On 8 September 2018, Tvoia Kraina Fest, a Ukrainian music festival, took place in Konotop, Sumy Region, with the support of the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine.
Thousands of people turned out to listen to songs performed by “Mandry”, “Antytila”, GrozovSka Band, Mariia Burmaka, and Gypsy Lyre.
“Ukrainian songs have approached the very border with Russia. ‘Soft Ukrainisation’ is on – thousands of people came to the Konotop concert. Our music will be heard where it is needed and awaited most,” noted Yuriy Stets, the Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine.
Visitors to the concert were given hundreds of books on the history of Ukraine, published with MIP’s support.
“Each town bring some different emotions, something I will always remember! This has surpassed all expectations,” said Mariia Burmaka, People’s Artist of Ukraine.
Konotop is the fourth city to see Tvoia Kraina Fest take place.
“This format allows dozens of thousands of people in small towns to listen to modern Ukrainian music. In Konotop, it was hot! Next is Mukachevo,” Serhiy Fomenko, frontman of the band “Mandry”, was quoted as saying.
Earlier, on 24 August 2018, Tvoia Kraina Fest took place in frontline Mariupol, Donetsk Region. On 11 August 2018, Tvoia Kraina Fest took place in Izmail (Odesa Region, border with Romania); on 18 August, in Henichesk, close to the administrative border with occupied Crimea.
On 15 September, the festival takes place in Mukacheve (Zakarpattia Region, bordering Hungary); on 22 September, Novoselyshche (Chernivtsi Region, bordering Romania and Moldova); on 29 September, Sarny (Rivne Region, bordering Belarus).
Tvoia Kraina Fest is mostly designed to bring good modern Ukrainian music to the remotest corners of Ukraine, which artists often miss out in their tours.