Translated material
Art festival "Bird 2013". Day two
The largest cultural event of the year in Veliky Novgorod has ended. So far, apart from “Bird”, no one as “sweeping” is visible on the horizon. Well, there will be a jazzfest, Dekafest, and several more festivals. But this one tried to embrace the immensity. A lot was achieved; in any case, on the second day many of those who could not liberate themselves on the first became liberated.
After yesterday’s post about the first day of the festival, some accused me of blaming everyone for nothing.
Indeed, one might get the impression that I was “killing” officials and some festival participants. Believe me, this is not true.
I am not against interaction between the state and creative people. It is precisely the functions of the administrative apparatus that boil down to creating conditions for life and creativity. By providing the site and funds, the authorities did a great good job. My message was only that it is impossible to interfere with an already running process. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, as they say. And by allocating money for the event, the administration decided to spread its influence, and publicly. It’s so fashionable to write on the Internet now: “I tried it a little, and then away we go.” Here you have patriotism, a campaign against drugs, and competitions, all rolled into one. But creativity does not tolerate being ordered, and 95% of guests and participants, I’m sure, don’t care about the speech of officials, the remaining 5% greet them with irritation.
In general, if I inadvertently offended anyone, I’m sorry. I'm not angry, I just get emotional.
And now about the second day. In my opinion, it was cooler than the first one. Let's start with the fact that the feeling of formality has disappeared. Then bam - and it’s gone. Even the jury at the poetry venue turned off the judges and turned on the people. Even the director of the Youth House, Alexei Khatuntsev, swapped his formal suit for jeans and a shirt. And people like one said that they liked the second day better. It's a pity that there were a little fewer guests than the first time.
The poetry scene is filled with people I love and respect. Maybe that’s why she seemed more alive to me than the day before? Everything is subjective after all. There were also Gleb Druzhinin and Lis Musatova (who took second and third places in the poetry category after two days). In the photo is Lis.
Photo: Natalya Varlamova
Alexander “American” Frolov also came and announced (once again) the release of the book “Being Clark Kent.” Someday she will still come out. Perhaps this spring. Lena Kuleshova (Annatar Dragon) wildly delighted with her parody poems of the poets who had performed before. Alexey April also made me happy, he teased me and my work about pants. Yes, by the way, I think that I performed well at the competition. But in the evening, on the “free microphone”, he brutally merged and made inaudible “booboos”. The jury, when they announced the winners, showed how academic they are. But they can be forgiven - philologists always consider all other writers to be amateurs, this is already an occupational disease, and this is normal and even sometimes justified by objective reasons.
Photo: Natalya Varlamova
Now the music. And on the second day, Novgorod groups delighted more visitors. If, of course, we can consider Kira Lao (pictured) a Novgorod group. Let's just say, Novgorod frontwoman and Moscow musicians. The guys are very charismatic, you can inadvertently fall in love with Kira’s squeals on stage. The stage itself, by the way, has a podium, which it would be stupid not to use. But besides Kira, the band’s vocalist Iva Nova came out to him (or rather, ran out) on the first day.
Photo: Natalya Varlamova
Voodoo Blues Band turned out to be almost the only group that had a lot of people dancing. Although, I did not see (only heard) the performances of the incendiary Khot Kog (pictured) from a settlement called Khotkovo. In any case, we fiercely, madly rocked to the blues and rock and roll.
Photo: Ekaterina Prokofieva
The fest ended on the street with a performance by the Falkor fire theater, which has grown a lot in recent years.
Photo: Ekaterina Prokofieva
Many thanks to the organizers: John, Murza, Khatuntsev and, of course, Comrade Frolov, who will not be mentioned in all media - local journalism is so local, some people really don’t like to talk about competitors. Meanwhile, he also plowed and plowed hard. The bird was clearly a success. Apart from last year's experience, this is the first truly large "Bird". Next year, I feel, she will outgrow the walls of even such a powerful, solid, massive house as the Youth House.