|
  The Menuo Juodaragis Festival
("Black Horned Moon") is the festival of contemporary Baltic culture representing the heritage of heathen tradition, neo-folk currents and avant-garde of modern darkwave music. This original event assumes ever new forms of expression each year including a great number of concerts of both Baltic and foreign bands, shows of sound architects, rituals, lectures and films on untraditional topics, various exhibitions, crafts, interactive creative projects, performances, games, dance parties and others. MENUO JUODARAGIS is a non-for-profit independent event with its origins in pure enthusiasm and ideological causes. All festival activities have been, are now and shall always be based on personal initiatives and free will exclusive of any formal undertakings.
MENUO JUODARAGIS has been initiated in 1997 as a spontaneous gathering of several creative youths and their friends in Verbikes village next to Moletai town on one starry night. Today, MJR has become one of the most interesting summer festivals and the major Lithuanian event of alternative culture. An increasing number of visitors and artists take part in the festival with each year. In 2004 almost 2 thousand people participated in the event.
The festival is arranged in picturesque locations of nature, which is closely related to the MJR concept. There emerged a tradition to organise the growing event in a new place every three years. After the festivals in Verbikes, MENUO JUODARAGIS took place in Sudeikiai settlement next to Utena town during the period of 2000-2002. The festival enjoyed the approval and support of local authorities (the saying that the locals of Utena are the most cordial people is true!). It was in Sudeikiai on the bank of beautiful Alauas Lake that MENUO JUODARAGIS grew into a grand event honoured by well-known bands from both Lithuania and abroad. The time of the event also became fixed and falls now on the last weekend of fading summer. The new cycle began in a magic place close to the legendary Kernave (the first capital town of ancient Lithuania) in 2002. However, the 9th, special event, returned again to MJR native Sudeikiai...
Traditionally, MENUO JUODARAGIS lasts three days and nights. Events take place simultaneously on a few stages so that each visitor could select the best individual programme corresponding to his or her interests. The abundance of festival styles also determines the variety of the audience. The majority of viewers are academic youths from all over Lithuania. However, the number of mature people arriving with families to the festival is growing, as well. It is worth noticing that MENUO JUODARAGIS is among the few events in Lithuania attracting foreign audience, too. During previous editions, people from Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Belarus, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Canada, USA, Australia, Japan and India attended the festival.
The festival has developed its unique features and symbols, complemented with new highlights each year. The atmosphere of the event is exceptional, too. This is the place where new ideas are generated and deep artistry merges with solid entertainment. For many, MJR has become a certain point zero in the year.
MJR is organised by the record label DANGUS. Starting from 2002, the festival is partially supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, other cultural institutions, UNESCO Culture Management Department, various enterprises, mass media and private individuals. However, major sponsors of the festival are the unique bands on stage and visitors returning to the festival like to their home every year. They are the true essence of this event.
Contact:
E-mail: mjr@dangus.net
www.mjr.lt
MP3
MP3
CLIP
|
 |
)