GEM Fest
| GEM Fest | |
|---|---|
| Genre | electronic music festival |
| Location(s) | Anaklia, Georgia (2015) |
| Years active | 2015-present |
| Attendance | 10,000+ |
| Website | |
| http://gem-fest.com/about | |
GEM Fest is an international electronic music festival, held in Anaklia, Georgia. The abbreviation GEM stands for Georgian Electronic Music Festival and plays with the real meaning of the word gem.
According to the organizers, "...We want our festival to bring together not only the most lustrous and renowned pearls from all over the world, but also a handful of uncut diamonds; we want to provide a platform for the realization of unbridled artistic potential and help to uncover the priceless gem that is hidden in every artistic talent. What we are doing can be summed up in just one phrase: ‘It’s an absolute gem!’ "[1]
History
After the popular Ukrainian festival KaZantip temporary moved to Georgia in 2014 and failed, the Georgian part of its organizers, led by ex-head of Georgian National Tourism Administration Giorgi Sigua, decided to develop domestic product. Sigua announced the establishment of the new festival in May 2015 and the construction of necessary infrastructure started almost immediately. The promo of the new festival was based on its positive influence on tourism development and inviting big musicians to small village Anaklia at the Black Sea coast.[2]
"This moment marks an important point in the Georgian music scene, as the world's number one DJ takes to the stage in the Black Sea resort of Anaklia". - CNN [3]
The first GEM Fest was held from July 30 to August 7, 2015. During 9 days and nights 125 international and Georgian artists performed for 10.000 guests. The line-up listed David August, Ellen Allien, Luciano, M.A.N.D.Y., Booka Shade, Who Made Who, Dubfire, Armin van Buuren, Tale Of Us.[4]
The second GEM Fest was held on the 10–14 August 2016 in Anaklia. The amount of stages has increased up to five. The list of headliners of the festival included Paul Van Dyk, Petre Inspirescu, Mano Le Tough, Fedde Le Grand, Paul Kalkbrenner, DOP, Dub FX, GusGus.[5] According to Giorgi Sigua, in 2016 the festival was attended by around 30.000 people, which was very welcomed by the Georgian government and personally by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who visited the festival area to inspect it himself.
"I think the GEM Fest has the potential to become a vital engine for regional development. An extension is planned with the aim of making it a magnet location for fun-loving youth" - Giorgi Kvirikashvili [6]
The proximity of the festival area to the breakaway region of Abkhazia is another important issue. As a gesture of friendship free tickets were offered to those coming from that territory.
"Festival organisers, in a gesture of friendship, offer free admission to Abkhazians, the festival also hosted a number of Iranians who danced the night away with Armenians and Azeris. The organisers have high hopes for the GEM Fest, they see a rival to Ibiza, but what is really special about this festival is that it creates a free space for enjoyment in a part of the world where such events are rare" - Euronews [7]
References
- ↑ Gem-Fest
- ↑ http://www.georgianjournal.ge/entertainment/31033-georgia-braces-up-for-gem-fest-king-of-trance-is-coming-to-georgia.html Georgia braces up for GEM Fest - “King of trance” is coming to Georgia - GeorgianJournal
- ↑ CNN: World's top DJ takes on the stage in Anaklia
- ↑ RA: GEM Fest at Anaklia, Georgia (2015)
- ↑ http://www.decodedmagazine.com/gem-fest-2016/ Decoded Magazine: Paul Kalkbrenner, GusGus, Anja Schneider, Dub FX and more, set to headline this years GEM Fest at the Black Sea resort of Anaklia
- ↑ PM Praises Anaklia ahead of GEM Fest
- ↑ GEM Gest - A hedonistic jewel in the Georgian crown