4/23/2025

Pink Martini Releases "Bella Ciao" Feat. Storm Large

PINK MARTINI


RELEASE NEW SINGLE “BELLA CIAO” FEATURING STORM LARGE


Song Is A Bold Reimagining Of Italian Anti-Fascist Anthem And A Modern Call To Resistance


BAND CELEBRATING 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

WITH WORLD-WIDE TOUR & FORTHCOMING EP



Upcoming Shows Include New York City on July 28 + Los Angeles on Aug 23, 2025

photo by Chris Hornbecker

Portland’s Pink Martini is celebrating their 30th Anniversary this year with a world-wide tour that is seeing them play to sold-out venues around the world including a stop at London’s Royal Albert Hall and New York City’s Carnegie Hall. Today they add to the milestone with the release of a new single, “Bella ciao,” the title track of an upcoming EP to be released May 14. The song is a powerful reinterpretation of an iconic Italian folk song that became a symbol of anti-fascist resistance during WWII. Bandleader Thomas Lauderdale chose the song as a timely expression of defiance in light of current events, envisioning it as a modern protest anthem. A fan-favorite during their live show,  “Bella ciao” features long-time Pink Martini vocalist Storm Large on lead-vocals. "Our 'Little Orchestra of Joy' found a sweet blend of rage and melody for this new recording of the famous song of resistance, which we're releasing now, well... for no particular reason. Just because," says Large, with a sly smile.

LISTEN/SHARE “BELLA CIAO” HERE


Pink Martini’s live show is acclaimed around the world and it's no surprise that touring is a big part of their 30th Anniversary celebration. Their captivating performances feature a rich variety of musical styles, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all who attend. 2024 saw them bring the show to North America, Europe and the Middle East and they have yet to slow down. This Spring they return to Europe and in the summer to North America for dates that include New York City’s The Rooftop on Pier 17 on July 28 and The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on August 23. Lead singer China Forbes will be performing this entire run, with co-lead singer Storm Large joining for the NYC and LA dates. All dates are listed below and tickets are on sale now here.  



“impressive at every musician’s station, this ensemble produces music that’s charming and elegant … " Variety


"this is rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious. And it seems to speak to just about everybody.” Washington Post


“Multilingual and defiantly cosmopolitan, Pink Martini have vacuumed up songs from Turkey, Japan, Romania and beyond, using lush string and horn arrangements that hark back to the days before Rock’n’Roll.” -The Sunday Times


“Jam-packed with unlikely excavations, inspired collaborations, obscure covers, and lyrics in languages ranging from Japanese to Neapolitan, (Pink Martini) is a gift to music magpies the world over.” -Interview Magazine



Featuring a dozen musicians with songs in 30 languages, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South America and North America. The band has played with more than 70 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London.


Over their 30 years Pink Martini has collaborated with numerous artists, including Phyllis Diller, Jimmy Scott, Carol Channing, Rita Moreno, Jane Powell, Rufus Wainwright, filmmaker Gus Van Sant, the original cast of Sesame Street, and the Portland Youth Philharmonic. They also have an illustrious roster of regular guest artists: NPR’s Ari Shapiro, host of All Things Considered; Cantor Ida Rae Cahana (who was cantor at the Central Synagogue in NYC for five years); koto player Masumi Timson, and harpist Maureen Love. 


Pink Martini formed In 1994 when bandleader Thomas Lauderdale had finished college and returned to his hometown of Portland, OR. He was working at City Hall with an eye towards running for office. Being a classically trained pianist, music was always in the background, and he formed his “little orchestra,” soon dubbed Pink Martini, as a means to provide music for political fundraisers for progressive causes near to his heart - including civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, and public broadcasting. China Forbes, Lauderdale’s friend from their college days at Harvard, joined the group the following year, and the first song they wrote together, “Sympathique” (Je ne veux pas travailler), became an overnight sensation in France, where it remains a mantra (“Je ne veux pas travailler” translates to “I don’t want to work”) for striking French workers. Politics continues to be a focal point for the band, as both Lauderdale and Pink Martini lend their voice to progressive causes.    


Television appearances have included The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Later with Jools Holland, and a feature on CBS Sunday Morning. The band created a nationally broadcast 2015 NPR holiday concert special, Joy to the World: A Holiday Spectacular, and has been featured on multiple New Year’s Eve broadcasts on NPR’s Toast of the Nation.


** Watch this space for more music and news from Pink Martini 

and their 30th Anniversary **



Pink Martini US Tour dates

6/29/25 - Hayden Homes Amphitheatre - Bend, OR

7/3/25 - Artown (Robert Z Hawkins Amphitheater)- Reno, NV

7/5/25 - Chateau Ste. Michelle- Woodinville, WA

7/26/25 - Schaefer Center  - Boone, NC

7/28/25 - Pier 17 - New York City, NY

7/29/25 - Wolf Trap- Vienna, VA

7/30/25 - Freeman Arts Pavilion - Selbyville, DE

7/31/25 - Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, PA

8/2/25 - Cape Cod Melody Tent - Hyannis, MA

8/20/25 - The Mountain Winery - Saratoga, CA

8/21/25 - Green Music Center - Sonoma, CA

8/23/25 - Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA

8/24/25 - Humphrey's By the Bay - San Diego, CA


Pink Martini EU Tour Dates

5/7/25 - Torwar Arena - Warsaw, POL

5/8/25 - Hala Orbita - Wroclaw, POL

5/9/25 - Haus Auensee - Leipzig, DEU

5/10/25 - Ancienne Belgique - Brussels, BEL

5/11/25 - Tivoli - Utrecht, NED

5/14/25 - Accor Arena (Bercy) - Paris, FRA

5/15/25 - Theatre Sebastopol - Lille, FRA

5/16/25 - Casino 2000 - Mondorf-les-Bains, LUX

5/17/25 - Rottweil Jazzfest - Rotweil, DEU

5/19/25 - Volkshaus- Zurich, SUI

5/20/25 - Théatre de Beaulieu - Lausanne, SUI

5/21/25 - La Bourse du travail - Lyon, FRA

5/22/25 - Le Boeuf sur le Toit - Poitiers, FRA

5/24/25 - Jazz sous les Pommiers - Lons le Saulnier, FRA

5/26/25 - Cepac Silo - Marseille, FRA

5/27 & 28/25 - Anthea Antibes - Antibes, FRA


Find Pink Martini here: 

http://pinkmartini.com/

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