A typical street artist who goes round the world with his hat in search of an audience, comes from the British Island and is called Bandolino. Mainly a vigourous one-man orchestra, he sings and simultaneosly plays as much as 15 instruments including a mandoline and mouth-organ, drums carried on his back, daires and other percussions on arms and feet as well as a compulsory rubber ducky – his only companion.
His real name being Fergus Mekkej, this man is always on the move, from the Scotish North to the sunny squares of Rome- which as he says, is the only thing that makes him feel alive. Fergus also writes his own songs inspired by a rich experience. They are sometimes spiced up with tongue-in-cheek British humour alongside unavoidable emotions and diverse feelings. He is also inspired by other popuar artists such as Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Tom Waits whose acoustic style he cherishes himself. He has already recorded his first cd ”Bandolino and the Ringmaster’s wife” and will be an moving attraction equally present at all corners of the Street Artist Festival.
Playing for Change – Bringing the World Together Through Music
The humanitarian foundation ”Playing for Change” from the USA created a group of street perfomers (2004) from all parts of the world going by the same name. The organization’s concept is that music should be a language spoken by all regardless of skin colour, national or religious affiliation. The producer, Mark Johnson, made a documentary where a song ”Stand by me” is performed simultaneously by the members. Each performer is in his/her own environment, in countries on 5 differerent continents. This clip has been seen by more than 40 million people and the author has been awarded the most prestigious world award ”Grammy” for this piece of work.
Among the musicians who have participated in certain Playing for Change projects are some of the most popular names of contemporary pop music such as: Bono Vox, Manu Chao, and the legendary blues artist Keb’ Mo’. The current members of the band are singers Clarence Bekker from Suriname, Mermens Kenkosenki from Congo and an oldish but charming Grandpa Elliott from New Orleans. The band performs the songs of best known authors (Bob Marley, John Lennon and Peter Gabriel) in pop music with a peace and humanitarian message to it.
The band has released one album so far, with the songs the’ve been performing. It’s a CD/DVD compilation with 10 songs, called ”Playing For Change: Songs Around The World”, released in 2009 on the ”Concord Music Group” label. The DVD includes a video film ”The playing for Change Foundation.” In their humanitarian mission they’ve travelled the world and on 6th Semptember they’ll be coming to the Street Artist Festival in Novi Sad.
Shpiritus Movens (Belgrade)
The unique, romantic spirit of French city culture which transfuses itself into music will once again have its representative on the Street Artist Festival this year. A performance of a Belgrade group Shpiritus Movens will awaken the colours, scents and sounds of Paris sidewalks and squares in the old heart of Novi Sad.
Extremly devoted to French music and the dominant chanson, these artists create a unique atmosphere through a lively repertoire, energetic and flaring performance. Their music is a combination of an authenitic new French sound scene with their own creative specific sensibilitywhich becomes a fusion of various genres such as classical and world music, rock, ska and others. The acoustic backbone of the band is the guitar, percussions, a violin, accordion and vocals which at bigger performances get the support of the complete rhythm section and blowers.
During their 7 year-long career they have entertained passers-by on the streets throughout Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Albania and had a peak performance in front of 15000 people at the Petrovaradin Fortress as a support band for well-known Zaz. They will be seen by an even larger number of people this year. What next? Perhaps it is time for their dischography debut.
Lost Professors (Sremska Mitrovica)
An acoustic quartet Lost Professors from Sremska Mitrovica, is one of the country’s groups which has won the contest for the performance on this year’s Street Artist Festival. Their completely instrumental story will in Novi Sad be enrichened with exceptional vocals of young Katarina Dumančić, known as the newly discovered ”Sebian Edith Piaf”
This interesting, and performance-wise a band of outstanding quality, started as a duo combining a Vojvodian tambura and an acoustic guitar with great potential and an accentuated wish to experiment. Through time, this story was enhanced with a talented and established rhythm section from Novi Sad. As the result of their strivings there appeared an authentic sound and specific style of performing popular vocal songs, both from the foreign and national music scene but in an instrumental way. Recordings and many appearances in the country and abroad made Lost Professors very popular on the internet as well, and led them to participation on the Jazz and Blues Festival in Sremska Mitrovica.
Potential in the field of authorship and a strong wish to constantly grow, have connected this band with a music star on the rise, a twelve year-old Katarina Dumančić – a finalist of the TV show ”I’ve got talent”. As a special guest in Novi Sad, she will be making their performance on one of the stages on this year’s festival even more special.
Irrwisch (Austria)
A travelling theatre Irwisch (lock of hair) comes from Austria and is a frequent participant of diverse European and world street art festivals. Their characteristic is direct contact with the audience where on the principle of scenic movement and provocation they examine the potentials of entertainment in an interplay of communication between people.
Three endlessly charming gentleman in tail-coats, high stilts, armed with unusual, somewhat crooked humour, break down taboos and push the limits in audience approach. During 15 years of constant travelling they have performed different plays transforming themselves into a whole spectrum of characters. Most noticable were the characters of retired grannies in the brightest tradition of Monthy Pyhton, even ”crazier”.
A new part of the theatre Irwisch – ”Wegenstreits Guests” (Controversial guests) – is a non-verbal, interactive, slightly silly and extremly entertaining street game which attracts the attention of the widest auditorium of all generations. When it comes to the game the three ”fluffy” gentleman are prepared for everything only to have a good time, such as climbing the open windows and balconies, stopping the buses and bicycles, as well as ”stealing” cameras and ice-creams from passers-by. Therefore, visitors of the Street Artist Festival – prepare yourselves for utter madness.
Josip a lisac (Novi Sad)
Band from Novi Sad, Josip a lisac, is a true representative of contemporary show buisness, media and art which, as they say, replicates itself through the achievements of the past. Their life philosophy, however, sounds far more entertaining live as we are speaking of a merry and dynamic gang prone to groovy and relaxing rhythms like ska and reggae.
An eight-member team, with a rich blowing section, plays skillfully with melodies and tales which have been arising to the pop-scene of previous decades in the full territory of SFRJ. While having a great time dancing and jumping, Josip a lisac attempt to develop emotionally deep and social enviroment themes. From the start in 2009 till today, they have performed wherever they could, including ”The Concert oft he Year” in Novi Sad. In the meantime they have released their first album ”The Last Samurai” while this year’s ”icing on the cake” will be the remarkable performance at the Street Artist Festival.
Re-Timbrar (Portugal)
A Portuguese formation Re-Timbrar is not some ordinary music group, but a whole movement, which nourishes traditional rhythms of their nation with utmost respect on the principals of street art. However, these local patriots are always ready to braid their roots with other sphere music as well as with other citizens of the world – making them a perfect fit for the performance on the Street Artist Festival as one of the lead attractions.
The group formed in Porto, on the melancholic Atlantic coast as the ”old end of the world”. It has always had an impact on Portuguese music as well as the culture in general. In the same way the ocean connects Portugal with other cultures of the world, these artists aren’t afraid to make international contacts through music. Nevertheless, the local trait and tradition are their favourite territory, especially rhythms. Therefore, Re-Timbrar mostly explores and uses old Portuguese percussion instruments such as the triângulo, bombo, caixa, reco-reco, chocalho alentejano, adufe, camacha and others. The outcomes of their experiments build a completely new type of Portuguese music with different musical influences depending on the inclination of each member.
As Re-Timbrar pays attention mostly to their live performance, the citizens of Novi Sad should be expecting a rare, attractive and unforgettable experience. They will be performing on several spots and while walking, with a special gift – a workshop intended for all fans of percussions, new knowledge, as well as music in general.
Stax Rhythm Clown (Germany)
The festival’s German school of art representative will be clown Stax whose ”weapon” isn’t only humour but also music, more exactly – rhythm. This atypical entertainer, besides numerous gags, perfectly plays the drums with a special and old japanese – tai ko.
Pretty original in comparison to his other red-(black)-nosed friends, Filip Schaefer possesses a humour with lots of unpredictable moments and the ability to cunningly lure an audience into his percussion supplemented performances. He presents himself as a phenomena which has appeared on Earth from unknown areas, with a mission to help push the limits and make every new contact with the audience an interactive game of mutual adaptation. In doing so, curiosity is his strongest characteristic which helps him quickly introduce himself to a wide circle of visitors. He is sometimes subtle, but often extremly direct. It all culminates with an unexpected situation and of course, an incredible virtuoso solo on the drums.
In the course of the festival Stax will be ”scheduled” mostly in Danube park. Nevertheless, knowing him, everything is possible.
Music Harmony (Novi Sad)
A music and education centre – Music Harmony – from Novi Sad, is a specific musical and scenic workshop which primarly gathers the youngest admirers of art. After a year of practice and numerous appearances throughout Vojvodina, the young students of this school are now old enough to have their own concert on the Street Artist Festival .
This education centre started working in 2011, on the ground ideas of a couple of music professionals from Novi Sad. They felt the need for an institution which would methodologically connect two different music currents – the classical and popular one. They started working with a slogan ” the seriousness of classical music through a relaxed tone of contemporary music”. It was directed towards stress reduction in children, as well as tension reduction in the former educational practice in our country. Music Harmony has a couple of departments – piano, guitar, solfeggio, popular singing, choir and of course, rock band. The students of the school are five year old children to highschool aged ones.
Their performance combines rock concerts and classical recitals while the children interpret popular musical pieces, as solists or within smaller groups. After experiencing the chidren’s remarkable performance, all visitors will see for themselves just how much all this resembles Jack Black’s ”School of Rock”.
Camillocromo (Italy)
Typical, familiar and incredible Italian musicality will have its representative on this year’s Street Artist Festival once again. A group of musicians gathered around a funny name Camillocromo, fittingly transfers the artistic spirit of the boot-shaped peninsula. They are characterized by instrumental virtuosity, endless love towards music and irresistable charm.
Six musicians, blowers, an accordionist and a drummer, gathered in 2005 under the famous Leaning Tower in Pisa. They braided their different music experiences into a unique ambient for an imaginary movie without characters and lead roles. On this journey, they rest on jazz, latino, Balkan sound and Gipsy swing influences and an atmosphere of cabaret, vaudville and circus play. In the meantime, they’ve released a handful of authorial instrumentals on three individual albums, which is great success for street art reputation. What about their live performances? They are a celebrations of a good time, laughter and majestic music making.
Camillcromo will be performing all along the festival on various spots – while walking as well as when meeting other bands. Basically, you won’t be able to miss them.
Trukitrek (Spain)
A travelling puppet theatre Trukitrek, comes from the Meditteranean coasts of Spain, although the main and only actor in the play is Italian – Roberto di Lernia. An extraordinary approach to scenic play with elements of movement theatre, puppet animation and special scenography are main parts of a 40-minute play – ”Blue Moon” – which won’t leave anybody indifferent.
Trukitrek has from 1998 till today, produced a large number of stage shows, with which they’ve played with all theatre elements except the most common one – actors following stage directions. Their speciality is puppet theatre in combination with movement and non-verbal communication, while the main participants in the plays are ” human puppets” or half-actors-half-puppets. They perform mostly comic plays with no text, but with music, puppets and visual poetry as the main focus.
After performing on all five continents, they are coming to Novi Sad with a story about the first man landing on the Moon, more exactly – what one regular man did on the 21 July of the distant 1969. This unusual and romantic theatrical play will be constantly on schedule at the Street Arrtist Festival – on the scene in Dunavski park.
Prkos drumski (Novi Sad)
A neo-folk blues band Prkos drumski has a home address on the Novosadian music scene, although it brings together numerous members from around the globe, from Beograd and Kotor to New York. The dominant acoustic sound and warmth of lyrical expression, as well as men and women in the line-up, make them an atypical, almost endemic phenomena in this region and further.
Twelve years on the scene and an abundant discography have made this group one of the leaders of the new scene in all areas of the SFRJ, known under the name – New Outlaws. Not even the geographical distance could stop the 15 members in their mutual work, on the contrary, it motivated them to create a couple of reincarnations of the same story. Based exclusively on authorship and infinite perseverance, Prkos drumski was destined to attract a bigger audience, not so much on the culturally backward national territory as much as the world. A musical publicist from England, Edi Kruni, pronounced their song ”Distant Years” one of the most beautiful ones in the last 20 years. This is substantiated by their four albums, released mostly in Croatia.
The visitors can expect a unique performance with the caressing sounds of guitars, a mandolin, a violin, a mouth organ, percussions and choral singing. Their spot will be a new fixed place of the manifestation – the gazeboo in Dunavski park.
Residual Gurus (Spain)
A breath of modern, perceptive and engaged art from sunny Spain, more correctly – a province of Catalonia – comes in the shape of five outstanding virtuosi on percussions. Nothing special, one would say – however, their instruments are made out of recycled material from junk.
Empty beer barrels, plastic water-pipes, and other pieces of rejected furniture have inspired these young visionaries to make something new, original and rather revolutionary. All are highly educated at various international institutions for percussions, instruments with keys or music theory. Nevertheless, they were in awe with the quality of discovered sounds, which inspired them to experiment further, and brought them astonishing results. Shortly thereafter, a performance concept was made, and it turned the Europan and World streets and squares into scenes full of unpredictable uprise, good sound and rhythm, as well as mass, collective meditation. Visually attractive, as they are a travelling troop from Mars, Residual Gurus have immediately won over the art scene which has over the years become richer in the field of original world music from the 21 century, in the combination of oriental rhythms and acoustic and electronic sounds on rare percussions of abundant intonation.
Residual Gurus will be staying in Novi Sad for three full days. In this way, The Street Artist Festival will be having the rare pleasure to host them under different circumstances – at some of the fixed spots and of course, while walking.
Het Mobiele Naaiatelier (Netherlands)
Hollandian artists from the duo Het Mobiele Naaiatelier know best just how much a tailor’s craft can be demanding, especially when hundreds of people are waiting for your handmade product. Of course, it can also be fun if it is approached from a creative and free-spirited angle. This travelling tailor workshop organizes unusual street performances. Original fashion products are created on the spot, through an explosion of sound and movement, on a sewing machine-bycicle and in communication with the auditorium.
Karin Arts and Mariken Bigman fan Gel are educated women and perfectly aware of the world around them. They’ve been ‘’performing’’ their tailor act around the world from 2003, starting their journey from a home address in the cosmopolitan metropolis – Amsterdam. Being in tune with the distinct local folklore, a bycicle is their main vehicle and working instrument, combined with an antique tailor tool connected with a two wheel system. Combining their tailor’s craft with street theatre, these ladies dance, sing, flert and perform a simulation of a struggle, while simultaneously sewing incredible fashion items – mostly resewing clothes the audience brings to them.
If you’re curious and want a unique clothing item for the Autumn-Winter season of 2012/2013, look for Het Mobiele Naaiatelier at one of the Street Artist Festival spots or on their public workshop on friday at the Danube park and bring wardrobe articles you would like to freshen up. One thing is certain – nobody knows what they will turn into.
Dance Club Groove (Novi Sad)
Old friends and ”children” of the Street Artist Festival are the Dance Club Groove from Novi Sad. They will be guests on the manifestation for the second time in a row, which is a sort of privilige and verification of these young street dance artists still being on the right track.
Groove members primarily promote urban hip-hop culture, with an emphasis on dance. Their target group are all people of good will, regardless of age. They are advocates of a healthy lifestyle and physical activity, thereby, they work with the Blood Transfusion Service of Vojvodina and other similar oragnizations.
When speaking of hip-hop, Groove show an artistic side of movement, as well as reasons for which it appeared 30 or more years ago on the streets of New York at the beggining of a street gang war. In this way, they encourage young people to turn toward unagressive problem solving and cherishing a positive view of the world. Especially helpful are typical street dance steps as hip-hop, house dance, breakdance, locking, popping, dancehall and others. Groove constantly adresses its members and others involved to treasure national, religious and race equality, as much as other forms of tolerance.
These ideas are perfectly in sync with this year’s humanitarian mission of the Street Artist Festival. The Dance Club Groove will be performing on a special spot for dance acts, in the Danube Park.
Helix (Greece)
Being the cradle of modern European civilisation, it is logical that the legendary Old Greek culture has its continuation in today’s street art. The tradition which began on squares and markets of old Hellenic poleis is replicating itself through activities of the Street theatre Helix. They are one of the most popular names in the modern Greek busking scene and one of the most attractive participants on this year’s Street Artist Festival. Helix will also be closing the manifestation with a spectacular performance on the Square of Freedom, in the evening of 9th Semptember.
Founded in Athens, in 1987, today Helix has a rating of one of the most important and most influental Hellenic institutions of this type. A ten member performance crew successfully dominates the scene of their country, while having a positive influence on street art being an example and encouraging the young to go on an adventure full of Odyssey uncertainty. The evidence of their success is the fact that they have their own street art festival, which has been taking place every year at the foot of Olimp, from 2009. They are highly trained in various acrobations and other street art skills. The members of Helix successfully incorporate the legacy of Old Greek philosophers, poets and myths into modern scenic performance. They have performed plays inspired by Aristophanes, Hesiod, Homer, Prometheus and other authors and heroes throughout Europe and the world, as well as during the Olympic Games in Athens (2004).
In Novi Sad, Helix will perform a play called ”Street comedy with illusions and dreams”. Created on pricipals of comedia dell’art, this scenic story implies many acrobations, juggling on stilts and rich fireworks. All this will be preceeded by a parade on the Novi Sad streets, in the spirit of the unforgettable mega spectacle of the French troop Malabar that took place last year.
Baengditos (Germany)
Big bang or the big boom, according to which the whole Universe developed, has also inspired a group of hyperactive Germans to mobilise a street troop and call it similarly– Baengditos. Devoted to adrenaline skills and the call of danger, these modern city cowboys carry out flammable shows with powerful visual effects, where mostly cars ”get hurt”.
From 2005, when they got together in Hamburg, Johnny, Ronny and the technical crew have been visiting cities, squares and festivals around Europe with an exception of North America, from where they regularly find inspiration for their exibitions. Most popular is their ”Stunt show” directly stimulated with similar acrobatic attempts of dramatic enthusiasts from Las Vegas. To be precise, a tuned white folkswagen bug races in circles on some public area, leaving burned tyre marks and serving its crew as a training ground for a number of incredible gags and acrobations. In the spirit of circus acts, the peak of the performance is flying through burning hoops.
The visitors of the Street Artist Festival will have a rare pleasure to see this unique show which hasn’t been seen from the time of the destruction of the last local circus ”wall of death”. If you detect the smell of gas somewhere in the centre of Novi Sad on 8th Semptember, be sure that it’s the Baengditos starting their machine, at the new spot of the manifestation – in the yard of Sokolski dom.
Rpoint (Great Britain/Serbia)
Aid programmes for minority groups have spread cosiderably over the years, a part of which will be presented on the Street Artist Festival. The organization Rpoint, gathering young Romani people from cities such as Beograd, Novi Sad and Niš, will be presenting a part of educational programmes together with their proteges who are devoted to music, dancing and art in general.
Rpoint is a non-profit organization founded in Great Britain (2006). From then on, it has been directed towards aiding Romani children solely in Serbia. Their activities are inside frameworks of educational and creative workshops with an attempt to deepen children’s creative spirits and direct them toward bigger chances of finding a conventional job, as well as a better and easier life in general. Rpoint employs volonteering professionals for different projects in the area of artistic and business activity; musicians, deejays, choreographers, cameramen, lawyers, project-managers, information scientists, web-designers, PR agents, and film directors.
The visitors of the Street Artist festival will have a chance to see one of the projects on the spot for dance acts in Danube Park. Children from Niš and Beočin will perform songs and dances with which they have come up with themselves. They speak of their everyday life and living on the streets. In this way, they try to express their feelings and break down deep-rooted social prejudice towards them.
Art Clinic (Novi Sad)
This year, a renowned underground artistic organization ”Art klinika” from Novi Sad will, as a friend and partner of the Street Artist Festival, be making a huge contribution to the creative and educational character of the manifestation. A number of artistic workshops of a troop Maštobus, under the name ”Are you allowed to stand in a child’s way”, will be taking place every day during the festival, on a special spot intended for the youngest, in Danube Park.
”Art klinika” is an illustrative part of a multimedia centre ‘Led art” which has been successful in balancing on the verge of visual and conceptual art for years. Performing in Novi Sad and beyond, their numerous and unusual projects, acts and activity in general, is positively affecting the wake of citizen consciousness and their cultural needs. One of the determined and primarly creative group’s recent projects is Maštobus, a mixed duo – academic sculptor Vladimir Ilić and psychologist Dragana Gogić – humanitarians and friends of children, renumerated for their work.
Creative workshops ” Are you allowed to stand in a child’s way” are imagined as interactive performances of little pre-school chidren and experienced musicians – participants of the festival. Children’s spontaneity opposed to adult reality will be seen through an improvised performance of songs which will be created on the spot by the youngest and completely inexperienced ”composers”. Apart from a huge dose of suspense, these acts promise a lot of fun as well as children’s joy and laughter.
Daniele Villa (Italy)
The main working instruments for an Italian artist Danielle Villa are paper, scissors, glue and a little help of a video wall and projector. With a collage technique, which he creates on the spot – using old newspapers, magazines and books – this romantic Roman evokes in his viewers nostalgia and newfound harmony with a slight ironic twist and critique of the absurd everyday life. This will be one of the treats of this year’s Street Artist Festival.
This versatile Apenini artist is one of the founders of an independant film production company and studio ”Citrullo International”. Its base is in Rome, and it has been successfully filming artistic movies and animations for years. The studio’s special segment is publishing books and other publications with themes from the area of film art and cinema. Villa is currently asserting himself as a street artist performer, although the show he’s acting out is in sharp contrast with the common sound and energetic background of these kind of festivals.
He puts forth the calm and creative charm of the artistic atelier on the streets and squares, where in front of a live auditorium he performs a visual show influenced by the audience. Daniel makes and projects surprising compositions through fragments of his personal arhaic database, enriched with a local characteristic. These compositions are archaically turned towards some more peaceful and slower times, far away from the urban frenzy and the unbelievable speed of the information era. For threee days, on the corner of Zmaj Jovina and Dunavska streets, will the Street Artist Festival be spinning the story about the old and new world, enrichened with a role and images of Novi Sad.
Zaa (Kruševac)
Traditionally prone to Rastafarian iconography and rhythms of dear Jamaica, urban, young Serbians absolutely enjoy the sounds of reggae, dub and other forms of picturesque Caribbean tradition. The group Zaa from Kruševo is on this same track. They are a mixed assemby that looks at music from a broader, philosophical perspective; as a combination of art, passion and performance talent.
A few years of mutual work were sufficient for this band (rich in female vocal energy) to make a remarkable leap in their self-promotion and in establishing themselves on the local and regional scene. A few of their audio and video singles have been rounded with the authorial album ”Good Things” which has until now been available only via digital download. Besides the usual relaxing dub/reggea genre, this musical story combines interesting influences from other genre categories, in accordance with the numerous Zaa member preferences, in a couple of previous seasons. These musicians from Kruševo will be having an excellent chance to promote their ideas and iconography on the Street Artist Festival. Their unique perfomance will be taking place deep inside the urban heart of the old centre of Novi Sad.
Stray Dogg (Belgrade)
A seldom serious band on these areas, deeply submerged in its own art without looking back at ridiculous and unreal demands of today’s scene and the dictation of the media, comes from Belgrade representing the true future of Serbian rock n’ roll – if it still manages to live a couple of years longer. Stray Dogs are a young force of original and inspired stylistic expression, close to mythical works of great American authors of the 20th century, with acoustic instruments at the middle of the sound wall. All this, in addition to the beautiful poetry in English, is an attractive invitation for their concert on the Street Artist Festival.
Stray Doggs is a group of young musical artists from Belgrade, founded by the author Dušan Strajnić, known as Dukat Stray. The gang gathered spontaneously for the needs of the performance of this author, when he was supporting a Canadian underground heroine Chinawoman. Dukat has from then on, with the help of a pianist Jelena, violinist Ana (both graduated from the Music Academy in Beograd) and guitarist Marko, begun a true band story. Till the end of the year, they had already had a debut album ”Almost” accompanied by adequate video-singles. This was perfectly welcomed by the informed public and was followed by a regional tour which is still taking place. Essentially melancholic, but extremly warm and melodious, the sound of this band cannot be truly compared to any other band on the Serbian scene, although the number of their fans is growing from day to day.
