Sonora68 is a noteworthy element of the independent rock scene in Rome, a “no-look band” completely self-produced and free from any form of market constraint. A powerful direct sound, with no frills, which the group defines as COMBAT-POP: acoustic and electric sounds with articulate and original Italian lyrics. Sonora 68 follows the “rule of no rules”, a total freedom of choice in their use of various musical languages, from Rock to Reggae, from Pop to Crossover, concentrating exclusively on the impact of their songs and their energy on stage. In August 2006 came the fortunate publication of “La Terza Metà” (The Third Half), a 12 track CD with a beautifully illustrated 16 page booklet as an insert. Printed as a limited edition of 2000 copies, the CD has mostly sold out but copies are still available in a few stores in Rome, from the band’s internet site and are on sale during concerts. Since then the band has organised for itself numerous live performances all over Italy and has also given a number of live performances (no playback please) on TV for programmes such as “Backstage Live” on MatchMusicTV and “Musicamente” on IES.TV. Thanks to some very positive feedback from the representatives of the music industry and considerable and unexpected airplay on numerous Free Radio stations throughout the country, Sonora 68 are soon to have one of their tracks “Roccia” published on ArciSANA Records’ new compiltion CD “Libertà e Musica 2008” (Freedom and Music 200 8) due out in the autumn 2008. In May 2008, in recognition of the band’s electro-acoustic versatility and the quality of their lyrics, Sonora68 was invited by the Univerisy of Vitoria-Gasteiz to do a mini-tour in the Basque Country for the International Congress “Un Mundo, Muchas Miradas”. In August 2008 the band was one of the four finalists (selected from 160 bands from all over Italy) in the prestigious “PieveRock’08” song contest organised by Toast Records and supervised by Giulio Tedeschi, the president of the jury. The band received an incredibly enthusiatic reception from the public and was awarded the prize for “Best Live Performance” of the evening which was presented to Sandrum, the band’s drummer. The summer 2008 also saw the band participating in the “DemoFest” in Lamezia Terme where their performance on the second evening was once again highly applauded both by the general public and by the representatives of the music industry. At the moment the band has just finished the production of their second album “1968”, an artistic tribute in honour of the 40th anniversary of that unrepeatable year, fundamental for so many social movements and for the rise of the youth counter-culture. The new album, the result of six months of work carried out partly in Italy and partly in Ireland, is produced by Maurice Seezer (http://www.bloomsbury.com/authors/microsite.asp?id=583&section=1), one of Ireland’s greatest contemorary musicians, author and producer of the soundtracks to all Jim Sheridan’s films, with a twenty year career of collaboration alongside many great names in the world of modern music: Gavin Friday, Sinead O’Connor, Bono, Bryan Adams, Quincy Jones, Black, Howie-B, Tom Waits, Mary Black, Enya, and Michael Hutchence, the sadly departed singer of INXS. In addition to this highly prestigious Artistsic Production, “1968” is also honoured by a number of friendly participations by musicians from outside the band itself: musicians such as Antonio “Rigo” Righetti (Ligabue’s powerful bass player since the formation of the band) and Alice Pelle (one of the most interesting female rock singers in the Rome area). The new album, with a more refined sound but still of great impact, is to be released in October 2008 by the independent label Daybox Records in Salerno, managed by the impeccable Max Maffia, a refined musician and artistic producer with an innate artistic and human sensitivity who has turned his infinite passion for music and his absolute respect for musicians into his personal trademark.