Kyiv to host Balkanfest in early December
Balkanfest, a large-scale music festival, will take place in the Kyiv Palace of Sports on December 4–5. A grand cohort of unique bands will perform during the fest, including Gogol Bordello (USA), K.A.L (Serbia), Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra (Serbia), Fanfare Ciocarlia (Romania), and Kocani Orkestar (Macedonia). Haidamaky, one of the fest’s organizers, will be the only Ukrainian band to participate in the event.
Some of the above music groups are already known in Ukraine since they have performed at Ukrainian festivals, such as Fanfare Ciocarlia which participated in Sheshory-2005. Others, for example, Gogol Bordello, and Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra, are familiar through their solo concerts.
Balkanfest is, without exaggeration, an unprecedented event for Ukraine. Up until now there has been no such powerful Balkan music force in Ukraine. However, the Balkans is quite a conditional notion here. It is all more about the special South European and Mediterranean atmosphere, which, according to organizers’ definition, is a combination of “carnival, knockabout comedy, rock’n’roll, jazz, Roma dancing, Turkish marches, Sarajevo punk culture, trumpets, clarinets, violins, and kettledrums, influenced by the Near East and even Jamaica melodies.”
Balkanfest is not a branch of any world festival with similar name and idea. It was created and realized in Ukraine in its entirety. The organizers, who call themselves a “team of Balkan music fans,” say that it has a prospect of being held on an annual basis.
“The festival will become a significant event in Ukraine, which aspires so much to be European. This is one of few possibilities to hear exceptionally beautiful and positive music not spoiled by civilization — the music entire Europe is listening to,” says Balkanfest’s official website.
Tickets to the festival are already on sale. Pricing information and festival updates can be found at www.balkanfest.com.
