UNITED KINGDOM: Central and East European bands celebrate their culture with performances along the banks of the river in London

Record ID: 277136

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Central and East European bands celebrate their culture with performances along the banks of the river in London
  • Date: 17th June 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian) VIOLINIST IN TRIGON, ANATOL STEFANET, SAYING: +++APPROXIMATE TRANSLATION+++ "I love festivals, I'm a director of a festival. That there is an East European festival, might be special for some, but for me it is the music that unites us and makes us feel the beauty of the world."
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA2WG6BOVGF20C58LJ54QWW1U56
  • Story Text: Bands from across the Central and East European region have been demonstrating their talents and celebrating their culture at Pulse Festival 2008, being held in the UK throughout June.
    It's the fourth time the festival has been held, and performances on Saturday (June 14) included artists from Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic.
    Hungarian band Kampec Dolores rounded off its tour of Britain at the concert on the bank of the river Thames.

    "I really enjoy being here and I really would like to come back again, because it's a good audience here," singer Gabriella Kenderes said.
    The group is currently working on a new album due to be released in January 2009.
    Violinist Anatol Stefanet from Romanian group, Trigon said he enjoyed playing at the festival, but as a professional musician there is no difference to him whether he plays in Bucharest or London.

    "That there is an East European festival might be special for some, but for me it is the music that unites us and makes us feel the beauty of the world," Stefanet said.
    Gypsy musicians, Terna Chave from the Czech Republic had the audience dancing during their performance.

    "Our music has a lot of energy, so people get charged with energy and dance," lead singer, Gejza Bendig told Reuters.
    Four years ago the Pulse Festival was held at small venues across London. But organiser, Stefan Krasnansky said the event had grown rapidly.
    Last year 20,000 people made their way to the banks of the river Thames to listen to the main event, and more people were expected this year, Krasnansky said.
    Britain has experienced a large influx of workers from Central and Eastern Europe since the A8 countries joined the European Union in 2004 and Romania and Bulgaria's accession to the bloc in 2007.
    Krasnansky, himself from Slovakia, said British attitudes towards Central and East Europeans is changing.

    "Londoners have found that Eastern European's are not just the working class builders and plumbers and young people making money in London, but it's actually a community that has a culture and intelligence," he said.

    "British people are starting to recognise that East Europeans are really clever and I think the Pulse Festival contributes to this," he added.
    The people Reuters met who listened to the performances said they enjoyed it.

    "It's really nice. Good rhythm, good fun, really nice, happy music," one British festival-goer, Stuart said.

    "It's good to have a bit of Eastern European culture here in the UK," his friend Craig added.
    Young Polish girl Olivia was dancing to Terna Chave's performance, and said she liked it because it was "happy music".
    The Pulse Festival kicked of in Manchester on May 26th, and has toured Brighton and several venues across London. The festival will end with performances by Czech artist, Dan Barta and the Illustratosphere, and Slovakian artists, Lavagance and DJ Tvyks in London on June 27th.
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