FESTIVAL LENT 2008 (27. VI. - 12. VII.)

Can you imagine anything more pleasant than listening to a concert under the starry summer sky? Do you feel excited about a classical concert in a 400 year old synagogue? What about some jazz rhythms? Maybe a performance on the floating stage on the river Drava will attract your attention. Why don't you just take a nice walk along the picturesque streets of Maribor?

All this and a lot more makes up Festival Lent, changing the banks of the river Drava into a lively cultural and sociable centre, beating with all kinds of rhythms.

We believe that this year's festival will for the sixteenth time attract a lot of visitors, especially because of its top-quality program. So why not start this year's summer with Festival Lent?

A variety of more than 400 performances and half a million of visitors make Festival Lent one of the biggest festivals in Europe, moreover it is also known across the pond in America. This multicultural festival that has its origin in the folklore festival Folkart has received several awards, among them 32 awards from The International Festival and Events Association (IFEA).

Festival Lent is ranking among the Top 50 of Europe's Best Local Festivities!
http://www.localfestivities.com/

Expect a variety of concerts of classical, jazz, popular and ethno music, evenings with singers-songwriters, chanson evenings, theatre and dance performances, drama and puppet theatres, creative workshops for children, sport performances and much more. Commencing on 27th June, it continues up to 12th July 2008 on more than 30 locations and stages. The International Folklore Festival Folkart, the Festival Jazzlent and the Street Theatre Festival will also take place within Festival Lent.

To date, many internationally acknowledged musicians have performed at Festival Lent, particularly at Jazzlent. Along the banks of the river Drava, stars such as Ray Charles, B. B. King, James Brown, Jose Feliciano, Lester Bowie, Stephane Grappelli, Tania Maria, Les McCann, Jimmy Whitterspoon, Maynard Ferguson Big Band, Paquito D’Rivera, Howard Johnson & Gravity, Dr. John, B. Golson, Chicco Freeman, Vocal Sampling, Reggie Workman, Chucho Valdes, Brad Mehldau, Monty Alexander, Ray Brown, Alfredo De La Fé, Bela Fleck, Alvin Queen, Dr. Didge, Esbjörn Svensson, Alfredo Rodrigues, Matt Darriau, Taj Mahal, Malia ,Mercedes Sosa, Olodum ,Eric Burdon & The Animals, David Byrn, Reggie Johnson , Femi Anikulapo Kuti and many others have attracted numerous visitors. Moreover, every year honoured guests at the festival also include many acknowledged Slovene artists. The International Folklore Festival “Folkart” is characterised by its quality and the variety of folklore groups from Slovenia and abroad. Some top street theatre groups from all around the world, and from Slovenia, visit Maribor every year thanks to the Street theatre Festival.

This multicultural program is already a well-proven formula, and is sure to meet the demands of all discerning visitors.

FESTIVAL LENT 2009
26. VI. - 11. VII.

FOLKART 2009
30. VI. - 4. VII.