Street Musician Day

Date: 2 May

Venue: Vilnius downtown, other cities of

Lithuania

Promoter: PI “Vilnius – European Capital of Culture

2009”

www.gatvesmuzika.lt 

On the first Saturday of May thousands of people go out into the streets to play music. The Street Musician Day is the event uniting everybody who speaks the world's most universal language - the language of music. In response to the invitation of the musician and actor Andrius Mamontovas, professional and amateur musicians flood the streets, yards, parks and squares of Vilnius. Armed with a variety of musical instruments, they play rock, classics, jazz, avant-garde and folklore and beat African rhythms. On this day all Lithuanian cities and towns engage in the festival of free creation and communication between musicians and the public. 

In 2007, 295 groups were issued permits for playing music on the streets and about 60 musicians participated in the Street Musician Day. In 2008, the Street Musician Day pealed out all across Lithuania with more than 3,000 musicians playing in the Capital and 31 other towns and townships. In 2009, Lithuanians from all over the world playing jazz, rock, classics, rhythms and folk music on the streets will participate in the Street Musician Day.