When we think of fall festivals, our imagination automatically goes to picturing harvest related, where people can try local wines paired with traditional foods. While gastronomical adventures are one of the best ways to get to know a country, one underrated type of autumn activity is a music festival. And the perfect area to discover unforgettable tunes and unique cultural experiences is the Balkan region.

During the fall, not only will you be able to enjoy the fruits of the wine, oil, cheese and charcuterie production, for which the countries of this part of the world are known for, you will be have a unique opportunity to see world famous musicians and local artists at jazz festivals across the Balkans. Here are two examples of the events that have been attracting crowds for decades now.

The Belgrade Jazz Festival was started in 1970’s, with the first festival taking place in the Union Hall. The four day event was organized by the Belgrade Youth Center, who were working hard to platform jazz enthusiasts. In 1974 the festival took place for the first time in the Pionir Sports Hall with 4,000 attendees. The yearly event continued until 1991, when a tragic civil war broke out. The festival was revived in 2005 and has been a worldwide phenomenon ever since.

The link to the festival’s page:
https://bjf.rs/en/beogradski-dzez-festival-2023-jazzscapes/

Another city that hosts a jazz event is Skopje, Macedonia. The Skopje Jazz festival is organized by a non-government non-profit body and it allows visitors to enjoy artists such as Ray Charles, BB King, Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente, James Carter, Eliane Elias, Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny, Stanley Clark, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul and many others.

The link to the festival’s page:

http://www.skopjejazzfest.com.mk/index.asp

If you would like to book a class with me to discuss music, the Balkan region or any other subject, book a free conversational lesson with me, or try any of my longer lessons with a 40% discount!

I hope to see you all very soon!

Best wishes,

Tanya