La Villa Strangiato: the Sprit of RUSH
2026/27 sees legendary Canadian progressive rock band Rush making their eagerly awaited return to live performances, following an eleven-year hiatus, performing sold-out arena concerts throughout the world.
With public demand for live performances of material from Rush's extensive celebrated catalogue being stronger than ever, leading European Rush tribute band La Villa Strangiato tour the UK during 2027.
Established in 2010, La Villa Strangiato faithfully recreates the sound - and spirit - of Rush, with authentic instrumentation and a keen attention to musical detail.
Formed in Italy in 2010, La Villa Strangiato debuted their first show (entirely dedicated to the album Exit… Stage Left) in Rome in March 2011. Since then, they have had the honour of performing at some of Europe’s premier venues, such as Spirit Of 66 in Belgium and Boerderij in the Netherlands, leading up to their successful UK debut in 2014.
Following the acclaim of their UK tour, they were selected to perform at Rush EUcon, the premier European convention for Rush fans. As their popularity grew, they launched the Rush 40 production for the 2014/2015 season, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Canadian trio. This show toured five different countries (UK, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands), appearing in major venues, festivals, and outdoor events.
In 2016, while touring with Signals Under Pressure, the band was chosen to play at Rushfest Scotland, appearing alongside original Rush producer Terry Brown. In 2017, they returned to Rush EUcon with a show dedicated to the legendary album 2112, once again joined by Terry Brown. This was followed by the 2018 production Stranger Spheres (celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hemispheres) and the 2019 performance of the entire live album A Show of Hands.
Their most significant challenge came in 2020 with the show Permanent Changes. Despite the global pandemic, the band used the period to evolve and solidify their position in the international market with a new lineup. Joining founding member Gabriele Ferrari are drummer Luca Urbinati and, hailing from the UK, guitarist Neil Smith, a well-known figure within the Rush fan community.
Since then, the band has embarked on the most successful tours of their career: Different Men on Stage, Crush Under Pressure, and Better People, Better Food and Better Beer, and most recently, their 2026 production, a special tour celebrating 15 years of activity.