Be2gether 2009: rainfall, Gypsy punks and Belarus Freedom (Photo)

Be2gether international music festival can be called a Woodstock of Eastern Europe despite its young age.

Belarusians, Latvians, Polish, and Lithuanians gather for the fest for the third year. According to the organizers, Be2gether 2009 was the largest in its history. If earlier the Lithuanian language could be heard in the camping, this year the Belarusian language got back its own – Be2gether 2009 attracted some thousands Belarusians.

The first festival day (June 12) was blighted by a rainfall. So, it wasn’t surprise that waterproofs and rain boots were the most popular goods in Vilnius.

In spite of the weather, the dance floor was more than crowded on Friday evening. Headliners of the first day gypsy punk rock band Gogol Bordello (United States) proved the art makes the weather. Rousing songs by expressive Evgeny Gudz, an emigrant from Kiev, made the dripping audience to warm up. A white-red-white flag appear on the stage during Gogol Bordello’s performance. The percussionist hung it around his neck to great joy of the audience.

Two Belarusian bands, The Toobes and Lyapis Trubetskoy, played in Norviliskiu on Saturday. By the way, Lyapis Trubetskoy is the only group that has played for the second time at Be2getehr. The organizers decided to invite the band again after it had released the new album Manifest. This idea wasn’t a mistake – a gig by the Belarusian band gathered at least 1000 people at the main stage. White-red-white flags were flying above the dance floor. Hundreds of viewers were signing Belarus Freedom together with band frontman Mikhalok.

Swedish veterans of alternative music Clawfinger closed down the fast. The headliner’s performance was the brightest and the most emotional one at Be2gether. As vocalist Zak Tell was pouring water on people, the guitarist was jumping from a height of four meters in the mob and demonstrating his ability to throw a guitar along the stage.

In the morning June 14, guests of Be2gether festival packed tents and moist clothes. The European festival ended, but its echo could be heard in the evening on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border. Lyapis Trubetskoy’s songs sounded from the cars standing in the several-kilometer queue on the border.

Lithuania’s ambassador to Belarus Mr Bogdandas came to the festival with his friends

Photo by «Euroradio»