sound what the power of these repertoires stirred within us."

The CD booklet features short, two-to-three-line micro-stories introducing each track—brief interpretative keys that create a parallel narrative, like someone responding to a call (Sull’alba), becoming a voice (Lingua madre), singing their time and soul (Stato d’anima), and then continuing their journey through the voices of others (Genova [per te domani]).

BIOGRAPHY

Bonifica Emiliana Veneta (BEV) is an Italian music group founded in June 1998 by musicians from the Emilia and Veneto regions. Their mission is to rediscover, reinterpret, and enhance the traditional music of Northern Italy. Since its inception, BEV has blended folk tunes with original compositions, enriching them with innovative arrangements and a distinct style.

The original lineup included Claudio Caroli, Marco Mainini, Walter Rizzo, Alessandro Mottaran, and Luciano Giacometti, some of whom came from the disbanded Piva dal Carner. In 1999, the group released their debut album Apotropaica under Enrosadira Records, gaining widespread critical acclaim in Italy and Europe. Over the years, BEV has performed extensively beyond national borders, including in Austria, Germany, France, Croatia, Spain, and Portugal.

With their second album, Variabile Naturale (2001, Felmay), BEV reaffirmed their dedication to musical research and experimentation, undergoing lineup changes that introduced new influences and instruments. In 2006, they released Materiali Tradizionali, a return to their roots with traditional pieces performed in their distinctive style.

After years of research and recording, in 2023/24, the lineup was renewed with the addition of Modenese violinist Claudio Vezzali, the return of Walter Rizzo, and the completion of their latest album, Quattro, released by Visage.

Currently, BEV consists of Marco Mainini (vocals, guitar, piffero, piva), Alessandro Mottaran (mandoloncello, piva, clarinet in C, vocals), Giorgio Panagin (double bass), Walter Sigolo (accordion, vocals), Walter Rizzo (hurdy-gurdy, baroque oboe, musette), and Claudio Vezzali (violin, tenor violin, trombone in C). Their music continues to bridge tradition and innovation, keeping popular heritage alive through contemporary and captivating sounds.