For the 19th time, the percussion music is played in Ukmergė – the “Percussion Ukmergė 2024” festival, which has become a tradition, was full of surprises this year. Loyal fans of the festival know the event as a few-day festival. This year, residents of Ukmergė and guests of the city are enjoying the series of concerts, divided over the course of the year.
Lithuanian percussion legend on the bar scene
Drum stick virtuoso, one of the key personalities of Lithuanian jazz, creator of visual art, artist, director, legend of percussion music and absolutely unique artist Vladimir Tarasov appeared on May 30 at Gastro Pub “I will be here”. The performance “Solo Percussion” was greeted by a full hall of applause.
V. Tarasov is famous as a percussionist legend who makes the sounds out of most unexpected objects. During the performance, the performer played different percussion instruments and not only that – he also played with bells.
V. Tarasov was delighted with the audience at the Gastro Pub: “I felt like I was in America, in a jazz club!” In addition, the artist emphasized that the only percussion music festival of this type in Lithuania takes place in Ukmergė. Residents and guests of the city have a unique opportunity to hear and see live performances of percussion virtuosos every year.
An open-air concert accompanied by the rustling of trees
The beginning of the performance of the concert series “Percussion Ukmergė 2024” which took place in nature was opened by the patron of the festival, the mayor of Ukmergė district municipality, Darius Varnas.
The rhythms of the percussion instruments were accompanied by the rustling of the forest, chirping of birds and light rain. The audience was not ofended by the surprise from the sky and greeted the ensemble “Giunter Percussion”, percussionists Edgars Saksons and Guntars Freibergs from Latvia and the Lithuanian Symphony Wind Orchestra with conductor Karolis Variakojs in the lead. The musicians performed a bunch of different pieces – classical percussion music, pop music and even Latin American rhythms.
By the way, the festival guests did not hide their admiration for the location of the concert – surrounded by nature, it created a cozy, memorable atmosphere for both performers and listeners.
A surprise for the audience at the city festival concert
One of the performances of the “Percussion Ukmergė 2024” concert cycle became part of the main Ukmergė city birthday concert. The band “The Honkin’ Dudes Brass Band” greeted the audience. The group presents itself as a phenomenon – a charge of good mood. In addition, Joris Zabukas, a student of the music department of the Ukmergė Art School, took part in the performance – the young percussion star performed a New Orleans-style performance together with the musicians.
The people of Ukmergė and the visitors of the city received a surprise during the concert. Guests from New York (USA) took to the stage and joined the group – the are drummer, composer and author Dalius Naujokaitis-Naujo, also called “drum maker” and percussionist Daniel Jodocy.
The final concert of “Percussion Ukmergė 2024” will close the summer on August 31, in the castle park, Ukmergė. A concert program, percussion education, open-air movies and even gastronomic experiences will await the audience.
The international festival “Percussion Ukmergė 2024” is supported by the Ukmergė district municipality. The project is financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and the agricultural company “Egvila”. Patron of the festival is “Baltic American Concord” group of companies, general sponsor is “Stansefabrikken”. The patron of the festival is Darius Varnas, the mayor of Ukmergė district municipality.
Photo credits: Dainius Vytas
