The first two notes of "Whisky, birra e Johnny Cola" are enough to send the crowd wild. A little dated, no offense. After all, right before their eyes is part of the band that brightened up their evenings with friends in the 1960s. It's been 64 years since those guys, growing up between Oristano and Santa Giusta, decided to form the Barrittas, who rose to fame overnight. And still, no one here has forgotten them.
Yesterday, at Corte Figus, in the historic center of Santa Giusta, a section of that historic group performed. A return to the origins of beat music, the rediscovery of one of the most significant moments in Sardinian musical history, with a repertoire also brimming with irony. The event was the Santa Giusta Sound 2026 music festival. The goal? To bring to light a period of particular artistic ferment and bring it back to contemporary audiences. And so it was.
On stage were Tonietto Salis and Giulio Albano, the only remaining members of the original Barritas lineup . Also on stage yesterday were musicians Mario Cervone, Antonello and Riccardo Sogus, Corrado Cocco, and Giovanni Alborghetti. Benito Urgu, the band's original driving force, was absent.
The Barrittas' name apparently derives from him, from his berritta, his hat. Many were hoping to see him, as a last-minute surprise. But to no avail. The seats, more than 300, weren't enough to accommodate the longtime fans. Those who couldn't get a seat were left standing. But that's okay, no one's complaining: for the Barrittas, this and more. They say. In the Figus courtyard, it's time for Gambale Twist. And there too, the crowd explodes. And then Efisineddu, Non uccidere, L'anello, Sa vesta, Sa pacchia, Ho bisogno di te, and Mi sei fattu a isposu. Soundtracks many years ago in many Sardinian squares and clubs. Later, they landed overseas.
The Barrittas were among the Sardinian groups that early on captured the beat and rock revolution, which was radically changing Italian and European popular music in those years. The festival was initiated by Mayor Antonello Figus , a lover of sarada music, and organized by the Association of Local Authorities for Cultural and Entertainment Activities.
"This event represents a cultural project born to celebrate a significant part of our community's history and identity," emphasizes Santa Giusta Mayor Antonello Figus. "Over the decades, Santa Giusta has produced highly significant artistic and musical experiences, contributing significantly to the growth of the Sardinian cultural scene." "Santa Giusta Sound was born from the desire to reclaim that memory, revive it for those who knew it, and share it with new generations," explains artistic director Nicola Urru. A successful experiment.
