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. 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''. It was first held in 2009 as an alternative to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, which Georgia was disqualified from because of the political message of their song, "We Don't Wanna Put In".

2023

The 2023 edition was held on the 23-25th of June period. The traffic of the festival was around 80 000, with around 30 000 festival-goers attending each day.

23 June

''Main Stage'' * Tom Odell * Bedford Falls *

She Past Away She Past Away is a Turkish post-punk band, formed in 2006. The band was formed in Bursa by Volkan Caner (the vocalist and guitarist) and İdris Akbulut (Bass guitar). The band is known for their dark wave musical style with post-punk roots and the ...

* Tamada ''Eye Stage'' * Etapp Kyle * Mattheis * Yanamaste * Le Violet ''Zion Garden'' * Liquid Soul * Skizologic * AcidWave * Soyl B2B Ancient Om ''Singer Stage'' * Tornike Gagoshvili * Reso Kiknadze Quartet * Kay G * Singer Jazz Foundation Jam

24 June

''Main Stage'' * Kaleo *

Rejjie Snow Alexander Anyaegbunam better known by his stage name Rejjie Snow, is an Irish rapper and songwriter from Drumcondra, Dublin. Early life RejjieSnow was born Alexander Anyaegbunam in Dublin, Ireland, to a Nigerian father and an Irish-Jamaican mot ...

* Circus Mircus * Lua ''Eye Stage'' *

Ben Klock Ben Klock (born 1972) is a German techno artist, DJ, and record label owner. He is resident at Berghain, a techno club in Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area an ...

* Audrey Danza * OTHR * Zesknel (Live) ''Zion Garden'' * Dirty Saffi * DJ Nuky * Psymmetrix * Katana ''Singer Stage'' * Mechanical Rainbow * Dini Virsaladze Quartet * Sabina Chantouria * On The Road * Alexander Kharanauli * Process * Jam Session By Sandro * Nikoladze

25 June

''Main Stage'' * Moderat *

Imany Nadia Mladjao (born 5 April 1979), better known by her stage name Imany (), is a French pop-soul recording artist of Comorian descent. Her debut album, ''The Shape of a Broken Heart'', which was released in 2011, reached platinum status in Franc ...

* Ara * 4D Monster Lobsters * Skazz ''Eye Stage'' * Margaret Dygas * Rhadoo * OTHR * Gio Shengelia ''Zion Garden'' * Braincell * Oogway * DM3 * Stultitia * Chikovani ''Singer Stage'' * Bacho Jikidze & Misi Wonderband * Pelargonia * Kemtet * Maikeru * Leftside Story and Ekoterine * Ducktape

2022

The 2022 edition was held on the 24-26th of June period and it was attended by more than 80 000 people. That broke the previous record and TOA 2022 became the most attended commercial music event of all time in the history of Georgia. The festival showed heavy support to Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian war that broke out that year - through donating part of the ticket and merch sales to the Ukrainian cause, supporting Ukraine through all media and communication channels, inviting pro-Ukrainian acts, etc.

24 June

''Main Stage'' *

Cigarettes After Sex Cigarettes After Sex is an American dream pop band formed in El Paso, Texas, in 2008 by Greg Gonzalez. The band is known for their ethereal, limerent and often dream-like musical style, lyrics often based on the themes of romance and love, as w ...

* Bedford Falls * Konoba * Kordz * 4D Monster Lobsters * Meme ''Eye Stage'' * Acid Pauli * Robag Wruhme * Jennifer Cardini * Bacho ''Garden Stage'' * Giuseppe * Sashi * DM3 * Chikovani * Dimitree * Ellarge ''Singer Stage'' * Dini Virsaladze Quintet * Salome Tsulukidze & Band * Erekle Getsadze & Bad Habitz * Luka Topuria Quartet * Pelargonia

25 June

''Main Stage'' *

Alt-J Alt-J (stylised as alt-J, real name Δ) are an English indie rock band formed in 2007 in Leeds. Their lineup includes Joe Newman (guitar/lead vocals), Thom Sonny Green (drums), Gus Unger-Hamilton (keyboards/vocals), and formerly Gwilym Sainsbur ...

* Moku Moku * არა * Killages * The Black Marrows ''Eye Stage'' * Konstantin * Map.Ache * Chloe * Tomma ''Garden Stage'' * Ajja * Oogway * Katana * Acnient Om * Kaya Matu ''Singer Stage'' * Bacho Jikidze & Band * კოლექტივი * Reso Kiknadze Quintet * Zaza Marjanishvili Quartet * Melqo * Process

26 June

''Main Stage'' *

Okean Elzy Okean Elzy ( uk, Океан Ельзи, translation: ''Elza's Ocean'') is a Ukrainian rock band. It was formed in 1994 in Lviv, Ukraine. The band's vocalist and frontman is Svyatoslav Vakarchuk. In April 2007 Okean Elzy received ''FUZZ Magazine ...

Rhye Rhye is an R&B musical project of Canadian singer Mike Milosh. It originally consisted of him and Danish instrumentalist Robin Hannibal. They released the singles "Open" and "The Fall" online without much detail, which led to speculation about ...

* Molchat Doma * Eko & Vinda Folio * წერილი * Nash Albert ''Eye Stage'' * Petre Inspirescu * Barac * Gio Shengelia * Vako T ''Zion Garden'' * Fungus Funk * Additivv * Ramyjin & Sukoharaa * Acidwave * Obri * Kassra * Marcuss * Infest * Holo ''Singer Jazz Stage'' * Tornike Gagoshvili * Blinkroot * Levan Japaridze & Killer Band * Uma & Tuomas * Guja Mardini Quartet * Adikashvili & Gabadze * Papuna Sharikadze Quartet

2020-2021

In 2020, Tbilisi Open Air was set to held through 26 June to 28 June, but due to the covid pandemic, it was cancelled. In 2021, TOA denied holding the concert once again.

2019

In 2019, TOA was held on the Lisi Wonderland field and went on for 3 days, with 4 stages operating. Total attendance was around 55 000. The festival dates coincided with 20 June Tbilisi Riots. In the light of those events, many statements were made from the festival promoters and artists from the festival stage.

21 June

''Main Stage'' * Franz Ferdinand * MokuMoku * Loudspeakers * St. Nudes * 4D Monster Lobsters ''Eye Stage'' * Tobias. * Edit Select * Boyd Schidt * OTHR ''Garden Stage'' * 1200 Mics By Riktam *

GMS (Music Group) GMS (also known as the Growling Mad Scientists) were a Dutch psychedelic trance duo which has attained significant popularity, beginning in the early 1990s. Formed by Shajahan Matkin (also known as Riktam) and Joseph Quinteros (also known as Ban ...

* Psymmetrix * Aardvarkk * 3 of Life * Oogway * Acidwave * Ancient OM ''Singer Jazz Stage'' * Dini Virsaladze Quintet * Auditorium A Feat Guja Mardini * Kemo Sextet * Forest Rain * Tornike Gagoshvili

22 June

''Main Stage'' * Unkle *

* მწვანე ოთახი * არა * Nemra ''Eye Stage'' * David August * Maayan Nidam * Gio Shengelia * Tomma * Bacho ''Garden Stage'' * Pixel * Dirty Saffi * DJ Nuki * Marcuss * Katana * Ellarge ''Singer Jazz Stage'' * Blues Factor * Freeride * Old Road Band * Zura Ramishvili Quartet * Zuka Simonishvili Quartet * Amaze

23 June

''Main Stage'' * Mogwai * The Subways *

Michelle Gurevich Michelle Gurevich is a Canadian singer-songwriter, also known by her former stage name Chinawoman. Her music is influenced by her Russian heritage, and has been described as slowcore rock and "lo-fi pop". Her largest fanbase is in Eastern Europ ...

* Salio * Bedford Falls ''Eye Stage'' * Andrey Pushkarev * Matthew Dekay * Cestlek * Mozzy * Vako T * Lasha Maruashvili ''Zion Garden'' * Freedom Fighters * Nigel * Obri & Zen * Additivv ''Singer Jazz Stage'' * Bacho Jikidze & Band * Windshield * Lekso Ratiani * Reso Kiknadze Sextet * String Quartet Feat. Dani * Blue Moor

2018

In 2018, TOA was held on Lisi Wonderland and had 3 day lineup. Around 70 artists performed on the festival. A new stage - Eye Stage was introduced which was devoted to Techno/House music. Also a new space - Singer Jazz Stage was created which was devoted to mostly jazz artists. Total attendance around 45 000.

22 June

''Main Stage'' * Kayakata *

Sevdaliza Sevda Alizadeh (; born 1 September 1987), known professionally as Sevdaliza, is an Iranian-Dutch singer, songwriter, record producer, visual artist, and director. In 2015, she released two EPs, ''The Suspended Kid'' and ''Children of Silk''. Whi ...

* Beardyman * Che Lingo * Toyshen * Eko & Vinda Folio ''Eye Stage'' * Roman Flugel * Cleveland * Gio Shengelia * Autumn Tree * Vako T b2b Mzhavia ''Zion Garden'' * Avalon * Ritmo * Fungus Funk * Acidwave * Katana ''Singer Jazz Stage'' * Reso Kiknadze Quintet

23 June

''Main Stage'' *

Róisín Murphy Róisín Marie Murphy ( , ; born 5 July 1973) is an Irish singer, songwriter, and record producer. She first became known in the 1990s as one half of the pop duo Moloko alongside English musician Mark Brydon. After the breakup of Moloko, she em ...

Rachael Yamagata Rachael Yamagata (born September 23, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist from Arlington, Virginia. She began her musical career with the band Bumpus before becoming a solo artist and releasing five EPs and four studio albums. Her ...

* Papooz * St. Nudes * MokuMoku * Killages ''Eye Stage'' * Alex Niggerman * Matthias Meyer * Sascha Sibler * Liza Rivs * Bero * Stimmhalt * Promescu ''Zion Garden'' * Yestermorrow * Kala * Eldario * Oogway * Marcuss * Ancient Om * Ellarge * Space Teryaki * Tabu * Beka Talakhadze ''Singer Jazz Stage'' * Dzini virsaladze Trio * Blue Moor * Lasha Abashmadze Quintet

24 June

''Main Stage'' * Tom Odell * Konoba * Green Room * Salio * Sophie Villy * Lua ''Eye Stage'' * Super Flu * Gio Shengelia * Innelea * Dastia * So Laut * Bekuchi ''Zion Garden'' * Anthill * Additivv * Obri & Zen * Neverthesame * Dmitree * Infest * Dm3 * Kalratry * Kaya Matu * Ra ''Singer Jazz Stage'' * Zura Ramishvili Trio * Amaze * Papuna Sharikadze trio feat Misho Urushadze

2017

In 2017, TOA was held on Lisi wonderland and had 3 day lineup with around 40 artists. Around 30 000 persons attended the festival.

16 June

''Main Stage'' *

Anathema (band) Anathema were an English rock band from Liverpool. The group was formed in 1990 by Vincent and Daniel Cavanagh, bassist Jamie Cavanagh, drummer/keyboardist John Douglas, and vocalist Darren White. The band maintained an active concert schedul ...

* Backwarmer * Psychonaut 4 * Dagdagani ''Golden Stage'' *

Nino Katamadze Nino Katamadze ( ka, ნინო ქათამაძე; born 21 August 1972) is a Georgian jazz singer and artist. Biography Nino Katamadze was born in Kobuleti, Adjara, Soviet Georgia in 1972. In 1990, she entered the vocal department of t ...

* Ripperton * Cobert * Bacho * Kozmana ''Zion Garden'' * Eldario * Space Teriyaki * Dimitree * Marcuss * Tabu * Additivv

17 June

''Main Stage'' * Leningrad (band) * Soft Eject * Loudspeakers * Eko & Vinda Folio * არა ''Golden Stage'' * Friendly Mosquito * Bedford Falls * Windshield * Alex.Do * Greenbeam & Leon * Sevda * Iazikzazubami ''Zion Garden'' * Psysex * Go2sky * Never thesame * Meno * Infest * Kaya matu

18 June

''Main Stage'' * Archive (band) *

Young Georgian Lolitaz Young Georgian Lolitaz is a Georgian indie rock band. They represented Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 as Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz with the song " Midnight Gold". They are the first all-male band to represent Georgia i ...

* Salio * Kung Fu Junkie * The Black Marrows ''Golden Stage'' * Moku Moku * Sexy Bicycle * SF - X * Oxia * Wiedmak * Vako T ''Zion Garden'' * Dj Goblin * Arjun Apu * Amrit Pavan * Ougway * Psyrati * Katana

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".

29 July

''Main Stage'' * Air (French band) * Morcheeba *

Motorama (band) Motorama is a Russian post-punk band from Rostov-on-Don, Russia. The band was formed in 2005. The group has received popularity not only in Russia but also abroad, especially in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Musical style and influences The ba ...

* Kung - Fu Junkie *

Dihaj Diana Hajiyeva ( az, Diana Hacıyeva, , russian: Диана Гаджиева; born 13 June 1989) is an Azerbaijani singer and songwriter. She is a member and the lead vocalist of the group Dihaj, which represented Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Son ...

* Bedford Falls ''LTFR/Night Stage'' * Adriatique * Nikakoi & TBA * Vako Key * Lasha Craft ''Pirate Bay Stage'' * Aardvark * Pogo * FOG * Psart * Katana * Marcuss * Meno - Project Pheodal * Saba * Amit Pavan

30 July

''Main Stage'' * Unkle * Steve Vai *

Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz Young Georgian Lolitaz is a Georgian indie rock band. They represented Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 as Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz with the song "Midnight Gold". They are the first all-male band to represent Georgia in ...

* Backwarmer * Scarlet. * Lelocity ''LTFR/Night Stage'' *

Moodymann Kenny Dixon Jr., better known by his stage name Moodymann, is an American musician based in Detroit, Michigan. He is the owner of the record labels Mahogani Music and KDJ Records. He is a member of 3 Chairs. Career In 1997, Moodymann released his ...

* Betoko * Henning Baer * Vako T. * Tuji *

* Luna 999 * Cutkill & Shining * Sabanadze * Tareshi * Exit ''Pirate Bay Stage'' * Clarity * Dima Dadiani * Ciga * Subex * Mangiphera

31 July

''Main Stage'' * Damien Rice * Tricky * Blue Foundation * Eko & Vinda Folio * Robi Kukhianidze& Ketato * Quartet Diminished ''LTFR/Night Stage'' * Dense & Pika * The Forest * Natalie Beridze TBA * Mao * Friendly Mosquito * Kordz * ზურმუხტისფერი ბედის ორდენი * MAMM * EKO ''Pirate Bay Stage'' * Black Dub Odyssey * Vazhmarr * Beveluke * Uru * Teko * Liza Rivs

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 Bassiani ( ka, ბასიანი) is a nightclub in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Founded in 2014, it is located in the building of the city's largest sports venue, the Dinamo Arena, and utilizes a disused swimming pool as the main dancefloo ...

stage. Attendance was over 50 000 which was also a record for the whole region.

3 July

''Main Stage'' * Zemfira *

Akvarium Aquarium or Akvarium (russian: link=no, Аквариум; often stylized as Åквариум) is a Russian rock group formed in Leningrad in 1972. The band has had many line-up changes over its history, and lead singer and founder Boris Grebens ...

The Tiger Lillies The Tiger Lillies are a cult British musical trio formed in 1989 by singer-songwriter Martyn Jacques. Described as the forefathers of Brechtian Punk Cabaret, the Tiger Lillies are well known for their unique sound and style which merges "the ...

* Mellow * Ducktape ''Golden Stage'' * Kollektiv Turmstrasse *

Stephan Bodzin Stephan Bodzin (born 4 August 1969 in Bremen) is a German DJ techno- and trance producer and label owner.Archive (band) *

Soap&Skin Soap&Skin is the experimental musical project of Austrian artist Anja Plaschg (born 5 April 1990). Life Anja Plaschg grew up in a small village called Poppendorf (near Gnas) in south east Styria, where her parents have a farm. She has played ...

* Gravity * The Black Marrows * The Mins ''Golden Stage'' * Mujuice * Oimactta * Zurkin * Green Room feat Dato Lomidze * Ara * Erekle Deisadze & Vinda Folio

5 July

''Main Stage'' * Black Label Society * Bambir * Sophie Villy * Scratch The Floor * Vanilla Cage ''Golden Stage'' * Gui Boratto * Bacho & Cobert * Vako Key * Bero * Denis Jones * Tomma Chaladze * Tserili * Old Road Band

6 July

''Main Stage'' * Beth Hart * Kill It Kid * Salio *

MaMM The Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow (MAMM; russian: link=no, Мультимедиа Арт Музей, Москва) is a Russian state museum dedicated to the presentation and development of contemporary art related to new multimedia technologies ...

* The Jetbird ''Golden Stage'' * The Georgians * The Pulse * MTP * Gacha * Vaska * Gabunia * Vako T * Lasha Craft

7 July

''Main Stage'' *

Placebo (band) Placebo are a British rock band, formed in London in 1994 by vocalist–guitarist Brian Molko and bassist–guitarist Stefan Olsdal. Drummer Robert Schultzberg joined in late 1994, but left in 1996 shortly after the release of the band's epo ...

Loudspeakers (band) Loudspeakers (stylised as LOUDspeakers) is a Georgia (country), Georgian rock band formed in 2009. History Loudspeakers formed in 2009 as an alternative rock band. In that year, the band recorded their first song in the kote kalandadze studio. ...

* The Bearfox * Afternoon Version * backwarmer ''Golden Stage'' * Lady Heroine * Mother on Mondays * The Window

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 8 June line-up.

6 June

* Nikakoi * Gravity * Ara * Lasha Kicks * The Black Marrows

7 June

* Oimactta * Lapalux * Chinawoman *

Alina Orlova Alina Orlova ( lt, Alina Orlovskaja; russian: Алина Орловская, Alina Orlovskaya; pl, Alina Orłowska; born 28 June 1988) is a Lithuanian-Russian sung poetry singer and musician. Origins Alina is of mixed Poles in Lithuania, Polish ...

* Loudspeakers * Scratch the Floor * The Jetbird * The Pulse

8 June

* Nochniye Snaiperi * Green Room * Kung fu Junkie * The Bearfox * Electric Appeal * Weekend Pop

2013

In 2013 the festival was held on the Dinamo Arena Stadium. Total attendance was 19 000. With

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock music, but their musical style has changed over the course of its existence. Ori ...

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."

5 June

* Infected Mushroom * Tricky * The Subways *

Modeselektor Modeselektor is a German electronic music duo consisting of Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary. History The group members met in 1992 in Berlin with group member Szary performing live acid house music at illegal underground parties, under t ...

Black Strobe Black Strobe (sometimes Blackstrobe) is an electroclash group formed in Paris in 1997 by record producer Arnaud Rebotini and DJ Ivan Smagghe. They were instrumental in the rise of the electroclash movement in the UK with their breakthrough single ...

* Kid Jesus

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.

2 June

Lyapis Trubetskoy Lyapis Trubetskoy (russian: Ляпис Трубецкой, be, Ляпіс Трубяцкі) was a Belarusian rock band. It was named after comical hero from Ilya Ilf's and Yevgeny Petrov's novel "The Twelve Chairs", poet and potboiler Nikifor Ly ...

* Wasp'N'Hornet * Tai Chi Swayze * Svansikh * Pornopoezia * U.R. (Georgian band), U.R. * Outsider * dOP * Zoo Brazil * Green Room * Sikha * Bero * Vako K * The Forest * Vako T

3 June

* DDT * Dub FX * Transmitter * Plus Master * Rema * Zurgi * Loudspeakers

2011

The 2011 event was held on Tbilisi Hippodrome. Total Attendance was 10 000.

11 June

* Herr Styler * Wallace Vanborn * The Benedicts * Mutual Friends * The Smile * Ketrine & Me * Tako & Green Mama * MAMM * Z For Zulu

12 June

* Moodorama * The Fades * String * Exit * Pornopoezia * Salio * Space Jam * U.R.

2009

Danish band the Blue Van performing at Tbilisi Open Air on 17

The 2009 event was held in Tbilisi, on Sharden Street (15 May) and on local hippodrome (16–17 May). 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 della Sera, Associated Press, Nouvel Observateur 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.

15 May

* Transglobal Underground * The Black & Reds * Cheese People * The Travelling Band * Play Paranoid * Smile

16 May

* Jazzanova Live feat. Paul Randolph * ANDY * Curry And Coco * Laki Lan * The Haggis Horns * Motel Connection * Keti Orjonikidze And Dr. Saga's Funk Rock Project * The Dhol Foundation

17 May

* Rook And The Ravens * :fr:Brooklyn (groupe), Brooklyn * String * Cynic Guru * The Blue Van * Dubstepler * Ten Bears * Stephane & 3G * Fred Falke

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, Irakli Nadareishvili and Beqa Japaridze in 2009. Nowadays the decision making board of Tbilisi Open Air consists of 7 people. The festival is booked by David Tsintsadze.

References

{{Reflist

External links

www.tbilisiopenair.ge
* https://www.facebook.com/tbilisiopenair Music festivals in Georgia (country) Culture in Tbilisi, Open Air Tourist attractions in Tbilisi Electronic music festivals in Georgia (country) 2000s in Tbilisi 2010s in Tbilisi Rock festivals in Georgia (country) Music festivals established in 2009 2009 establishments in Georgia (country) Summer events in Georgia (country)