Grok, armonika festival in Kuktiškės is a living evidence that people living in villages still have their beautiful voice, nor there is a shortage of musicians. Dances remain as popular as ever too. Despite the fact that only several years ago local musicians referred to the folk music festival of Kuktiškės as the “feast of the outcasts”. What they meant was that they are not as good to participate at Linksmoji armonika festival, taking place every autumn at Utena Culture Centre. Not to mention the famous folk music festival in Kaunas. Even though quite a lot of the participants of the festival in Kuktiškės play the Petersburg accordion — an instrument, common to East Aukštaitija region. Thus, this festival attracts accordion players and folk musicians from the surrounding region, including: Tauragna folk band from Tauragnai Culture House, Vieversa folk band from Siesikai Department of Ukmergė Culture Centre (more than thirty years old!), Vingerinė folk band from Viešintai Department of Anykščiai Culture Centre, Noragas folk band from Širvintai Culture Centre and many others. The job of picking the best musicians is not that easy.
Meanwhile Gediminas Kaušylas, the leader of Ukvačiai folk band of people with disabilities, coming from Utena region, never fails to mention that this folk band also plays at his hometown Kuktiškės. His started playing there back in his childhood, when the late musician Jonas Virvytis taught him to play birbynė, as well as love and cherish folk music. And now, after graduating from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Gediminas replaced his former teacher both on stage and Utena Music School. It’s great to have people still singing and playing music in villages and towns of Utena district. There are still people and, most importantly, youth that enjoy folk songs, their grandparents’ fast and fun polkas, as well as calm and wistful melodies. Seeing happy, musical and energetic youth together with older people on the stage of Grok, armonika, it becomes clear that the traditions of folk music will continue to strive.
Folk musicians entertain audiences with their melodies every year. Anelė Aramnienė, Kazimieras Blaževičius, Vincas Kliukas — these well-known musicians, who never say “no” for playing at various festivities, have a huge circle of fans. What’s important is that they are accompanied by children, playing accordion too. The youngest of Grok armonika participants — Lukas Gaižutis and Viktorija Čižaitė — are always noticed by both participants and sponsors.
The festival always involves dancing as well, because as soon as musicians start a hearty song, it seems that legs start dancing themselves, thus dance lovers don’t hesitate to enjoy a fun polka or a dreamy waltz. Sometimes the hosts of the festival check the strength of the audience’s voices by asking to sing a very well-known folk song. And they do it without a flaw!
The festival also congratulates elderly community members, celebrating their solid anniversaries. They get flowers and anniversary sashes with the entire community singing a birthday song to wish them more long and happy years.
None of the folk bands or musicians, participating at the festival, return home without presents. These presents include certificates of the Culture Centre of Utena District Municipaliy, as well as prizes, organised by the families living in Kuktiškės town.
The cultural worker Laimutė Kleinienė, the initiator of the festival and promoter of folk traditions, is happy about the music and song lovers from all over Lithuania, coming for Grok armonika festival in the small town of Kuktiškės, the province of Utena region.
You are very welcome to come to Grok armonika too!
