Monday 22 September 2008

Yerevan: Rock The Borders and Highland Metalfest

There will be two music fests over this week in Armenia's capital Yerevan - rock and metal. A welcome change from traditional pop dominance and chance to get exposed to more alternative music scene. Groups from Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Italy and Kazakhstan will participate.

PARTICIPATING BANDS

Highland Metalfest, 6 pm, 26 September, Yerevan State Puppet Theatre
(AMD 2500 ($8.5) if bought beforehand and AMD 3000 ($10) on the concert day. Special beer price 350 AMD for 0.5 L bottle)

Sadist (Italy)
Ambehr (Russia)
Stryfe (Armenia)
Sworn (Armenia)
Heavy Cross (Georgia)
P.I. Light (Georgia)
Blood Covenant (Armenia)
Vordan Karmir (Armenia)
Angel of Disease (Georgia)
Im Nebel (Georgia)

For details: http://zhesht.am/highlandmetalfest/info.html

Rock The Borders, 6 pm, 28 September, Children's Park (former Kirov park)
(free of charge)

Sadist (Italy)
Ambehr (Russia)
Alchemy (Kazakhstan)
Bambir (Armenia)
Dogma (Armenia)
Empyray (Armenia)
Heavy Cross (Georgia)
Northern Lights (Turkey)
P.I. Light (Georgia)
Stryfe (Armenia)
Vordan Karmir (Armenia)

For details: http://www.rocktheborders.com

3 comments:

artmika said...

[...] Most of the attendees were teenagers - under the influence of emo, gothic and other subcultures like these. To me it was unusual seeing this much Armenian teenagers with tattoos and piercings. Some years ago these people were quite rare and they were getting much more attention than these young people now. Alternative culture is becoming more and more popular here year by year… When it was my 'age' of attending rock concerts, the 'weirdest' people were guys with long hair and girls wearing large and rude boots, a lot of

Outstanding was fact of the presence of Turkish band "Northern Lights", taking into account the fact of a long-term Turkish-Armenian conflict, and the absence of diplomatic relations between the countries. This was unprecedented event and was interesting for watching the reactions of the public (there are certain masses in Armenia that are against any Turkish presence).
Not surprisingly for me, the audience was welcoming and I didn't notice any display of intolerance. I was wondering if it would be the same with any other concert, especially if it was pop. Yep, even when rock fans are more anti-social, I personally think, they are also more open-minded. [...]

Caucasus: "Rock the Borders" regional rock festival in Yerevan, Armenia

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't get too excited about the number of "alternative" young people in Yerevan (as opposed to Armenia which is another case entirely) although it is increasing. Nevertheless, it is a tiny fraction of the actual population. There were less than 2,000 people at the free open air rock concert, for example -- maybe even 1,000.

Anyway, I actually left the festival early and missed the Turkish band. However, I'm told that the presenter purposely didn't introduce them as a Turkish band. Even so, on two nights I drank with the Turkish band along with Armenian and Georgian rock musicians in Irish (Shamrock).

A great time was had by all, with everyone toasting cheers in their native tongue and others learning to do the same in all three respective languages. Has to be said that the Georgians were the loudest (and most fun) while the Armenians and Turks were more quiet.

Fun two nights :-)

artmika said...

Sounds like fun time ;) I wish I was there too.