East European Music Conference – Festivals in a Europe in crisis
by alexhrThe first meeting of the European music industry elite in Romania, East European Music Conference, an event organized by ARTmania, with the support of the Local Council of Sibiu and the City Hall of Sibiu, brings together, between July 27 – 29, event organizers, international specialists in security, lawyers or experts in the international tax systems. The series of conferences will be hosted, for two days, by Thalia Hall Sibiu, starting with Friday, July 28th, 10:00 and a very actual debate: Festivals in a Europe in crisis.
The opening ceremony for the East European Music Conference reunion is scheduled on Thursday, July 27th, in the Large Square in Sibiu, and includes two concerts with international festivals: the Dutch band My Baby and the Brit Alex Clare. Receivers of some of the prestigious Dutch music awards, Edison, that is offered for musical compositions of exceptional quality, the Dutch band My Baby plays for the first time in Romania. My Baby will open the Brit’s Alex Clare concert, a favorite of British and German charts, whose single “Too Close” with over 100 million views on YouTube only have brought him a collaboration with Microsoft and a very precious nomination at the Brit Awards. For the two concerts scheduled for the East European Music Conference gala, the entrance is free.
East European Music Conference takes place at the same time as the ARTmania Festival, turning once again the town of Sibiu in a true Cultural Capital. On the 12th edition poster of ARTmania Festival, seven important acts have been added: Tarja, Lacuna Coil, Riverside, Beyond the Black, Walkways, You Me At Six and Devin Townsend Project. Passes for the ARTmania Festival are 190 lei during the presale.
Tickets for the East European Music Conference cost 190, 210 or 240 lei, according to time or purchase. Tickets grant access to both event days and are valid for the whole series of seminars and conferences included in the program.
FESTIVALS IN A EUROPE IN CRISIS
How to play on a continent that tries to keep its balance in front of the ongoing challenges, from economic polarization to division of national societies, to nationalist ideas, xenophobia, terrorist threats and, beyond this, too many types of cultural problems? The opening conference of the EEMC reunion, Festivals in a Europe in crisis, scheduled in the Thalia Hall, on Friday, July 28, at 10:00 is organized under the Take a Stand patronage, a campaign aimed to encourage civil involvement and social cohesion and a declaration to defend European values. The Take a Stand campaign is a Yourope initiative, where ARTmania Festival is affiliated, along with 90 of the main European festivals.
Confronted with an identity crisis, social inequality, ways of migration, terrorism and fascism, Europe cultivates new generations of visionaries, people that learn and analyze changes, in order to ensure the quality and continuity of events that celebrate life. Under the main title “Festivals in a Europe in crisis”, they will analyze and will share their experience three organizers from top European festivals: Fruzsina Szep: director of Lollapalooza Berlin, Christof Huber – president of Yourope and director of OpenAir St. Gallen – the largest festival in Switzerland, Guido Janssens – director of Emagic, organizer of concerts and festivals that have revolutionized the live event industry in Romania. The conference will be hosted by journalist Lucian Mindruta, who, after 20 years in the local press now moderates the social space in the “Interactiv” radio show at Digi FM, a public area where the most important subjects of the moment are up to debate, subjects talk about online, in the media or on social platforms.
“My message is about people, about a positive and peaceful way of living together, about an open and constructive dialogue. It might sound utopic, but us, the festival organizers, with a creative thinking, addicted to music, we are dreamers, fighters and defenders of good faith and have no other way. We couldn’t do what we do if we thought differently. Europe needs brave, curious, open, active and positive ambassadors of good will, intelligent people who have their hearts in the right place, who are not afraid to show their emotions, are not afraid to take action, to show what it means to not bend your head. To take a stand! Our festivals are gatherings of peace, where people come to enjoy the music, arts, culture and enjoy friendships and life. This is my Europe. Maybe it’s a utopic dream this temporary world of happiness, a world that festival organizers have the possibility of creating for their public. We do this ever year, this is our driving force, that gives us strength. These festivals are ambassadors of democracy and solidarity and no government can silence them. They will rise and they will talk about the art of freedom and free dialogue. Love and music are stronger than hatred, bombs or terror. It’s time for a change of the political generation and a change in mentality for the future leaders of Europe. We must not contemplate on the way Europe and the European Union are falling apart. It’s the largest project of our times. We must do everything in our power to support it and give it power”, Fruzsina Szep, Director of Lollapalooza Berlin
The most recent news that have shattered the musical scene in Europe are the last events in series that has brought sadness and worries on an international level. In anyway, it was the first year when tank stoppers were used in order to protect certain European festivals, in the series of measures taken to face new realities. These are all themes we can start a debate with about the future of large festivals in a Europe of changes. New security rules, new philosophies and concepts about organizing events, new trends and artistic currents, along with political vision adapted to social respect and equal opportunity are the new guiding lines for hundreds of festivals hosted annually by the Old Continent. Through information and awareness campaigns we promote tolerance for all cultures, genders, rases, religions, sexual orientations, colors and origins. Motivating people to take part in political and social activities, militating for a peaceful dialogue, for humanity, tolerance and mutual understanding, it is the best way to make the world a better place for each individual and for all of us – it’s written in the defining declaration for the purpose and mission of Take a Stand.
“In times with tension due to political changes, with the refugee crisis and terrorist threats, it is essential for the festivals of the world to unite their voices in a common declaration, to defend values of social cohesion, of cultural diversity and peace. We wish to motivate our public to take part in political and social activities, taking stand for a peaceful dialogue, humanity, tolerance and mutual understanding. It is time to take a stand! Christof Huber, Director OpenAir St.Gallen, Switzerland.
Yourope salutes all the professionals in the live music business and encourages them to join in as partners of this campaign. Festivals, promoters, clubs, associations, production companies and other people involved in the event industry are invited to join as ambassadors of the Take a Stand campaign, for a United Europe. (https://www.take-a-stand.eu/)
ABOUT MY BABY
My Baby. Blues, country and funk, with the Dutch from My Baby, a shamanic psychedelic trio formed in 2012, receivers of one of the most prestigious music awards in The Netherlands, Edison, which is offered for musical compositions of exceptional quality. They were applauded in tours in the Nordic countries and in the UK, but also in South Africa or New Zeeland, and became large festival favorites, especially at Glastonbury, where they were invited for seven times. With four albums released, the most recent one, Prehistoric Rhythm, was released just this year. My Baby counts on hypnotic beats, educated voices and psychedelic rhythms for a show that evokes ancient traditions, followed thousands of years ago through music. This is the unique aesthetic of the band, that explores the way ancient rituals influence contemporary culture. With a mythical-poetic theatrical approach, a danceable music that address the collective conscience, My Baby offers an archaic spiritual alternative to storms and shortcomings of contemporary life.
