A Successful Second Festival Day Under Light Rain

SEDUCTIVE DANCING AND OTHER MUSICAL MAGIC

Another beautiful evening brimming with quality music and great entertainment has entered the chronicles of the Street Musicians Festival, as well as Novi Sad itself, whose streets on Friday evening were the stage for performances of many interesting artists from all around the world. Bad weather conditions only partially shifted the schedule in the city centre, while almost all of the announced program was held, and in front of an audience of several thousand satisfied citizens of Novi Sad.

Boring rain seriously threatened to dispel the usual festival magic, however, already the performance of the stunning violinist Jelena Urošević on the Theatre Square brought back smiles to the many worried faces. When the young musician was also joined by the Italian masters Danni and Ale with the harmonica and clarinet, a modern ethno-musical atmosphere received serious proportions. A bit more traditional beauty from these parts awaited visitors of the Festival in Zmaj Jovina Street, during the performance of female tamburica orchestra La Banda. Youth and talent is what makes these eight attractive girls a potentially future big name of the local and international scene, but first, everyone should have herd how the Latino classic “Besame mucho” sounds in a version with melodies of the Pannonian tradition.

Certainly most tempting to all music lovers on Friday was the “Irish Night” in the Catholic courtyard. Jam-packed, that favorite “yard” of the urban youth of Novi Sad, harmoniously swayed and, what’s more, jumped to the fast rhythms and energetic chant of the traditional music of the Emerald Isle. Unbelievably popular in these parts, Irish culture has many supreme representatives, and Irish Stew from Belgrade and Belfast Food from Rijeka are at the very top, proving it tonight, both in their own unique way. The star of the show tonight was certainly Ray Scully, the authentic Dubliner who instead of the traditional music from his country prefers the real, solid rock‘n’roll sound, with a touch of blues and soul, successfully demonstrating it with the help of the lads from his band. Apart from some exceptional numbers in homage to James Brown and the bands Pink Floyd and Eurhythmics, this energetic showman left the best and most beautiful impression on the audience with original songs and his powerful voice, only just colored in the “green” sound, which made him popular on his home island, and now, beyond it as well.

The rain made the biggest commotion in the most open place – Freedom Square, but Barka Dilo were the first to end the silence beneath Miletić, energetically performing their cabaret music in the spirit of modern chansons, the closest definition of real street music that attracts, charms and draws out smiles. Afterwards, Camillocromo finished the job started a day earlier in front of the mobile Van-stage, while the irresistibly playful Charleston executed by the masters from Florence has already, half-way through the Festival been rightfully nominated for the title of the best soundtrack of this year’s event.

The midnight program in the square and courtyard took the artistic atmosphere and entertainment to a surreal next level. First, near the City Hall, the local heroes, the Acoustic Sharks, redefined chamber music, breathing into it a bit of the unforgettable eighties pop-culture through the recognizable numbers of bands Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, R.E.M. and others. The avant-garde approach to rock‘n’roll, with a guitar which is not a guitar, a translucent cello and percussions far from being merely hit, along with costumed stage dancing and the powerful voice of this band’s charismatic frontman, indicate the birth of a new great art story from these parts, having its premier performance right here on the Street Musicians Festival.

The night’s great finale, to the delight of the packed crowd in the Catholic courtyard, was colored in the spectacular tones of the Israeli quintet – Tribal Dance. Unknown in these parts, the project of the marvelous drummer Amir Ya surpassed all expectations with the quality of his music, and sent the audience to a distant hypnotic journey of self-understanding and a musical adventure from the furthest corners of the world. An abundance of solid African beats along with the intoxicating sound of the giant Aboriginal didgeridoo, played a foundation for the belly dancing and ethno melodies of the exotic singer, making this night, as well as the entire 14^th Street Musicians Festival – unforgettable.

Photo: Branko Lučić and Miloš Čubrilo