Here we are to this Folkest blowing out the twenty-four, fateful candles. But this was not a passing edition or somewhat minor, it was instead a Folkest that traveled many roads, it was divided into large sectors to satisfy a bit all tastes and all palates, with a strong presence of Hispanic music and Hispanic-American, and then Balkan, Irish, Scottish, Italian, Breton, Istrian, Friulian. Not to mention an important anniversary of Folkest, which landed in Koper for the tenth time, with a rich program of concerts, exhibitions and study meetings.
Also in this edition Folkest retraces roads that smack of antiquity, reaches perched castles, visits villas on the banks of rivers, visits the mountains, the hills, the plains, all the way to the Adriatic Sea: the combination of locations with high tourist potential and culturally high-level shows made it possible to promote tourism and culture at the same time, offering unusual itineraries and forgotten traditions.
The great stars of music, new European musical proposals, the music of Friuli, the music of Istria, the music of ethnic minorities, the music and culture of the Slovenian valleys of Friuli, the great concerts: music without boundaries or definitions, when the great names of world music mingle with genuine exponents of traditional music.
About 300 artists perform 50 shows each year, spread over 30 different locations along 3 weeks of summer filled with performances, lutherie exhibitions, musical instruments, photography, and vinyl.
Folkest 2002 hosted some of the world’s music stars, such as Noa, Goran Bregovic with its overwhelming Balkan rhythms, the Wedding and Funeral Band‘s brass and female vocalists, the Cubans Los Van Van, and the now-launched Vinicio Capossela with Roy Paci. EYFO: European Youth Folk Orchestra, Kepa Junkera, Wolfstone, Sara Tavares and Los de Abajo also participated. A space of its own, on a day dedicated to Native North Americans was given to Native American poet-performer John Trudell, while Elisa sealed the festival’s closing: a fitting recognition of the regional artist who has been most successful in the national and international music world.
Azarbe Spain
Bakala Blues Band Slovenia
Banda Jonica con R.Paci, F. Barovero, M.E. Giovanardi, V. Capossela, C. Zavalloni Italy
Bella Blues Band Italy
Braul Friuli (Italy)
Broderick Ireland
Chakay Manta Italy
Contempo Trio France
Dave Shepherd & Becky Price England
Di Grine Kuzine Germany
Ed Schnabl Trio Austria
Elisa Italy
Esta Israel
European Youth Folk Orchestra Europe
Foehn Brittany
Gambetta/Aonzo/Coppo Italy
Goran Bregovic Serbia
Hoven Droven Sweden
John Trudell Usa
Kepa Junkera Basque Country
La Zag South-Tyrol
Los De Abajo Mexico
Los Van Van Cuba
Luigi Maieron Friuli (Italy)
Massimo Bubola & Eccher Band Italy
Niall O’Callanain & S.T. Band Ireland
Noa Israel
Paolo Bonfanti Band Italy
Pipedown Scotland
Pucci Venier Friuli (Italy)
Radiodervish Palestine/Italy
Roberto Lucanero Marche (Italy)
Sara Tavares Cape Verde
Silvia Michelotti Friuli (Italy)
Strepitz Friuli (Italy)
Taraf da Metropulitana Romania
Tendachent Piemonte (Italy)
To Loo Loose Italy
Vruja Istria (Croatia)
Wolfstone Scotland
