Genre Various Location(s) Tbilisi, Georgia Founded by AlterVision Group | Dates 2009, 2011–present Years active 2009–present | |
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Tbilisi Open Air is an annual international music festival, with the emphasis on electronic and rock music, first held in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 15–17 May 2009. After that the festival is organized each year and is widely considered as the biggest music festival in Caucasus region. The festival mainly maintains several-day outdoor event format.
Contents
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- June 6
- June 7
- June 8
- 2013
- June 5
- 2012
- June 3
- 2011
- June 11
- June 12
- 2009
- May 15
- May 16
- May 17
- Camping
- Weather
- Management
- References
As the organizers of Tbilisi Open Air clarify, the defining idea behind the festival is freedom. This is freedom from stress, clichés, social controls, freedom to create and express, freedom to experience what is valued by every single one of us as individuals.
2016
In 2016, TOA presented 3 day line up with over 60 artists. Festival had 3 stages - Main stage, LTFR/Night stage and Pirate Bay stage. Total attendance was over 30 000. Festival was held on 29-31 July, on a location near Lisi Lake, which received nickname "Lisi Wonderland".
2015
In 2015, TOA presented 5 day line up with over 60 artists. This was by far the biggest musical event which has ever happened in Caucasus or Middle Earth and the festival broke all records in social media, having three times bigger feedback than in 2013. Also this was the first time when except main stage, 2 additional stages were built - golden stage and Bassiani stage. Attendance was over 50 000 which was also a record for the whole region.
2014
In 2014 the festival returned to three-day outdoor festival format. Total attendance was 21 000. Although criticized for smaller line-up compared to former years, the organizers announced this was "a decision essential to switch back to the fields and prepare for 2015, which should be the biggest event both by line-up and scale". Due to heavy rain and storm on the 2nd day of the festival, Chinawoman and Lapalux were cancelled on 7 June and were added to the 8 June line-up.
June 6
June 7
June 8
2013
In 2013 the festival was held on the Dinamo Arena Stadium. Total attendance was 19 000. With Deep Purple as headliner, the line-up was the biggest happening in the region and received a lot of local and foreign media interest, especially from Armenia, Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Despite this, after the event the organizers of the festival stated their opinion that Tbilisi Open Air belonged more to outdoor fields than Stadiums or any kind of buildings. "We received invaluable experience, but the heart of the festival stays with the fields" - stated organizer Achiko Guledani - "next time we will try to accept the challenge to bring even bigger line-up there."
June 5
2012
The 2012 event was held on Tbilisi Valley at the outskirts of the city. Headliner of the festival was a legendary Russian band DDT, which caused a lot of local interest. Total attendance was over 50 000, which remains as a record not only in Georgia, but in whole Caucasus region.
June 3
2011
The 2011 event was held on Tbilisi Hippodrome. Total Attendance was 10 000.
June 11
June 12
2009
The 2009 event was held in Tbilisi, on Sharden Street (May 15) and on local hippodrome (May 16–17). Total attendance was 35 000. As it was the first big happening since 1980 Tbilisi Rock Festival, the festival was covered by foreign media: Times Online, Reuters, El Mundo, Corriere Dela Sera, Associated Press, Nuvoel Observer etc. 23 bands from nine countries participated in the festival. It served as an important simulator to the local music business and caused a boost in the numbers of new artists.
May 15
May 16
May 17
Camping
In 2012 Tbilisi Open Air started allowing tent camping as an option for festival lodging. The campground site is adjacent to the venue grounds and has its own entrance from the venue. Since then festival receives campers from different countries.
Weather
The festival is held most often in June. Temperatures during the festival's history have ranged from 25 °C in May to 32 °C on June. Tbilisi has mostly welcoming weather in summer and the same holds true for the event.
Management
Tbilisi Open Air is run by Altervision Group which mainly consists of former and active musicians/producers. The first concept of the festival was created by Achiko Guledani, Vaho Babunashvili and Beqa Japaridze in 2009. Nowadays the decision making board of Tbilisi Open Air consists of 7-8 people. The festival is booked by David Tsintsadze.