The 20th anniversary Tambura Festival has begun in Pljevlja

With the presentation of the film "Stop the Danube and the Old Clocks" made by the World Tamburitza Association from Novi Sad, the jubilee 20th Tamburitza Music Festival "Pljevlja 2026 - The Heart and Soul of the Old Bazaar" began last night in Pljevlja.

The film "Stop the Danube and the Old Clocks" was presented on the city promenade, and is dedicated to the tambourine, music and the people who have been preserving this tradition for decades.

The festival was opened by Dragana Vukovic, who, on behalf of the event's Council, greeted the audience and reminded them that two decades of existence are not just an anniversary, but also 20 years of music, memories, friendships and encounters.

"Twenty years is not just a number, it is 20 years of music, memories, friendships, encounters and people who, with their work, talent and love, have made this event last and grow," said Vuković.

“During its two decades of existence, the Tamburitza Music Festival in Pljevlja has brought together more than a thousand tamburitza players from 14 European countries, while numerous well-known names from the regional music scene have performed on the festival stage. Among them were Zvonko Bogdan, Merima Njegomir, Garavi Sokak, Zoran Kalezic, "Legend", Sukrija Zuti Serhatlic, Zdravko Duranovic, Blanka Dosen and many others. Each of them left their mark, and each festival meeting is a part of the story that we celebrate together today. The jubilee edition of the festival is a kind of crown of the event that has become an important meeting place for musicians, performers and the audience. All those who are connected by the love of tamburitza music. And the festival would not have lasted two decades without people and institutions who believed in its importance," said Vuković.

This year's festival organizers are the Municipality of Pljevlja, the Public Institution Center for Culture Pljevlja in cooperation with the City Tamburitza Orchestra from Pljevlja. Sponsors of the festival are Mtel Crna Gora and Rudnik uglja Pljevlja, while friends of the event are the Ministry of Culture and Media, the World Tamburitza Association, the Yunus Emre Institute and Vinarija Ćetković. Media sponsors of the festival are Radio Television of Montenegro and the local public broadcaster Radio Television Pljevlja.

"Thank you to everyone who recognized the importance of the festival and helped tamburitza and tamburitza music to continue to live on the Pljevlja scene. And the film that you will watch tonight illuminates the sequel to the legendary tamburitza anthem Osam Tamburaša s Petrovo Radin and bears the symbolic title Zaustavite Dunav i skazaljke stare. The film is directed by Sali Salini, and is produced by Tamburica Fest. It is a story about people who tirelessly preserve the memory of the sounds of past times and build a bridge between tradition and the modern era. More than just a film, this is an emotional journey through time, melody and memories. That is why I invite you to stop, listen and let's remember the notes that never fade together," said Vuković.

The festival continues tonight, August 14th, in Milet Bašta, where a concert by two small tamburitza bands will be held. The Women's Tamburitza Orchestra "Alabanda" from Novi Sad and the tamburitza players from Pljevlja will perform.

The final, central evening of the festival is scheduled for tomorrow, August 15th, at the Pljevlja Cultural Center. The program, titled "The Great Tamburitza Symphony of Pljevlja," will bring together a large tamburitza orchestra and numerous performers whose performances have marked two decades of the festival.

The closing evening will feature Mirko Rondović, Omer Talović, Esad Memic, Milica Lukić, Eldin Šabanović, Nino Veličkovski, Nina Strugar, Ama Sokić, Adnan Hrastovina, Zdravko Djuranovic, Ringo Hamidovic, Šukrija Žuti Serhatlić and Danijela Jelic Šipovac, which comes from Canada.

The audience will also be presented with Dragisa Colic, Andrijana Bozovic, Mustafa Santic, founder of the band "Mostar Sevdah Reunion", as well as Blanka Dosen from Croatia.

The special guest of the festival will be Ruvejda Kol from Ankara, while opera singer Olivera Tičević from Bijelo Polje will also perform.