View source for Okarina Festival Bled

{{Article
| status       = NIFERTIK! PHOTO
| maintainer   = Anže Zorman
}}
{{Infobox
| name                = Okarina Festival Bled
| localname           = Okarina festival Bled
| street              = Riklijeva cesta 9
| town                = SI-4260 Bled
| telephone           = 386 (0) 4 574 1458
| fax                 = 386 (0) 4 574 1830
| website             = https://www.zavod-za-kulturo-bled.si/si/festivali-bled
| email               = leo@okarina.com
| organised by        = Bled Cultural Institute
| frequency           = annual
| dates and duration  = August, 2 weeks
| duration weeks      = 31,32 (2012) 32 (2013) 31,32 (2014)
| festival dates      = 30.7.2015 - 9.8.2015, 26.7.2016 - 7.8.2016, 27.7.2017 - 6.8.2017, 24.7.2018 - 5.8.2018, 23.7.2019 - 3.8.2019, 27.7.2021 - 8.8.2021
| contacts = {{Contact
| name                = Leo Ličof
| role                = Programme Manager
| email               = leo@okarina.com
}}
|accounts =
https://www.facebook.com/Festival-Okarina-Bled-259482451108207/
}}


{{Teaser|
The [[Okarina Festival Bled|Okarina Festival]] is a world music festival, held in the alpine town of Bled since [[established::1991]]. Presenting a very wide range of musicians, its focus spans from the many traditional folk genres to the more contemporary, hybridised idioms. The festival's creed is in part summed up by its name, which alludes to a very ancient wind musical instrument called the ocarina that can be found all over the world.   
}}

The festival is currently held at two venues &ndash; the [[Bled Castle]] and the so-called Bled Promenade, a grassy beach beside the lake. There, one can listen to those concerts that are free of charge. Additionally, the [[Bled Festival Hall]] is usually meant as a backup in case of rain. 

{{Wide image|Okarina Festival Bled 2016 Sirventes at Bled Castle.jpg}}

==Background==

The founder of the festival is [[Leo Ličof]], who even after half a century still acts as the main organiser and the artistic director of the festival. He set up its first few editions at the grounds of the restaurant he then ran on the shore of Lake Bled, but the following editions brought different venues. 

While there were only a few bands on the bill at the start, the festival progressively grew and so did the names hosted. Some of the artists hosted during the early years of the festival were the legendary UK folk bands Fairport Convention and Pentangle and the singer Marta Sebastian (HU).

==Programme==

The festival invites all sorts of musicians, from flamenco bands, qawwali artists and Irish folk singers to US blues guitarists and jazz-influenced Moroccan gnawa musicians. The festival line-up has in recent years featured Aziz Sahmaoui (MA), Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita (SN, UK), Ester Rada (IL), Orquesta Revé (CU), Osibisa (UK), Tenores di Bitti (IT), Barcelona Gipsy Klezmer Orchestra (ES), Taksim Trio (TR), Earl King Boogie Band (UK), Frankie Lane (IE), Big Daddy Wilson (UK) and Esme Redžepova (MK). 

Of the local artists performing here, one can name [[Brina]], [[Neca Falk]], [[Kontrabant]] and &ndash; numerous times &ndash; [[Vlado Kreslin]].

{{Wide image|Okarina Festival Bled 2015 Josipa Lisac at Bled.JPG}}

==See also==
* [[Bled Cultural Institute]]
* [[Bled Castle]]
* [[Bled Festival Hall]]

==External links==
* [http://www.festival-okarina.si/en/ Okarina Festival Bled website]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocarina Ocarina instrument on Wikipedia]
* [http://okarina2015.blogspot.si/ A blog on artists featured in the 2015 edition]
* [http://www.sloveniatimes.com/profile-leo-licof-founder-and-artistic-director-of-the-okarina-festival An article about the festival and its foudner]

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[[Category:Festivals]]
[[Category:Festivals in August]]
[[Category:Music festivals]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Updated 2020]]