Aimed at promoting patriotism, feelings of national pride and love for everything Ukrainian among rock-loving youths, Mazepa-fest will take place at Poltava’s Spivoche Pole on July 17-18.
Named after Hetman Ivan Mazepa (1639-1709), who greatly contributed to the economic and cultural development of Ukraine, this year’s festival was under threat of being cancelled by the Poltava authorities because of the organizers’ initiative to set up a monument to Mazepa in the city.
According to them, the necessary funds were collected, but the monument will not materialize.
Luckily, the festival won’t be disrupted. Traditionally, the Mazepa-fest lineup featured famous Ukrainian bands, as well as the up-and-coming artists and total beginners trying to make their breakthrough on the festival stage.
This year’s lineup has 25 names, among them some very well-known musicians, including Mariyka Burmaka, Sestry Telnyuk, Motor’rolla, Rosava and NeDilya as well as Horhisheli and O.Torvald.
The young bands had to pass a selection round in Poltava, but only four of the participants are from this city.
Others come from Sumy, Kharkiv, Vinnytsya, Lutsk, Zaporizhya, Rivne, Mykolayiv and Lviv.
Poltava, Spivoche Pole, July 17-18. For more information visit mazepa-fest.org.ua.
