Manuel Bellone
Indie Folk, Alt-Country, Rock

Manuel Bellone has his roots in the tradition of folk and American country music, fused with a strong spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.

“I’m a folk-rock songwriter from Palermo, Sicily. Last year, me and my band played all over Europe, showcasing songs from my last two albums, “Light From The Grave” and “Split Pot“. I write and perform my own songs and I’am influenced by many artists,especially from classic folk, blues rock.
Classic, but unique: that’s what I like, and it’s also how I’d like to be seen.”

Audiences (and music critics) loved the gigs – as did the band – so now Manuel is looking forward to heading out on tour again, with the hope of making the experience even better. Manuel has played in a number of significant festivals including Live At Heart in Orebro (SWE), the Jazz & Blues Festival in Motala (SWE), the Folkest Festival (IT) and more.

With his first solo EP out in 2013 “Lost Every Night Alone”, the folk-rock singer songwriter MANUEL BELLONE, influenced by artists such as Ryan Adams Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Gram Parsons, the american traditional music and the acoustic music of the early 70s Stones and Zeppelin, inspired by Alfons Maria Mucha’s paintings and Sicily’s countryside fragrance, Manuel starts his path that will lead to the “Light From The Grave” LP, out in 2015, that will bring him to play more than 100 gigs in the clubs and theaters all around Europe, making him one of the hardest working Italian musicians abroad.

At the of 2016 it’s the turn of “You Need A Plan B To Stay Alive”, a live EP that celebrates one year and a half of touring and anticipates the return of Manuel Bellone into the recording studio for his forthcoming LP “Split Pot”.

“Split Pot” is the treasure chest containing what and where we have been during the last ten years, the people we’ve met, everything we’ve done, so whatever inspired our songs.”

That’s how Manuel Bellone and band talk about their album, out April the 18th 2017 along with the beginning of Manuel Bellone’s European Tour.
Just like the Stones’ “Exile On Main Street”, the songs where recorded during what we can consider a musical retreat in the middle of
Sicilian country side, totally DIY.

In Oct 14 2020 Manuel released a new single, “a case of an endless blue“
He says: “This song represent feelings I had during an hard year, state of emotions that cannot be expressed in spoken words.”

This new track wants to be just a little something between the long period of silence after “Split pot” and the next album, scheduled for 2021.

Manuel was born in Meran, in the northern part of Italy, straight on the border with Austria. As soon as he was twelve he moved in Palermo, in the deepest southern part of Europe, a few miles away from the African shores. While his grandparents used to listen to the American folk music, he developed a different way to intend music, starting, at fourteen, to write his own songs, highly influenced by the traditional Americana, the hammering African pace and the Gipsy music, played in the Central Europe.

During the years Manuel plays with different bands and musicians from all over Europe, sharing with them his folk features and, in return, learning a lot of new musical styles and tips. Being on stage for more than eight years with Vincent Hank ( more country influenced) and Federico Siino ( New Orleans Blues-oriented bassist), Manuel, in 2013, starts is own solo career, finding his final identity as a songwriter. His first EP “Lost every night alone” has been totally written by the sea, just with a couple of acoustic instruments, surrounded by the wild nature of Sicily. Promoting his solo album, Manuel and his band tour around Europe, writing every day new songs, influenced now by the sounds and perfumes of Poland, now by the noises and the melting pot of London, now by the bohémien atmosphere in Paris. Nine of those songs, in 2015, are included in Manuel Bellone’s Long Playing “Light from the grave”, while other tracks are still being shaped, soaking the ideas and the influences that everyday life on the road gives them.

Discography:

a case of an endless blue

“a case of an endless blue”
This song represent feelings I had during an hard year, state of emotions that cannot be expressed in spoken words.
This new track wants to be just a little something between the long period of silence after “Split pot” and the next album.

Released October 14, 2020

Produced by Manuel Bellone
Recorded, mixed by Manuel Bellone
At Whiskeytown Studio – Castellammare Del Golfo (IT)

Credits: Salvatore Brocceri – Drums

Spacial thanks to: Francesco Corsello, Gianlorenzo Mungiovino, Andrea Nocifora, Gianluca Bianco, Michele Chiavetta.

Split Pot

“Split Pot” is the treasure chest containing what and where we have been during the last ten years, the people we’ve met, everything we’ve done, so whatever inspired our songs.”
That’s how Manuel Bellone and Vincent Hank talk about their upcoming album, out April the 18th along with the beginning of Manuel Bellone’s European Tour.
Just like the Stones’ “Exile On Main Street”, the songs where recorded during what we can consider a musical retreat in the middle of Sicilian country side, totally DIY.
“Since the beginning of my career as a solo artist I wanted to involve Vincent in my shows – says Manuel Bellone – I think there’s nothing more beautiful than share joy with friends.
That’s why i’ve chosen to record a Split Album, to get closer as artists and create something that’s mine, his, of everyone and no one.”
“We didn’t want to leave behind us so many snapshots of our life” – says Vincent Hank – “so we decided to complete all of those songs laying in the basement for too long, and bring them to life with this LP”
“Split Pot” shows the evolution of the Italian duo, in which stripped off tracks go with more complex ones thanks to Mattia Mari (instrumentalist, arranger and mix engineer),Martina Petrucci (piano and backing vocals) and Saverio Mazzara (harmonica).

Released April 20, 2017

Manuel Bellone : Vocals, Acoustic/Electric Guitar, Doublebass, Bass, Banjo, Dobro, Harmonica, Percussions.
Vincent Hank : Vocals, Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Drums.
Mattia Mari : Drums, Bass, Percussions, Backing Vocals.

Additional Artists
Martina Petrucci : piano and backing vocals.
Saverio Mazzara : harmonica.

You Need A Plan B To Stay Alive – Live EP

“You Need A Plan B To Stay Alive” is a glimpse of italian folk songwriter Manuel Bellone’s live experience during his “The Brotherhood Tour”, in 2016.

Recorded completely live at the “Plan B” club in Tranas, Sweden, this live EP, filled with blues and country vibes, shows how Manuel Bellone and his band feel totally home on stage. With his Gram Parsons, early 70s acoustic Stones and Zeppelin inspired music, this album gives a taste of Bellone’s energetic, moving, true concerts.

Released October 31, 2016

Engineered by Mats Axfors

Light From The Grave

Produced by Manuel Bellone
Recorded, mixed, engeneered by Michele Chiavetta at “The Tiny Flat”(Palermo, IT)
All songs written composed and played by Manuel Bellone
Many thanks to: Davide Buglisi, Michele Chiavetta, Andrea Nocifora, Maribel, Irene Zoso, Serena SayHello, Andrea Requirez, Giuliana Davì, Federico Siino.
Additional credits:
Maribel – Backing vocal in “Take It Easy”
Irene Coltelluccio Zose – Backing vocal in “Take It Easy”, “Kindness”
Davide Buglisi – Drums in “Empty Word”
Michele Chiavetta – Backing vocal in “Devil With The Heels”
Federico Siino – Contrabass in “I’ve Drawn My Way”

Released 25 March 2015

Cover Photo and Artwork by Andrea Nocifora

Lost Every Night Alone – EP

Acoustic album of a young songwriter, entirely self recorded with an helping hand from: Francesco Corsello, Luca Chiappara, Yuri Bellone, Sofia Bertolini.