David Moreno’s show, which pushes boundaries, will open this year’s Gradić Fest, on Thursday August 30th, at 9 p.m. sharp, in front of the Belgrade Stage. During his performance, a grand piano floating 6 meters above the stage enables this innovative artist to be a true star shining high in the sky…
This unique artist, a pianist and a composer from the heart of Catalonia, searches for inspiration somewhere where music, theatre, dance and cinema meet, and his performance expression is unusual and recognizable. His show is a true refreshment and a big surprise and this supreme showman balances the audience’s emotions with his music performance full of poetry, humor and visual effects. “Flota Dos” is a performance that leaves the audience wondering if what they see in the sky is a cloud in the form of a piano, if it is a puppet show or a kaleidoscope, or if his music is simply different because it becomes – visible. While he is playing his celestial instrument, the lid of his piano becomes a cinema screen showing a thirty-minute film. Moreno performs the soundtrack to the film live, while at the same time interacting with the characters and images on screen. This event will mark this year’s Gradić Fest and it definitely shouldn’t be missed…
Bandakadabra (Turin/Italy)
Whenever Italians come to Gradić, merriment ensues! This contemporary walking orchestra of brass instruments, strengthened by a drum battery, successfully merges pure street energy and the long tradition of perfect harmonization of big brass bands.
“Urban fanfare” – the name given to them by their fans – was founded in an important industrial and sports center in northern Italy, and the band has been developing through experiments with different music genres. This variety, ranging from the sounds of street bands similar to rampageous Balkan brass bands, rocksteady and ska sounds, to variations of modern drum ‘n’ bass, can still be noticed in the diverse repertoire of this superfun company. A special charm of their performances, on streets or stages, is their interaction with the audience, which they skillfully draw into their comedic sketches, theatre improvisations and exuberant dances, accompanied by a lot of ironic comments about the world around us. From the very beginning they have been on the move non-stop, and since the release of their debut album Entomology they have been constantly touring around the world. They will head the procession in the Lower Town on the opening day of Gradić Fest, and they will stay at the festival till the end.
Mark Di Giuseppe (USA/Italy)
Trashman Blues or The Legendary Straniero are some of the nicknames of this big attraction seen at numerous buskers festivals around the world, from Europe and the Near East to faraway cities of Asia. One-man band – or one-man orchestra – is the shortest description of this walking installation of dozens of instruments, which are simultaneously brought to life by the heart and the skilled hands of this maestro.
Mark was born in Chicago, but he is currently based in Italy. Since 1986, he has been successfully building his own expression within the given form usual for basking at any place in the world. Mark’s repertoire is full of classics of blues, R&B, soul, 70’s classic rock, 50’s rock & roll, jazz and country. Unique arrangements to songs by Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, John Lee Hooker, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, ZZ Top and the Rolling Stones, among many others, make for a show that is universally appealing, full of influences of various cultures in which he has lived, and he sings not only in English and Italian but also in Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Russian, Japanese and Romani. His original instruments, which are all his own inventions built from recycled materials, give a special tone to his performances. His main “weapon” is the double-neck license plate guitar, but he also uses one normal electric guitar and one special for blues and slide tunings, mandolin, ukulele, numerous wind instruments, cymbal, cowbell, and improvised drums that he carries on his back. His power of adaptation is enormous so we can expect him to completely blend into the baroque ambience of the Lower Town of the Petrovaradin Fortress, at least during the three days of Gradić Fest.
Pinocchio Joins the Orchestra (on S.TR.E.E.T) (Portugal/Italy/Belgium/Serbia)
This big international project represents a meeting of different methods for creating, learning and applying music. Young musicians from Portugal, Italy and Serbia are both the creators and the performers of a cycle of original compositions inspired by the famous story about the wooden puppet Pinocchio.
The compositions were created during creative workshops, in the interaction between music students and professors. On stage at Gradić Fest, we will see 40 members of the choir and orchestra of very diverse, both conventional and original instruments made of recycled materials. The music created within this project is based on the elements of children’s songs combined with classical and ethno music. Aleksandar Carić Car will be the conductor, and the background of the stage will be adorned by sculptures, some of which will be made on the spot. The partner organizations of this project are Orquestra Criativa SMF from Portugal, Una rete per la musica and Fondazione Nazionale “Carlo Collodi” from Italy, Open Street from Belgium, and Music Art Project from Serbia. The project Pinocchio Joins the Orchestra (on S.TR.E.E.T.) is a part of the program Erasmus+ managed by the European Commission.
Sol Cinema (Great Britain)
You like cinema, but you are fed up with the crowds, people talking during projections, and bad films? Here is a solution: the smallest movie theatre in the world, with only 8 seats, can be a good way to spend a pleasant evening watching a high quality selection of short films…
Sol Cinema is unique: it is a mobile cinema in a vintage caravan powered by Solar energy, with Dolby surround system, offering a unique cinematic experience of a private film projection in selected company, with popcorn and drinks and a little glamour in the form of a red carpet at the entrance and uniformed usherettes. Usually located in South Wales, this caravan/cinema easily changes location when there are festivals and similar events across the British peninsula, Europe, and even farther. This time, it is coming to the Lower Town of the Petrovaradin Fortress, and it will remain all three days of the festival next to the Belgrade Gate, where the fans of the seventh art will have the opportunity to watch film projections at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Zeroelectrodrum (Italy)
Pure electro music, or, in other words, techno music, but without a single electronic instrument, is a delicacy coming to Gradić from Italy. This self-aware artist doesn’t ask a lot, only a little space on the pavement, where he delivers his urban percussion sounds, ideal for a street party and wild dancing.
Zero Electro wears a disguise, but he is recognizable for his original approach to the contemporary music production. Without any help from electricity or some electronic devices, he fills the streets where he performs with electrification in the form of his unusual metal boards, pipes and other handicrafts made of recycled materials, which he transforms into percussions and plays mighty well. He is a mysterious and enigmatic artist who simultaneously plays great music and sends a universal ecological message for the 21st century: it is a short way from rejected things on a landfill to pure art.
Moses Concas (Cagliari/Italy)
This great harmonica master, highly skilled in managing harmonies, has enriched the usual approach to blues musicians’ favorite instrument with the beatbox style rhythm. In this way, he has transformed his street performance into a true explosion of good fun, which is hard to leave and even harder to forget.
Moses grew up on sunny Sardinia, in a talented musical family, where his grandmother, a musician and artist herself, had the most important influence on his development. His discovery of hip hop was an enlightening experience, and since then he has had a different, more modern approach to his principal instrument. He crowned his rich experience in street performing with a successful season on the streets of London, and in 2016 he won the first prize of the TV show program “Italy’s Got Talent”. Since then, “The Miracle Harmonica” has played at over 80 music and street art festivals across the world.
Wackids (France)
Hello Kitty drums, mini-keyboards with multicolored keys and a set of children’s guitars are the toys of these three eternal boys trapped in the bodies of “mean” rockers. Blowmaster, Bongostar and Speedfinger play the top hits of the rock era, giving fantastic performances for people of all ages, from 6 to 666…
This fantastic trio is completely devoted to the charms of rock ‘n’ roll as the best type of fun for all generations, and they unscrupulously use classic pieces of all rock eras, ranging from Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and Queen, to Nirvana and Aerosmith. The sound of children’s instruments gives basically a completely new, witty and imaginative dimension to their covers, but these hits remain hits sung in unison and whole-heartedly. During their big world “Stadium Tour”, which started in 2015, they have already given over 400 concerts, and now they are coming to the Lower Town. Kids, mothers/fathers, rockers of all ages – get ready for a show that should not be missed!
Gradić Cinema
Film projections have been a traditional part of the Street Musicians Festival’s program since the festival moved to the Lower Town of the Petrovaradin Fortress. This year too, an open-air cinema will be organized for the visitors to Gradić Fest, at the place where once the toll for crossing the bridge was charged, near the ex military pub in Petrovaradin.
Gradić Cinema program will include new cinematic releases of different genres, such as the many times awarded documentary by Mila Turajlić “Druga strana svega” (“The Other Side of Everything”); Kosta Ristić’s debut film, “Banditi u potrazi za mamom” (“Bandits in Search of Mother”), a film atypical for our region, esthetically similar to Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s films from the end of the 90s; Petar Pašić’s “O bubicama i herojima” (“About Bugs and Heroes”); as well as the extremely courageous feature film debut of the young Croatian director Igor Bezinović “Kratki izlet” (“A Short Trip”), a film which represents a successful mix of a documentary and magic realism.
Besides feature films, this year’s cinematic selection will include the documentary “Fenomen Tvrđava” (“Fenomenon – Fortress”), directed by Szilard Antal and Dragan Stojmenović, a documentary about the Lower Town and the symbol of our city – the Petrovaradin Fortress; as well as the music documentary about Žikica Simić “Gubitnici su dosadni” (“Losers Are Boring”), directed by Olivera Miletić and Vojin Ivkov.
Like every year, the entrance to all the film projections within Gradić Cinema, as well as to the rest of the Street Musicians Festival’s program, will be – free.
Street Illustrators
The Student Cultural Center Novi Sad (SKC Novi Sad) and the creative workshop “Bunker” are offering their part of the program, called “Street Illustrators”, with which they want to promote drawing, illustration, caricature and comics, and which is meant for all the creative participants who have the courage to share their work with others. At their location at the festival, it will be possible to do drawing, get to know comic book authors and see complete comic book editions, as well as individual comic boards by eminent artists.
The Student Cultural Center Novi Sad (SKC Novi Sad) is an institution of great importance for the cultural life of young people in Novi Sad. Its work encompasses literary, theatrical, musical and visual arts. SKC Novi Sad insists on true artistic values, and in so doing plays an educational role for young people. It is especially focused on promoting young talented artists. Among the numerous manifestations organized by SKC Novi Sad, which have been held successfully for years in a row, “NS strip vikend” (“Novi Sad Comic Book Weekend”) holds a special place as the first festival of this kind in Vojvodina.
Exhibition “Revitalization of the Belgrade Gate”
The exhibition “Revitalization of the Belgrade Gate” is a project done by the students doing the Master in Interior Design at the Department for Architecture and Urbanism at the Faculty of Technical Sciences of Novi Sad. They have made a study on the expanding of the functions of the Belgrade Gate in Petrovaradin. The series of proposals which are the result of research and design are focused on the cultural content which this valuable cultural monument can support with its position, space management and volume.
The solutions shown at the exhibition represent a creative approach of a group of young people, their enthusiasm, as well as their understanding of the needs of the environment for which they design. The focus of their work during the winter semester 2017/2018 was a part of the Belgrade Fate, namely, the northern pedestrian passageway towards Majur. During the development of the study the emphasis was put on the conservation of the original look of the monument and obligatory reversibility of the architectural designs. With the permitted amount of liberty, the suggested modifications of the passageway reflect the mix of the old – the inherited – and the new remodeling tendencies. In accordance with its subject, the exhibition will be held at the Belgrade Gate.
UGRIP (Novi Sad/Serbia)
The premiere of the adrenalin tour “Labyrinth” through the underground passages of the Petrovaradin Fortress and an interactive exhibition at Belgrade Gate space are a part of the program behind which is the association UGRIP, whose work domain is the cultural and spiritual heritage of Gibraltar on Danube, and which is a partner organization in the realization of Gradić Fest for the second year in a row.
Every day since September 2015, when the association was founded, its 60 members, headed by Leon Šurbanović, have descended into the underground of the Petrovaradin beauty, discovering new details connected to the long history of the fortress and Novi Sad. Their activities do not only comprise walking through the underground passageways, but also gathering artefacts, legends and small human destinies written on the walls of the tunnels. A special segment of their activities is the fight against heaps of garbage left in the underground after numerous previous tourist visits, which are still taking place and which are still leaving the same kind of trace behind them.
The adrenalin tour “Labyrinth” has been conceived as a performance/simulation of post-Exit adventure of a group of tourists who accidentally get trapped in the underground passageways of the Fortress. While trying to find an exit, they are haunted by the souls of dead warriors of the past. This performance will take place all three days of the festival, at 8 p.m., and the maximum number of participants is 30, so if you are interested you can apply via e-mail at labyrinthprijava@3dworld.rs.
At the Belgrade Gate location, the exhibition of objects found in the underground passageways of the Fortress will be accompanied by interactive participation of visitors in thematic units based on the type of finds, ranging from historically valuable objects, newer artefacts and recycled waste to authentic photos made on the spot. This UGRIP event will also last during all three days of Gradić Fest.
Reflektor teatar (Belgrade/Serbia)
Since 2017, the independent youth theatre production Reflektor teatar from Belgrade has been successfully implementing engaged, new and different expression into the mainstream theatre scene in Serbia and beyond. They put the equal sign between the activist and the artistic, the personal and the political, the esthetical and the educational. They perform their plays, in which they examine numerous social issues and the dark sides of community, at different locations.
Reflektor teatar is trying to find innovative production solutions, as well as relevant ways to promote their work. This troupe is interested in intensive development of the audience, which they see as an equal member of the theatre community. They are proud of the fact that they are able to make their plays sustainable and to make new ones without the official and long-term support of institutions, and their goal is to make their skills and knowledge accessible to all young people interested in the work in the domain of art and culture in order to create new responsible youth scene. That is why their logo is “We Glow in the Dark”.
Reflektor teatar will perform their two hit pieces. “Muškarčine” is a provocative theatre documentary about the current perception of manhood in this region. It was conceived, directed and written by Milena Bogavac and Vojislav Arsić, and it is played by Alek Surtov, Đorđe Živadinović Grgur, Jovan Zdravković, Marko Panajotović, Nemanja Puvača, Nikola Pavlović, Uroš Novović and Rastko Vujisić.
“Smrt fašizmu! O Ribarima i Slobodi” is also a theatre documentary – it is a story about a hero of SFRJ revolution Ivo Lola Ribar, which offers a revision of the fight against fascism in the times of rising nationalism across Europe. The director of this play is also Milena Bogavac, and it is played by Đorđe Živadinović Grgur, Nina Nešković, Strahinja Blažić, Sunčica Milanović and Nikola Živanović; the original soundtrack is by Dragoljub Đuričić.
Conference “Use of Heritage”
The conference and round table “Use of Heritage” will take place on August 31st at Prostor in Petrovaradin (11 Beogradska Street), as a part of this year’s Street Musicians Festival – Gradić Fest – which will last from August 30th to September 1st, in the Lower Town of the Petrovaradin Fortress. This conference is organized by the association Suburbium from Petrovaradin and it is the third conference of this kind, being the usual part of the festival’s program since the festival relocated to Gradić. This time, the conference will be devoted to conservation and improvement of cultural heritage, in accordance with the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018.
Suburbium is an association from Petrovaradin which has been working successfully on the raising of the awareness of the need to conserve the ruined baroque environment of Gradić, the need that exists because of its historical value but also because of the needs of its residents. The association’s conference and round table “Use of Heritage” will have ten participants, from Novi Sad, Belgrade, Pančevo and Knjaževac, who will present their experiences and research practices, their reflections on the place that the cultural heritage holds in terms of citizens’ values and life, on the need to use it in accordance with sustainable development, on local practices and education of citizens about the value of heritage, on museum practices in heritage digitalization etc.
A special attention will be devoted to the Bač Fortress, which was chosen among 160 European projects and awarded the Europa Nostra Award – 2018 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage. The project by the Provincial Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments “Conservation and Rehabilitation of the Bač Fortress” was also among the 7 Grand Prix laureates, chosen from among this year’s winners. The examples of good practice will include the project by the Museum of Vojvodina “Golden Roman Helmets from the 4th Century”, classified as “Helmets Type Berkasovo” in scientific literature, which were a part of this spring’s big exhibition in Aquileia “Treasure and Emperors – Splendor of the Roman Serbia”. The conference will shed some light on some parts of the architectural heritage of Novi Sad and Petrovaradin (the Almaš Quarter, the Chinese Quarter, the Lower Town of the Petrovaradin Fortress), and some examples of the use of heritage in Serbia and other European countries will be presented.
The conference will be presented in electronic and printed media and on the portal for urban culture and heritage “Korzo”. The coordinator of this project is Bojana Karavidić.
Svemirko (Zagreb/Croatia)
This artist’s nostalgic synth electro rhapsody is ideal for warm summer evenings and walks along some coast or around some romantic place like Gradić. This band is coming straight from space, on a spaceship driven by power yet uninvented, ready to take us away from reality with their hits from the albums Vanilija and Tunguzija.
Synthetic pop in the irresistible 80s style, good quality studio work and concert perfection have promoted Svemirko into one of the currently most appealing music attractions of the regional underground scene. The man behind the entire project is Marko Vuković, who writes the songs, sings, plays different instruments and produces his own work, with the help of his friends who complete the band’s saga. Pleasant YU pop music of the “golden” years of our lives is the inspiration for his modern stories about life and love. Although he doesn’t essentially sound nostalgic, the fans of this era will have the most reasons for joy, alongside other visitors to Gradić Fest.
Quartet Bilitis (Novi Sad/Serbia)
This not so typical chamber orchestra was founded based on a string quartet, but the first violin is replaced by a flute with a similar sound range. Their performance of the Grammy awarded piece “Different Trains”, written by the contemporary composer Steve Reich, and the video segment that accompanies it, is a true delicacy for all the fans of chamber music and new challenges in art.
Since 2014, the quartet’s members are Ksenija Bašić (flute), Iva Stanković (violin), Ana Klem Aksentijević (viola) and Milica Svirac (cello). They are all academically educated, awarded musicians; they are all members of the most eminent orchestras in Vojvodina and they all do work in the domain of pedagogy. Besides pieces for string quartet, they also perform compositions written specifically for their quartet. Since there is no other ensemble of this type in Serbia, they have the honor of presenting some of the most famous pieces of chamber music in a new and creative way, especially music pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Steve Reich is an American composer of Jewish origin, born in 1936. He spent his childhood mostly making train journeys between New York and L.A., visiting his divorced parents. Later, he listened about some other, European trains which transported Jews to the concentration camps during the Second World War. All that inspired him to compose his most famous piece “Different Trains”, in 1988.
Quartet Bilitis has chosen to accompany this composition with a video work by the graphic designer Ivana Radmanovac. Judging from everything, their performance in Gradić will be an ideal opportunity for a perfect neoclassical evening in an ambiance that seems to have been made for such spectacles.
Ljubičice (Pančevo/Serbia)
This electro blues band, or simply, rock ‘n’ roll band – which is how they often call themselves – is a duo with occasional additional members which successfully mixes different genres of popular music into a unique crossover that is closest to the definition of – indie pop. The brothers Petar and Vuk Stevanović are the core of the band, which is often joined by various virtuosos coming from different places, such as Belgrade, Hamburg and even a music mecca – Berkley.
Since the founding of the band, in 2011, these classically trained rockers have been doing exclusively their own music, and so far they have released three LPs, two EPs and several singles. As a demo band they have left a significant mark at every major festival in the region, from Božidarac to Banjaluka, and in the meantime they have collaborated with many musicians, such as Bill Drummond, Jarboli, Svi na pod, Sajsi MC, Ilija Ludvig, and many more. They are the authors of the soundtrack for the film “Drugi deo”, and they have also made soundtracks for several short films. They are coming to the Lower Town as a duo.
Sara Renar (Zagreb/Croatia)
This artist’s sound architecture brings together experimental indie pop melodies and the elements of electronic music and theatrics. This charming musician from Zagreb has been already awarded and has been very active concert-wise and studio-wise, and she is coming to Gradić with her accompanying band as one of the leading hopes of the newest regional scene and beyond.
This singer-songwriter of the new generation is a part of the current female movement which is slowly but surely taking over Balkan rock music scene, and she has already released three albums and one EP, as well as many accompanying singles and music videos. Having done over 250 concerts at clubs and festivals across Europe, she is one of the most active regional artists on the continental concert map. Besides making her own music, she also collaborates on projects by the theatre troupe Montažstroj and the collective SKROZ, and since some time ago she has been a part of EU pilot-project European Music Incubator, which helps young musicians. She has a Master in Architecture, but, luckily, she has completely devoted her life to music.
Matko Abramić (Zagreb/Croatia)
A poet writing poems on the spot and offering them to passers-by or to a street band playing nearby so that it can immediately arrange it and play it to the pleasure of everyone present – that is the concept of the performance that the Croatian writer Matko Abramić has in mind for this year’s Gradić Fest, and this time he will be accompanied by Fran Nikolić on guitar and Toni Tkalec on drums. His last year’s successful program “Reci mi riječ i napisat ću ti pjesmu” (“Give me words and I will write you a poem”) has grown into a new concept called “Stvaranje spoken word banda Artefakt iz poetskog performansa”.
Abramić was born in Čakovac, in 1984, and he spent his childhood in Varaždin. He graduated from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, in the Department for Croatian Language and Literature and Bohemistics, and then he completed his apprenticeship for editor in the publishing house “Sandorf”. He writes poems and short stories, some of which have been published in literary journals and magazines “Zarez” and “Vijenac”. He has won the Rektor prize for his collection of poems “ono je samo olujne boje…”, published in 2007. He has performed with the band Voodoo Lizards from Varaždin, and in 2017 he participated in the music-poetry performance “Bicikliram, improviziram – sjajim u mraku” with the band The Mindmills from Varaždin at Dani performansa.
Moussaka (Belgrade/Serbia)
This band’s broken but powerful rhythms and melodies full of nostalgia and the heaviest emotions reflect the unbelievable union of Californian surf rock and Balkan traditional music. These creative musicians came up with the ingenious idea to merge them into a unique genre thus combining their roots and the call of faraway places and proving that it is also possible to ride the perfect wave on the Danube, the Sava and the Morava.
Like the dish with the same name, the band Moussaka represents a mixture of classical ingredients and unclassical spices, ranging from the 50s guitar sounds to Yugoslavian turbo-folk esthetic of the 80s. The band’s three EP albums are the proof that Dick Dale and Dragana Mirković can go hand in hand and that it can be not just a tolerable combination but a great one too. This band was originally a side project founded just for fun, but it has grown into a full-blooded rock machine which is slowly heating up and starting to grind, carried by its own tidal wave.
Sana Garić (Belgrade/Serbia)
Dance electronic music accompanying a suggestive female vocal is a combination that dries seas and moves mountains. The proof – this local rising star is quickly conquering the region with this music style, and after performing at Exit and In Music Festival she is coming to Gradić, where she will be performing on the main stage, on Saturday evening.
Equally talented and modern, Sana is a disciple of Belgrade electro movement and its doyen, Dejan Stanisavljević (the band Belgrade, Du-Du-A, Bebi Dol…). Her music is situated at the place where female psychedelia and no wave meet dance fever, which gives a special charm to her concerts, which are very similar to rave parties. Her emotional voice, songs-messages and her powerful electro accompaniment with percussions will take you on a long and pleasant journey into the night full of neon city lights. Her debut album Svet za nas is a sufficient invitation to come to all her upcoming and future performances.
Oceanchild (Belgrade/Serbia)
The 50th anniversary of the release of the legendary White Album by The Beatles will be marked all over the world, and also at Gradić Fest – the band doing the homage at Gradić Fest is an ad hoc band united around this idea. The White Album, like its authors, has always inspired numerous rock ‘n’ roll trends and has always held a special place in the record collections of the fans of the Liverpool quartet. Oceanchild, a group of musicians from Belgrade, is giving it well-deserved homage by playing it live in its entirety, which is something that even Lenon and his bandmates never did.
The double album by the most famous rock band in history contains a little bit of everything – original blues, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz elements, as well as the influences of Little Richard, Bach and Stockhausen – which is all fascinatingly well combined into a diverse heap of unbelievable all-time pop hits. The minimalist white cover and the 30 tracks represent The Beatles’ studio masterpiece, which has entertained, lifted, taught and inspired people for 50 years. The group of musicians from Belgrade, whose members’ age ranges from adolescence to the sixth decade of life, couldn’t resist it either and they have gathered this summer in order to celebrate one of the brightest pages of pop culture by giving concerts all over the region. The band’s name, Oceanchild, is also hidden in the grooves of The White Album, in the track “Julia”, and the nine-member band enjoys every note during their performance as if during it they were at the famous Abbey Road Studios with “the mage” George Martin sitting at the mixing board.
Astor Lajka (Novi Sad/Serbia)
He is a singer-songwriter, street musician, rocker and vagabond, devoted to adventure, art and his own expression, which he carefully creates and nurtures. He is coming to Gradić directly from the streets of Novi Sad, laureled with the first prize he won at the last year’s Takt Festival in Novi Sad.
Astor was born in Valjevo, in 1988, but he has woven the thread of his life through various artistically different localities, so besides having his solo career, he is also the frontman of the band Lajka na Mesecu from Gornji Milanovac, a member of the art movement “Sobakaisti”, and the author of the blog about performing on streets “Busking Around the World”. He has gained his rich experience by performing on the streets of Prague, Milan, Seville and Cádiz, cities across Serbia and ex-Yugoslavia region. He is the author of numerous compositions, but he still hasn’t gathered his pieces in the firm form of a debut album – so far, the Internet has been enough for that purpose.
Petra und der Wolf (Linz/Austria)
What these two girls create is an intimate, atmospheric but also powerful and musically striking experience, with their music easily growing into a sonic impact and then bringing peace again. Theirs is a music combination that has a far richer content than could be assumed for a band of this type. The easiest way to describe and experience their music is as a beginning of a journey for which you don’t have a clear plan but which will surely take you someplace far and beautiful, be it only in your imagination.
Petra Schrenzer (guitar, lead vocals) and Aurora Hackl (drums, saxophone) describe their sound as “post-grunge/singer-songwriter/jazz”. Petra was a solo artist known for her dynamic and emotional performances, and then she was joined by Aurora, whose saxophone has a multifunctional role – it represents the second vocal, rhythm machine and introduces noise elements. The chemistry was instant and their music got an additional, deeper dimension. Since then, they have been creating music surrounded by dark curtains, which moves everyone who listens to it.
Ana & The Changes (Belgrade/Serbia)
Americana’s openness to different music influences and her international background are Ana’s main means for creation and survival. Relying on her powerful talent and rich experience, which is growing every day, this region’s new dream pop heroine is gaining fame with the help of her band, and attracting ever growing attention with the quality of her work.
Ana Ćurčin was born in Bagdad, grew up in Moscow, and came into her own on the streets of Belgrade, where music helped her to truly connect with her inner being. From the beginning, she has been a part of a new art scene of the capital, but she is building her story in her own way, and while being devoted to making her own music, she is also striving to improve her knowledge in the domain of music production. Her ability to speak English perfectly is opening the door to an international career, and we can soon expect an album to follow her debut album Sketches of Belonging, which she released in 2016. The members of her accompanying band The Changes come from different art milieus, and their subtle music accompaniment works perfectly with Ana’s lyric themes connected to love, fears, and overcoming those fears.
JeboTon Ensemble (Zagreb/Croatia)
This rather big group of street musicians is coming to Gradić directly from the pavements of the capital of the second place winners at the FIFA World Cup 2018, bringing their rich experience obtained at numerous performances all over the region. They are a many-membered but excellently organized group, representing a true attraction wherever they stop to play, and each time hilarious fun is guaranteed.
JeboTon Ensemble was created in 2011, and since then its principles have been open communication and “exchange of goods” among the musicians, who besides being the members of this big ensemble also form a series of smaller (sub)groups devoted to exclusively authorial work. The rich variety of instruments this megaband uses includes, among others, bass, violin, trombone, melodica, cajón, djembe and bongos, and each of the members also sings. Their repertoire consists mostly of orchestra interpretations of hits by smaller groups, according to the principle – when we are all together, everything is even more beautiful, better and richer.
Goran Tomić Trio (Rijeka/Croatia)
This excellent and interesting musician is coming to Gradić from the northern Adriatic, where he settled after many travels around the world. He was educated in flamenco style, but he enriched his Spanish experience by visiting various European cities as a travelling artist and building his artistic style in the direction of ethno world music.
After his studies in the heart of flamenco culture, in Seville, he performed many times in Cadiz and Madrid, and then he moved to Ireland, which became his base from where he travelled as a street musician to France, England and Germany… The return to his birthplace in 2017 marked a new beginning and a seemingly more stable career, with his trio, which combines flamenco, jazz and Balkan ethno influences. Besides him, on the guitar, the trio comprises Edin Botić, on the percussions, and Sebastijan Demark, on the contrabass. This trio’s hot, emotional and virtuosic performance is a true invitation for all the fans of guitar art to visit Gradić at the end of the summer and abandon themselves to a real treat.
Anne Marie (Subotica/Serbia)
Lyric verses, mostly love related topics and eclectic music background without a defined genre orientation is what characterizes the style of this singer-songwriter from the north of Bačka. Subtle and tender, she charms with her unlimited quantity of emotions, which permeate every pore of her art.
Ananarija Tumbas is currently known as a hardworking and rewarding associate of numerous underground bands from the region, such as DSubFaces, Zli jezici and Sputnjik, with whom she has sang, played the guitar or the piano, and written songs. As a solo artist, under the name Anne Marie, she has performed with great success at Belgrade Singer-Songwriters Festival in 2017, and she has released five songs for the label “Take It or Leave It Records”. However, her potential is much greater, and Gradić Fest is a true opportunity for her to shine in all her glory.
Ice Cream Man (Belgrade/Serbia)
This one-man show is a mix of raw blues, country and folk elements, abundance of various instruments, ranging from acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica, to almost complete drum set. One-man band is the stylistic definition, workplace and life choice of this artist, who lives and works in Serbia, but dreams and sings about the Mississippi Delta and the melodies prevailing in the American South.
Delta blues in modern arrangements is what Milomir Luković brings to any given stage, be it a festival stage or a small corner of a city street. Multitalented and hardworking, “Ice” has released two albums of his own songs, with a few standards. The promotion of the second album, On the Shoot, is ongoing, and after the Nišville Festival he is coming to the Lower Town of the Petrovaradin Fortress.
Sitzpinker (Belgrade/Serbia)
They are so young but they have already embraced the philosophical idea of changing the world, be it only through their rock band, in which there are no – guitars. The fact that the guitars are not necessary in order for a band to sound like a powerful rock band is what this trio proves with its considerate potential on the underground scene.
Drums, bass and a girl’s voice – those are the instruments with which Sitzpinker deliver their urban dream visions, inspired indie, garage and pop sounds of the new millennium. Their three singles and a series of performances at eminent Belgrade clubs portend a beautiful career, something similar to that of Disciplina kičme or White Stripes.
Aleksa Danić (Belgrade/Serbia)
This 12-year-old virtuoso’s magical fingers make with ease the acoustic sound of a six-string beauty too appealing for anyone to resist, regardless of their age. This unique wunderkind enchants his audiences with his rare and demanding technique of fingerstyle guitar.
When you spend eight years playing the guitar almost every second of the day then something will become of you, and Aleksa has an extraordinary career in store for him, since at his young age he already “owns” not only club stages but also much bigger, festival stages. He has been influenced by Clapton, Sting and Oldfield, and especially Tommy Emmanuel, but he claims that in the world of guitar art, to which he naturally belongs, it is getting harder and harder to find like-minded people and true followers.
MKDSL (Belgrade/Serbia)
Intelligent dance music is the definition of the genre which this maestro plays on his turntables (and other instruments). He is a well-known producer, multi-instrumentalist and live performer, and he is coming to Gradić for the second time, after having successfully performed last year with Bojana Vunturišević.
“Mama kaže da sam lep” (“Mama Says That I Am Beautiful”) is the full name of this ex DJ, who has been exclusively performing live music for the last four years, although his sets blur the line between DJing and live gigs. MKDSL is famous for his humor and positive energy, and his electronic approach to music deftly combines the sounds of techno, ethno, disco and punk, making it a unique modern club experience. He also has the project Slav Experience, where he plays with existing songs, and he organizes creative workshops, where he makes music on the spot together with the audience.
Rogi (Belgrade/Serbia)
This multi-talented, fresh and smiling musician, who is very “in” at the moment, finds his inspiration in the concrete environment of the capital, where he turns the noise and commotion into singable pop melody arrangements with an abundance of “black” influences. All that is Rogi, an artist with multi-layered style and beautiful guitar arrangements, full of hip hop, funk and soul.
After having been encouraged by his victory at the Mikser Festival in 2017, this extraordinarily talented musician continued with his mission by releasing the album U međuvremenu. He often, and gladly, performs live, so he is coming to Gradić with his three-member band – with keyboards, drums and bass. He is on vocals and guitar.
Ana Avramov (Belgrade/Serbia)
The expressive contralto melancholy of the plains in the dream pop melodies of this singer-songwriter, backed by minimalist accompaniment of her three-member band, is a real pleasure for the fans of light tones and heavy topics. The always popular Americana, with verses coming from the depths of the soul, leaves almost no one unmoved.
Her unusual voice and talent for writing lyrics and composing songs is what makes this girl very present on the regional alternative scene. Through cooperation with different musicians and bands of similar orientation she has honed her own style, and she has released the single “Autumn Thrills” and the album Open Heart. She is bringing a similar mood to Gradić, an excellent place for a good gig and daydreaming.
Soundcheck Orchestra (Novi Sad/Serbia)
Ukulele, violin, piano, saxophone, flute and percussions are mighty “weapons” when they are wielded by educated musicians who are ready to play some true, good rock ‘n’ roll. This is exactly what the visitors can expect from this orchestra made up of teenagers – pupils of primary and secondary music schools from Novi Sad.
Under the artistic guidance of the eminent violinist Gabriela Benak, this group of young musicians is also blossoming outside the domain of formal education. They seem to see a bright future in a freer form of pop and rock music, and the proof for that are their interpretations of songs by Queen, Eurythmics or Elvis Presley. They adapt their arrangements to their own style, and say that they choose the songs according to the affinities of their generation.
Nova (Novi Sad/Serbia)
New interpretations of classic hard rock are well received by all generations of fans of hard sound all over the world. Our local representative of the genre is a band which has been developing its style for years, following in the footsteps of the great names of this genre, such as Nickelback, Linkin Park and Audioslave.
This four-member band with two guitars has also been working diligently in the studio, and has released the singles “Jedini”, “Sa one strane”, “Ledeno” and “Senke”. But in spite of their numerous successful performances at festivals for “demo bands” they are still waiting for an opportunity to make their debut album. That is why they let off steam at their live performances, and so far they have had numerous solo performances at clubs and festivals, and they have successfully supported the greats Zabranjeno pušenje and Block Out. The peak of their career so far has been their Vojvodina Tour 2014 with the bands Grate and Plug’n’play.
Vedran Ferizović Trio (Novi Sad/Serbia)
A jazz approach to the ethno heritage of these regions is a side project of the leader of the popular band Josip A Lisac. “Tavern sound”, fine execution and academic skill, and a clarinet which suggestively stirs the emotions create a background for the stories about life and love, full of irony, jest and sentiment.
Ferizović is a guitar teacher at “Isidor Bajić” music school, and he describes his expression as recounting of reality through subjective thoughts and dreams of the times in which he creates. He is accompanied by the clarinetist Vasa Vučković and the cellist Ervin Malina. This trio’s debut album “Ponoćni gudbaj”, from 2017, is already known to the audiences of this region, and now it will also be presented in Gradić.
Drunkards (Novi Sad/Serbia)
The music influence of Ireland surpasses by far the size of that Atlantic island. Currently, Novi Sad also has a band who nurture the temperamental expression of the “green” men, to the great pleasure of the numerous local fans of the “orthodox Celtic school”.
This essentially acoustic trio, playing authentic instruments (mandolin, violin and guitar), easily grows into a quintet with a rhythm section when it has to meet the requirements of a club or a festival party, and they define their style as Irish bluegrass folk rock. Besides traditional songs they also perform their own pieces, and the date they cherish the most is, as one might expect, Saint Patrick. They are looking forward to their upcoming gig in the Lower Town, where they will perform not only for their fans but also for a wider audience.
Etiketa 4 (Novi Sad/Serbia)
An independent label (etiketa – Serbian word for label) is a common institution in the world of electronic music, and it offers its stylistic expression through synchronized work of various artists – producers, DJs, live performers… The performance of Etiketa 4 crew in the Lower Town will be a true presentation of this approach to music and this way of thinking.
Etiketa 4 has chosen to promote itself and its protégés via physical-virtual postcard with a QR code for downloading content. The label is currently made up of several creative artists with the affinity towards ambient sound, which will be evident in their performance at the Street Musicians Festival. Their live act in Gradić will consist of four entwined performances: Suuba, Dako Loop Orchestra, Drimkraft and Ivan Čkonjević (Novi Sad).
String duo ŽPu (Novi Sad/Serbia)
The baroque form of a string duo can nicely suit the current music tendencies. The violin and the cello of Bojana Jovanović and Nina Uzelac are a good proof: they create a sound aura which goes beyond the frames of classical music, and they offer unexpected fun with expected beauty.
Their new arrangements of pop and rock hits, ranging from the songs by the Beatles and Hendricks to Metallica’s and Michael Jackson’s songs, from Chaka Khan’s to Dino Dvornik’s, make the abundant sound of their string instruments similar to the roar of electric guitars. Another, more emotional aspect of their performance is visible in the covers of known Latino hits and dance songs of similar temperament. They are arriving to the Lower Town after numerous successful burlesque performances, including those at KotorArt Festival.
Monohrom (Novi Sad/Serbia)
Sizzling melodic lines and firm guitar background is what characterizes this local alternative band of the new(est) generation, following in the footsteps of the famous bands of Novi Sad scene (Obojeni program, Boje, Atheist rap, Ritam nereda…). The band’s major strengths are their fresh ideas, their zeal and their energy.
Their principal influences are rock ‘n’ roll, punk and British underground of the 90s. Their first album consists of 11 tracks, and since the band was formed, in 2016, they have been famous for their temperamental performances with characteristic vibrations, which they share with an ever growing fan base. Their performance in Gradić will be an opportunity for all the visitors to feel the warm Novi Sad welcome.
The Soundbeam Orchestra Dobri ljudi (Novi Sad/Serbia)
The Soundbeam Dobri ljudi Orchestra, named after a music device based on sensor technology, is striving to improve the sensibility of the community towards people with special needs, as a part of the Soundbeam music workshop. Since 2013, the orchestra members – young people with physical disabilities or developmental difficulties – have been actively participating, each according to their ability, in the creation and performances of different sorts of music material, mostly their own blues and jazz improvisations or ambient instrumentals.
The devoted work of Žarko Sebić and Renata Kolar has resulted in accomplishments in both artistic and social domain, one of which being the soundtrack for the film “If I could choose…”, a documentary about a girl with cerebral paralysis, which has been shown at festivals in Serbia, Ukraine and Canada. In the meantime, the orchestra performed at Novi Sad Jazz Festival in collaboration with Boris Hložan trio, and the crowning accomplishment is that the projects of the Soundbeam workshop have been included in the Novi Sad’s application for the European Capital of Culture 2021, and have been praised as very promising. For their performance at Gradić Fest, the Soundbeam Dobri ljudi Orchestra is preparing collaborations with several eminent musicians from Novi Sad.
Since the theatre’s first postwar performance in 1944, when Sremska Mitrovica was liberated, Dobrica Milutinović Theatre, previously known as the City Theatre, has been the only professional theatre in the Srem district. Besides offering the standard repertoire, oriented towards people of all ages, this theatre has been involved in various kinds of educational work with amateurs.
The current hit plays on the repertoire are Ožalošćena porodica (The Bereaved Family), Jedna sasvim obična bajka (An Entirely Ordinary Fairytale), Cinderella, as well as Kraljević Marko i zlatna tambura (Prince Marko and a Golden Tambura), which they will perform at Gradić Fest in September. This interesting play, featuring three actors, Marko Vukićević, Goran Vučanović and Nikola Stanković, is based on the enriched motifs of narrative folk poetry. The director Stefan Tajbl puts the main character, an epic character well-known to everybody, in a series of situations that are familiar to us, but strange to him, and uses unusual costumes and stage props to create an entirely new fairytale.
