The 46th “Gitarijada” Guitar Festival in Zaječar

The oldest festival of unestablished rock bands, this year’s 46th Zaječar Guitar Festival, takes place from August 9th till August 12th, with two festival stages in the town of Zaječar. “Gitarijada” gathers tens of thousands of participants and visitors from around the country and abroad, thus making it one of the most significant music events in the region.

The Rock Stage will host Eyesburn, Hladno Pivo, Bajaga i Instruktori, Obojeni program and Let 3 in the non-competitive part of the festival.

The members of the jury: Branimir Lokner, Dragiša Radulović and Djorđe David, have selected 12 bands out of 176 applicants to perform in the competitive part of the program. The competitors are: Black Division” from Osijek, “Charna” from Banja Luka, “My Last Suicide”, also from Banja Luka, than “Bas i stega”, “Rđa”, “Void Inn”, “Lates” from Belgrade, “Case Remnant” (Zrenjanin-Belgrade), “Black Joker” from Pirot, “Super Confusion” from Kikinda, “V.I.S. Novi Dan” as well as “NL8“ from Zaječar.

The aim of this Festival is encouragement and affirmation of music creativity of young people – rock based audience.

The history of the Festival dates back from the 60-ties of the last century, the time when first rock bands appeared not only in the world, but in our country as well, and became widely popular among young people. The Festival in Zaječar, that firstly was organized twice a year, was launched under the initiative of the local bands. In the late 70-ties and early 80-ties Zaječar’s Guitar Festival (Gitarijada) transformed from local into the most important festival of demo rock bands in the region.

Numerous local bands became famous at the Guitar Festival (Gitarijada) in Zaječar. Afterwards, they got the opportunity to record their first albums and got the appropriate media support. Besides, the Festival has also hosted world stars like Laibach, Steve Lukather, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, Ken Hensley & Live Fire, Stan Web’s & Chicken Shake, Nightwing, Girlschool, etc.

Long tradition and its importance transformed this manifestation into a national brand, promoter and one of the holders of tourism development in the town of Zaječar.

Photo: www.zajecar.info