Glatt&Verkehrt Music Festival in Krems a.d. Donau, Austria (12 – 26 July 2009) 
Tradition and innovation, the old and the new are as closely connected as the stitches in a knitting pattern—it is between these two poles that music has been made at the Glatt&Verkehrt festival, not asking for styles and genres, yet for regions, origins and roots. For 13 years now, the unique festival has demonstrated original and exciting high-quality aspects within the broad field of music referring to certain ethnical traditions. No matter if they come from traditional folk music, jazz, classical music or the avant-garde—what connects all the performing artists travelling to the little town Krems a.d. Donau from all around the world is one common premise: the confrontation with their personal musical origins. Two weeks at the end of July are completely dedicated to these extraordinary sounds from all over the world and attract around 5,200 visitors (partly die-hard regulars) to the Wachau region each year.
More info: www.glattundverkehrt.at
Vidor Festival in Nyíregyháza, Hungary (28 August – 5 September 2009)
Since 2002, the festival has invited famous artists like René Aubry, Salif Keita, Goran Bregovic, Eliades Ochoa, Maurice el Médioni, a.o. Side by side with the music, Hungary’s most respected theatres and companies show their latest comedies and street-theatre productions at the festival. A competition is linked to this next to a film competition with Hungarian comedies that came out the previous year. Considered as one of Hungary’s most prestigious cultural events of European magnitude, the Vidor festival also attaches a lot of attention to school concerts. They believe it is import that children of all ages can experience in their own schoolyard music and culture from Hungarian minorities as well as foreign artists. This initiative is part of the educational conception of the festival. The family friendly Vidor Festival attracts each night between 5000 to 8000 people. For more than a week, the city centre, changes into a fantastic street parade welcoming thousands of visitors.
More info: www.happyartfestival.hu
Ulsan World Music Festival (9 – 11 October 2009)
Ulsan World Music Festival launched in 2007 as part Cheoyong Culture Festival under the slogan of “Cheoyong Welcomes the World” in Ulsan Metropolitan City, South Korea.
Cheoyong is a mythical character who is believed to have originated from Ulsan. His poems and graceful dance are symbolic of generosity and unity and are performed at the festival every year to celebrate with the festival’s success and to wish citizens’ well-being. Ulsan World Music Festival has presented wide range of world music from Quimantu to Antonio Chainho, Rodrigo Leao to Bajofondo and many more to name. There is an educational programme Tribe of Doris UK (Intercultural Summer School takes place in the South West of England). Ulsan World Music Festival is in partnership with Tribe of Doris UK to develop educational contents since 2007. More info: www.cheoyong.or.kr
Le Voci dell’ Anima in Bari, Italy (December 2009) 
Le voci dell’Anima was founded in Bari in 2004, based on the conviction that Apulia needs to fulfil its vocation as a crossroads at the centre of the Mediterranean, a place to try out new forms of cultural cohabitation, encouraging dialogue between peoples, experimenting with new artistic and musical pathways. The festival takes place in December, in a series of free concerts, each held in a different church, chosen from those on the frontiers of the city either from a social or a geographical point of view. Le voci dell’Anima was created and is organised by Princigalli Produzioni. In only five years, the festival has welcomed some of the top names on the international stage: Ambrogio Sparagna - Angélique Kidjo - Divna - Radiodervish - Jan Garbarek a.o.
More info: www.princigalliproduzioni.it
Friday, May 29, 2009 at 12:46PM