Dec 24, 2021

New Year Punk and Metal Gig in Tbilisi

New Year’s Punk and Metal Punk Gig © Onnik James Krikorian 2021

Although I’ve been to two specially organised live-streamed metal events co-organised with the Tbilisi Municipality during the COVID-19 pandemic, I haven’t really been to any proper gigs. The last event closest was a do-it-yourself punk festival held at the Hippodrome in June that was attacked by a small group of neo-Nazi Georgian teens.

Thankfully, the latest event held a few days ago, conveniently located in that part of Tbilisi home to most of the band’s rehearsal spaces, didn’t result in anything so dramatic and it was also held fully in line with pandemic requirements. Anyway, while moshing is hardly conducive to social distancing, the event was a welcome return to some sense of normality.

Bands have really suffered here during the pandemic.

Anyway, a few photos in the galleries below. For more on the underground punk and metal scene in Tbilisi see here.

New Year’s Punk and Metal Punk Gig © Onnik James Krikorian 2021

New Year’s Punk and Metal Punk Gig © Onnik James Krikorian 2021

Tbilisoba 2024

Tbilisoba 2024

Earlier this month, Tbilisi celebrated Tbilisoba, the city’s annual harvest festival. Over the years it has changed significantly and seems smaller than before. I first covered the event in 2011 but the best so far remains 2014 when there was more representation of traditional Georgian folk dance and music as well as by ethnic minorities such as the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. This year, that was held relatively far away from Tbilisi’s Old Town and Rike Park with very little publicity or in some media any at all. Nonetheless, those that attended appeared to enjoy themselves sufficiently and I managed to photo stories.

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One Caucasus Festival in Georgia Bridges Regional Divides

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This month, against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains, a unique four-day festival in Georgia celebrated its tenth anniversary. Held annually in August, the multi-disciplinary One Caucasus festival aims to rediscover a spirit of unity and cooperation that once flourished among the diverse nations of the region.

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