Film: Italy
Italy: Castles, Vineyard Dinners, and Lifelong Friends
I don't think I'd be far wrong to say I've performed in Italy almost as many times as I have in the UK.
For those who don’t know, my old band, Peyote, had our moment there when I was 19 to 22. We must have toured the country four times a year. Back then, the touring industry actually had money - it predated the streaming era, and we used to bring boxes of CDs and make a fortune flogging them at shows. We’d be driven around by tour managers in vans, fed and boozed incredibly well at every single gig. I made a lot of great friends during that time and we've stayed in touch ever since; some of these friendships now span more than a decade.
But still, there is something so wonderful about every visit. Somehow, without me ever asking for it, this country has had a defining impact on my life that I'll carry with me forever.
In early June 2026, I performed at Fans Out Festival. Here are some of the highlights.
The Gig and the Rig: The show, of course, was incredible. Once again, someone came through and sourced me a right-handed guitar that I was able to restring left-handed. I performed solo on the wonderful stage to an audience of many - and nothing went wrong. In fact, everyone seemed to enjoy it.
The Castle: Umberto managed to swing us a stay in a castle that usually goes for £900 a night. It had massive wooden windows and a pool overlooking the rolling vineyards of Monferrato surrounding Vaglio Serra.
Dinner at Terzo Tempo: Incredible, classic Piedmontese food done very, very well. The restaurant is a striking building of glass and metal built into ancient brick atop a hill, surrounded by vineyards as far as the eye can see. We had local pork cheek and sorbetto chinotto. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was a genuinely emotional experience and at points, me and Molly genuinely struggled to keep it together.
Friends: Getting to sit down for lunch with all of my old friends.
A massive thank you to Umberto for the care and organisation, to Albi for hunting down my guitar and letting me crash on your sofa on the first night, and to everyone else who always makes my experiences in Italy so incredibly special.
I am forever grateful. 🖤
— Shot, filmed and edited by Molly Rose
