The Sudovia-themed colourful and rich programme of the 49th Skamba skamba kankliai includes traditional festival events, foreign guests, and a support concert for Ukraine.
On 26−29 May, residents of Vilnius and guests of the city are invited to the culmination of the capital’s spring season − the 49th international folklore festival Skamba skamba kankliai. When the hum of the festival, which has very old traditions but each year is creatively reborn anew, floods the bustling streets of the capital, Vilnius’ residents and guests will be enchanted by a sutartinė of unique, authentic cultures.
As the 600th anniversary of the restoration of the region of Sudovia is celebrated in Lithuania this year, the festival will be dedicated to the Year of Sudovia. The 49th edition of Skamba skamba kankliai will feature events that pay special attention to Sudovian culture. Ethnologists, historians, and folklorists who study this ethnographic region will meet at a scientific-practical symposium, while the folk art masters of the Sudovia region will present their works at a folk art exhibition. Those who admire the folklore of this lowlands region are invited to a meeting with the guardians of the Sudovian singing traditions at a concert that will be the culmination of a series of events dedicated to the Year of Sudovia − “Puikūs sodai, didi dvarai”.
As every year, the ringing kanklės logo will bring fosterers of folklore traditions from abroad to the capital city of Lithuania. Traditional music enthusiasts will be delighted by Banga from Latvia, DiaBuBu from Poland, Chaonia from Greece, Nøringen from Norway, Babskyj kozačok from Ukraine, and the Irish traditional music project From the Devil’s Punchbowl. In addition to their performances at the festival, these foreign guests will also participate in one of the most prominent events of the festival − the Ukrainian Support Concert “Už jūsų ir mūsų laisvę” [For Your Freedom and Ours]. It is one of the few paid events of the festival, and the funds raised will be donated to Ukraine’s fight for independence.
This year’s Skamba skamba kankliai programme features events that are favourites among festival participants and spectators, without which the most important folklore festival in Lithuania would be unimaginable for festival enthusiasts. Skamba skamba kankliai will once again bring together a large community of traditional song, dance, and instrumental music lovers from all over Lithuania. The “Pasidainavimų vakaras” will be an impressive event, the concerts of Lithuanian folklore ensembles, “Slauna mūsų giminėlė” and “Skambantis senamiestis” will be delightfully pleasant meetings for all. The hardiest people are awaited at the energetic “Night Dances” and the “Night of Ethnic Culture”. There will be no shortage of activities for families and the youngest participants of the festival — from dances with baby carriers and slings, concerts of children’s folklore groups, to fun times playing ethno-sports.
Skamba skamba kankliai will be celebrating the 700th anniversary of Vilnius already this year. As a charming prelude to this momentous occasion, you will be invited to take a look at the history of the city through the musical prism − “O pas mus mieste”. Through the folk songs performed, Vilnius will be revealed as the capital city for the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, a military-administrative and trading centre.
Since 1973, the international folklore festival Skamba skamba kankliai is one of the few authentic ethnic music festivals in Europe. Every year, this ethnic culture event brings together a large community bound by strong ties and is a significant space for cultural cognition and expression. During the Soviet period, Skamba skamba kankliai became a powerful “velvet” (i.e. non-violent) force, unclenching the tight grip of the occupation and giving a strong impetus to the singing revolution and the Lithuanian folklore ensembles movement. In 2018, the international folklore festival Skamba skamba kankliai was recognised as a unique cultural phenomenon and was included in the List of The Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Detailed programme of festival events here.