Just two weeks ago, bluegrass music scored another historic first as the first international, three-day bluegrass festival was held in Lithuania. The festival, which we mentioned previously here, was entitled Vilnius Bluegrass 2005.

We just received some photos from the festival, and a report from the organizers. The report, edited slightly to correct for oddities in translation, appears below.

“It looked like a miracle couple year ago, but it happened today.” That was said by the festival director, composer and musician, president of honor of LCMA, Algirdas Klova. Also the greeting word said by the president of international bluegrass association EWOB Mr. Dennis Schut who participated in the festival by the invitation of director of festival, together with his band Spruce Pine.

The first international bluegrass festival Vilnius Bluegrass 2005 took place in Vilnius City Hall on November 25-26 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The festival was organized by public organization Muzikonas together with Vilnius City Hall and European World Of Bluegrass.

Bands who participated include Trautengrass and Kreni from Czech Republic, Spruce Pine from Netherlands, and singer Katherina Kuhlweinova from Czech Republic. Lithuania was represented by the youngest, future professional bluegrass music players of Vilnius, B. Dvarionas music school folk and country studio with their leader Algirdas Klova, and Klaipeda A. Kachinskas music school band Vixva (leader Viktoras Timashovas).

Bluegrass music is not very popular yet in Lithuania, but all the festival players were met with great enthusiasm and good feelings by the public at the festival. The biggest applause was earned by B. Dvarionas music school band that opened the festival and Kreny from Czech Republic. This band ended the second day festival concert.

The workshops were also very popular with Lithuanian musicians. The guests got to feel the specifics of bluegrass music, and have the technique of playing bluegrass demonstrated. Both teachers and students were happy to meet each other “face to face “? instrument to instrument.”

All the participants of festival attended jam sessions in restaurant Laikinoji Sostine, and enjoyed regales of sponsors, attention of fans and pleasure of being together.

In closing the festival public organization Muzikonas director Jurate Kloviene (June) expressed her thanks to all the participants and to everybody who helped to arrange the first bluegrass festival for the respect for musicians and the genre of bluegrass. Also she expressed the hope to meet next year.

Our hats are off to the organizers and participants at this festival! Additional photos from the festival can be seen here.