The festival of world music ‘Island of Light’ upon changing a number of venues during its preparation has finally occupied the cozy Garden Hermitage, one of the most pleasant places in downtown Moscow.

The inspirers and initiators of this project Dmitry Dibrov and Boris Grebenshchikov had it in mind to bring together rock and ethnic music, and highlight a wide range of various national traditions in the framework of one festival. Initially the idea was to arrange a grand happening in the countryside, in Sorochany, away from the fuss and haste of the megalopolis and plunge into folk merrymaking alternate with concerts of world stars. The reality turns a bit more limited, but still looks attractive.

The festival opened on July 1 with a fabulous performance of Jethro Tull and will go on through August 4. The program boasts a variety of musicians: ethnic ensembles perform on the minor stage from 12 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the major stage hosts concerts of celebrities from 6 p.m.

Four marquees have been placed in the Garden Hermitage, each of them representing an ‘island’ of culture, where the spectator turns from an observer into an active participant of peculiar bright life. Here you will find the Slavic Marquee, Marquee of Nomadic Culture, Chinese Marquee, and the Indian one. The comers will have a chance not only to learn about the customs, traditions, rituals, and holidays of these peoples, but also taste the national cuisines, get to know traditional arts and crafts, buy souvenirs, and personally try traditional folk remedies.

A number of workshops, business meetings and round tables on the issues of preserving cultural traditions will be held in the course of the festival. Interesting guests, unusual activities, exotic happenings along with performances of the most progressive and original bands in the open air – what can be a better pastime in the summertime?

A unique DVD ‘Prosvet’ that features personages of the same name TV project of Dmitry Dibrov will be available at the festival. The well-known TV anchorman Dmitry Dibrov and one of the most professional Russian impresarios Alexander Cheparukhin are organizers of this large-scale open-air.

The festival promo-group had negotiated with such stars as Bob Dylan, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, and Pixies about participation in the event, but they have not arrived. However, other stars turn to be at hand.

The popular Jethro Tull so beloved by the Russian public set fire to the festival on its very first day, July 1. The band had a powerful impact on the Russian rock-projects of the 1970s - 80s. Though only two musicians remain from the former line-up (Ian Anderson himself and bassist Jonathan Noyce) Jethro Tull showered its huge charge of positive energy on the public and amused the listeners with surprises, such as cover versions of the classical rock hits and the young American violinist of Italian and Asian origin Lucia Micarelli who plays in the new arrangements of the band. Along with numerous less known musicians some other celebrities will appear on the stage of the Garden Hermitage. The headliners are Richard Bona (African jazzman), Nino Katamadze and Insight band (jazz from Georgia), and Skin (ex-Skunk Anansie).

July 12

Minor stage:

12:00 India (Gosanov (Sitar and tablas))
13:00 Dibrov
14:00 Flamenco (La Reina)
14:30 Chinese artiste
15:00 Dibrov
16:00 ‘Zhili-Byli’

Major stage:

18.00 Silence Kit
19.00 Esthetic Education
20.00 Skin

July 13

Minor stage:

12:00 Sergei Klevensky
13:00 Dibrov
13:30 Yakut performers
14:30 Flamenco (Las Palomas)
15:00 Dibrov
15:30 Indian Theatre
16:00 Bugotak
16:30 Magic Pump

Major stage:

19.00 Miss Is Big
20.00 Nino Katamadze and Insight band

August 4 – concert of Richard Bona and Huun-Huur-Tu crowns the festival

Vera Ivanova, 11 July 2006