The Botanical Garden of Budapest hosts a two-day guitar festival on August 4 and 5. Excellent international and Hungarian artists of the solo acoustic guitar will take the stage at the event. The unusual environment is a special addition to the great musical experience that awaits the audience.
Three performers will perform on both nights of the festival.
August 4
Marc Perin (IT) - Young guitar talent from Italy, who despite his young age has already released 4 studio albums. He uses fingerstlye guitar technique, which he enriches with percussive elements. His music was greatly influenced by Rodrigo y Gabriela, Tommy Emmanuel and Andrea Valeri.
Péter Légrády – One of the first, defining figures of Hungarian fingerstyle guitar playing. As a member of 100 Folk Celsius, he took part in countless concerts, toured Europe, and performed in the United States. He works not only as an artist but also as a teacher. Many representatives of the acoustic music scene studied under him.
Tom Lumen - Host of the festival, internationally renowned guitarist. He toured in 15 countries worldwide. His performances are characterized by intimacy and interaction, as well as virtuosity and cheerfulness. He has a diversified style, rooting from many different sources such as blues, jazz, and Hungarian folk music Between the songs he shares his personal stories with the audience.
August 5
Stano Pocaji (SK) – One of Slovakia's best-known acoustic guitarists, he perfectly combines jazz improvisation with fingerstyle technique. During his decades-long musical career, he has performed all over the world both solo and in duos, as well as in various bands. With his engaging personality, sweetly humorous stories and, of course, his wonderful guitar playing, he sneaks into the hearts of the audience almost immediately.
Sándor Papp – The finalist of the 1990 Paris guitar competition regularly gives concerts and courses at home and abroad. He has performed all over the world, from Australia through Europe to Mexico. Since 2019, he has been the director of the Béla Bartók Institute of Music at the University of Miskolc. Classical and Latin elements can also be found in his show. His recordings can be heard regularly on Bartók radio. He obtained his doctorate in performance in 2007 at the Bratislava Academy of Music
Crossing Strings (AT) – Exciting, cross-over guitar duo from Austria, made up of fingerstyle guitarist Markus Schlesinger, already known to the Hungarian audience, and classical guitarist Carina Lindner. Artists from two seemingly opposite worlds complement each other perfectly. In addition to their own compositions, they also perform arrangements of jazz, blues and various well-known melodies, which are sometimes spiced up with their excellent vocals.
It is worth arriving earlier for the concerts so that those interested can also admire the botanical garden.
Guitar course: on Saturday morning, Stano Pocaji holds a course on fingerstyle guitar technique in jazz improvisation. Participation in the course is free for those who buy tickets for the festival, but due to limited places, registration is required. If you are interested in the course, please register at this link.
Date and time: The concerts start at 7:00 p.m. on August 4, 2023 and 7:00 p.m. on August 5.
Location: ELTE Füvészkert, 1083 Budapest, Illés u. 25.
Ticket prices: day ticket in advance HUF 5,000, two-day festival ticket in advance: HUF 9,000