Band picture

Biography

Freddie “Cannonball” Albertoni is a Swiss bass player who has been on the Swiss-Italian blues scene for 15 years. He was the founder of a renowned local blues/rock band called The Flag and for many years a bass player for legendary Swiss bluesman Bat Battiston. In autumn 2018, Federico Albertoni decides to take the frontman role, to start singing and to form his own 100% blues band: Freddie & The Cannonballs. The experienced and talented musicians who joined his sextet are his musical brother Mad Mantello (guitar), drummer Roberto Panzeri, organist Andi Appignani (who joined the band in spring 2021, one year after the original cannonball Chris Arcioni tragically passed away) and saxophone players Nigel Casey and Olmo Antezana.. Having a small horn section allows Freddie’s band to have the swinging sound of the blues of the 50s and to combine it with modern sounds too. The band’s repertoire features many original songs, some of which were recorded and published on their first record, i.e. an EP entitled “F” which came out in June 2019. Freddie & the Cannonballs then had the chance to perform at two major Swiss blues festivals: Bellinzona Blues and Lugano Blues to Bop. On July 2nd 2021 the band has the great honour of winning the 2021 Swiss Blues Challenge! This will give them the opportunity to represent Switzerland at the International Blues Challenge, which will take place in Memphis . During the summer of 2021 Freddie & the Cannonballs performed at some of the main Swiss blues festivals (Vallemaggia Magic Blues, Blues to Bop and Sierre Blues Festival).