A new edition of Folkest, with 45 years of great music behind it, is about to cross the finish line of its 46th edition by expanding its geographical and temporal boundaries. In fact, to the three sections of previous years (Folkest on the Territory, the central days of San Daniele and the Udine Castle appointments) three sections are added for a total of six blocks: a Anteprima Folkest between Italy and Austria and the special projects Odmevi/Echi and Folkest fra monti e acque. Adding to the Folkest sul Territorio are a series of concerts that will enliven the territories of Friuli with music and encounters. The central days of San Daniele saw names from the past, present and future of ethnic, folk and world music take turns on the stages and in the squares and churches of the Friulian village: with concerts, Folkest Showcases, training moments with Folkclinic, meetings with industry professionals with Speed meetings, the finals of the Cesa Prize and the Folkest Prize-a life for music to which, from this year, will be added a Prize named after the journalist Lorenzo Marchiori, who died prematurely, dedicated to a book on a musical topic.
Among the most anticipated guests are undoubtedly Calexico on the Udine Castle stage. But also the likes of The Black Sorrows from Australia; Sir Oliver Skardy and the Fatti Quotidiani, well-known band leader of Pitura Freska; Eileen Rose Band from the U.S.; Andy Irvine from Ireland; and the Ambrogio Sparagna Trio. In addition to the friends of Folkest who converge every year, bringing their music and their confrontation, to turn this event into a real center of confrontation on the present and the future, on the great tradition of international and national ethno-folk and world, this year’s guests included Elena Ledda and Mauro Palmas, Maurizio Bettelli but also journalists such as Felice Liperi, Duccio Pasqua and Martina Vocci. Confirmed is the partnership with UpBeat, the European platform born from a network formed by the fourteen most important continental showcase festivals thanks to which the days of Folkest in San Daniele come alive with musicians from all over Europe, but also with industry professionals, directors of other festivals and journalists. A meeting of sounds that is enriched by the proposal of the finalists of the Alberto Cesa Prize, six groups and individual artists from all over Italy already selected during the winter semifinals in Arezzo, San Pietro in Cairano (VR), Cervasca (CN), Loano, Rome and Codroipo (UD).
