5 major music festivals in 2021 that you shouldn't miss

Music is a vital component of personal growth and overcoming existential crises. It enhances our sense of happiness when we feel good, and makes life easier during difficult moments in life. The self-isolation of 2020 taught us to enjoy music alone, but 2021 gave us the opportunity to experience the joy of music with others.

We present 5 major festivals that will take place in Georgia in 2021 and will put your life (almost) back on track.

1. Close Encounters (June 27 -July 1)

Georgia's aspiration towards Europe has influenced the formation of a common value system and taste, and the Close Encounters music festival is a reflection of this fact, within the framework of which successful Georgian and famous European (Swiss, Austrian, Dutch, Norwegian, etc.) musicians share their creativity with each other.

Since 2005, the organizers and artists of Close Encounters, motivated by aesthetic pleasure, have been breaking down boundaries between countries, generations, and traditions, and turning Georgia into the heart of globalization.

One of the main advantages of this festival is the relevance of the music presented to the public, it combines almost all genres, including classical, folklore, electronic music, etc. Close Encounters allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of modern trends: to understand what and why 21st century artists create.

When and where is Close Encounters 2021 taking place?

This year, the festival will be dedicated to 3 days - June 27, 30 and July 1; it will be held at three different locations - at the Leno Record space, the Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatory and the Giorgi Eristavi Gori Drama Theater.

The opening night of Close Encounters 2021 is dedicated to the distinguished composer Mikheil Shughliashvili and his 80th anniversary. The avant-garde artist’s works, including “Multiplication,” have been in the shadows for years, and this concert will present an alternative, installation version of it. As for the full program, there will be a premiere of Song No. 3, as well as works by Christian Muller, Kathy van Eck, Rezo Kiknadze, Mariam Ghviniashvili, Allotropy and others. The 2021 festival will be crowned with a new composition by Swiss-Dutch musician Kathy van Eck, created especially for Close Encounters 2021.

2. Tbilisi Jazz Festival (July 6-8)

The Tbilisi Jazz Festival was first held in the independent Republic of Georgia in 2000, became an annual event, and over time, it managed to expand its genre: the festival brought together jazz, blues, soul, and rock performers. However, its history dates back much further...

Back in the USSR (in 1978), the “Tbilisi Jazz Festival” was born, 30,000 fans from thirteen cities gathered at the Philharmonic Concert Hall. The series of concerts lasted ten days, and twenty-three artists and a creative group that took care of organizational issues, through joint efforts, managed to hold the largest jazz festival in the history of the Soviet Union.

The 24th Tbilisi Jazz Festival will be held on July 6-8. The event will feature performances by the brilliant Branford Marsalis, five-time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sanchez, Donnie McCaslin, Miguel Zenon, Scott Cole, and Jamaican jazz legend Monty Alexander, along with a trio. Given the threats posed by Covid-19, the 24th Tbilisi Jazz Festival will open in the courtyard of the Simon Janashia Georgian National Museum. Before the concert, guests will also have the opportunity to view cultural artifacts.

4. ECHOWAVES 2021 (postponed to August 19-22, 2022)

Georgia has seen a steadily growing dynamic of so-called club life, which is not surprising given the rapid spread of electronic music among Georgian listeners. Tbilisi clubs have become famous worldwide and have attracted foreign “clubbers”, which has encouraged the holding of electronic music festivals.

EchoWaves is also an electronic music festival held in the seaside resort of Anaklia , promising an unforgettable adventure for its guests. The goal of the “Electronic Fiesta” is to help shape the listener’s musical taste and popularize quality music; at the same time, it wants to demonstrate how a healthy lifestyle and “nightlife” go hand in hand.

EchoWaves was first held in 2018 and featured musicians from 150 countries. The festival was attended by over 10,000 music lovers from 70 countries. In the same year, EchoWaves was shortlisted for the “Best New Festival” competition.

August 19-22, 2021 is the date of the third season of Echowaves. ALAN FITZPATRICK, ME, ARTBAT, BOSTON 168, DAX J, I HATE MODELS, JAN BLOMQVIST & BAND, LEHAR, MODESELEKTOR, MUSUMECI, STOJCHE, THE BLAZE are the artists who will unite electronic music lovers for 4 days. In addition to concerts, festival participants will have the opportunity to engage in sports activities: basketball, handball (volleyball), football, frisbee, yoga and rugby.

As at the first and second festivals, this time too, the organizers offer guests camping near the Enguri River, in the shade of citrus trees. The ticket price, in addition to attending the concerts, includes accommodation, free parking, and a family restaurant that provides delicious meals.

Security on EchoWaves

It seems that the organizers are taking into account the wise advice of our ancestors (“Caution never hurts”) and are offering special services for maximum safety. SAFEWAVES is a non-profit organization focused on the health of festival participants. The group’s mission is to raise social awareness and properly implement festival culture. The organization’s psychologists, doctors, and volunteers will provide EchoWaves guests with the necessary information about the dangers of drinking or using club drugs; this, in turn, will minimize the fatal consequences that have been observed at other events in the past. In addition, in the event of any unforeseen incident, a team of doctors will be instantly mobilized to manage the problematic situation.

5. Tsinandali Festival (September 8-19)

The “Tsinandali Festival” has become an annual tradition of musical interaction not only for Georgians, but also for tourists who love classical music. This classical music festival has played an important role in revealing and developing the potential of Georgian music tourism. It is distinguished by many components: a stellar lineup, carefully selected, difficult-to-perform compositions, a historical setting (to which the impressive nature gives a fairy-tale touch) and the opportunities offered to the audience: the “Tsinandali Festival” includes not only musical numbers, but also master classes and seminars, which makes it a unique event in the entire Caucasus.

The Tsinandali Festival brings together the great musicians, conductors, orchestras and all artists of the modern era who use notes as the main instrument of communication with the world. It serves to raise awareness and intelligence not only in Georgia, but also in the Caucasus region and Asia. The event also gives a platform to budding musicians in order to properly assess their potential and promote their future development.

The “Tsinandali Festival” is held at the Alexander Chavchavadze House-Museum, which is located in Kakheti (Tsinandali) and is known worldwide for its wide range of high-quality wines, therefore, we can safely say that the “Classical Music Fiesta” also contributes to the strengthening of wine tourism. It should also be noted that the Tsinandali Wine Cellar was built in the 1930s and is one of the first Georgian wine cellars to introduce innovation in production by bottling wine.

In 2021, with maximum safety precautions, the Tsinandali Festival managed to return to its usual location. From September 8 to 19, classical music fans can enjoy a twelve-day program.

Tsinandali Festival Program Overview

Gianandrea Noseda, Christoph Eschenbach, Lahav Shani, and Pinkas Zuckerman are conductors with distinguished biographies and achievements who will lead the 23 concerts of the third season of the Tsinandali Festival.

The audience will be treated to performances by 24 world-renowned virtuosos, including Yefim Bronfman, Lisa Batiashvili, Matthias Goerne, Elena Bashkirova, Thomas Hampson, Mikhail Pletnev, Vadim Repin, Fazil Sai, Sir Andras Schiff, Alexander Ram, Sergey Redkin, Amanda Forsyth, Mao Fujita, Mark Buchkov, Blythe Engstrom, Statis Karapanos and Thomas Quastoff's Jazz Band. A harmonious synthesis of music and wine

We hope we have given you some good ideas and that at least one of the events will be interesting for you. For other, even more fun activities, follow the link: here