The all-Italian group, consisting of brothers Rocco Alvaro and Carmine Alvaro, Carmello Leuzzi and Michael Zappia, plays time-honoured Calabrese music in the tradition of their forefathers.
“The music has a very traditional sound,” co-founder Rocco Alvaro says.
“It comes from what was passed down to us... we’re trying to replicate that sound.”
Rocco and Carmine’s father was born in the commune of Sinopoli, in the province of Reggio Calabria.
Calabria is most famous for its hot chilli peppers, which are exported all over the world.
It was their Uncle Mic who first taught traditional Italian instruments to Carmine.
But the group has lately been experimenting with more contemporary instruments.
“We want to try implementing some modern sounds with the old,” Rocco says.
Traditional Italian instruments featured include the fisarmonica (accordion), zampogna (bagpipes) and lira (violin), alongside tambourine, guitar, electric accordion and saxophone.
Calabrian bagpipes are known in dialect as ciarameddha.
Brothers Rocco and Carmine first began playing together at Italian weddings in 2010.
The group was officially formed in 2012, and since then they have played at festivals, birthdays and multicultural weddings, including two Lebanese-Italian events.
Rocco is an architect who has established his own firm and Carmine is an engineer.
The brothers look forward to their performance at the festival, where they will perform while wandering through the streets.
“We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!” Rocco says.
“We will be roaming all the way through the festival, and watching the people as we go.”
Fratelli del Sud will peform at Norton Street Festa, Leichardt, on Sunday, October 28 from 2:50 pm to 3:10 pm.
Visit the Norton Street Italian Festa's website for full details of the event.
