A TRIP to the Godiva Festival would have been just a short taxi ride away for most people last weekend.
But for duo Andrea Lorenzoni and Felice Matarrese it took a lot more than that.
That’s because the Italians left their native Bologna and hopped on a plane to the UK especially for the three-day event.
The pair are massive fans of 2-Tone music and couldn’t pass up the chance to catch the likes of Buzzcocks and The Selecter in the flesh.
They spoke to the Observer on Friday night just minutes before the latter took to the stage in War Memorial Park.
“My first impression of the festival is that it’s a little wet,” Andrea joked.
“But it will not put us down because it’s a great feeling to be here, where The Selecter and The Specials were born.
“Here in Coventry you can feel where this music was born.
“I’ve listened to 2-Tone music all my life. Since I was a kid. I love it.”
Their home city even has its own ska festival – played by The Selecter in the past – while the duo are DJs and organise gigs for 2-Tone bands.
Bologna – like Coventry – is a university city and Andrea added the genre had a big following with students and young people.
He also paid tribute to the city’s music museum in Ball Hill and to the project’s founder, music historian Pete Chambers.
“Pete did a great job along with all the other guys who are there.
“It’s important so you know where to go for your favourite music and there’s a lot of memorabilia and merchandise.
“The cafe is very good and Pete is a great person. I met him a year ago and he takes care of me every time I’m here.”
Museum man Pete added people from 23 different countries had visited the site since it opened included one from New Zealand this weekend and another from Detroit – a city also known for its cars and music.
The museum is based in Walsgrave Road and is open between Thursdays and Sundays.
Visit covmm.co.uk for more information.
