Jonas Mekas, born during the Christmas of 1922, left an enduring impact on the art world, especially in the United States and Lithuania. Symbolically marking the conclusion of Jonas Mekas’ centenary and ushering in a new era influenced by the artist’s legacy, the festival “Keep Singing,” inspired by Jonas Mekas and dedicated to his persona, creative works, and life philosophy, will take place for the third time.
The festival will kick off with the opening of the exhibition “Žvėris / The Beast” by Jonas Mekas, curated by Sebastian Mekas. It will then unfold into a three-day celebration of sounds featuring Mekas’s friends from New York – Kenny Wollesen, Jonathon Haffner, Dalius Naujokaitis-Naujo, and a variety of other musicians. From improvisational music to experimental films, the program promises a full spectrum of sensations and priceless moments of creative madness.
In the words of Jonas Mekas: “Keep singing. Times are bad, not everything is beautiful in the world around us. So we have to keep singing”.
The artistic directors of the festival are Dalius Naujokaitis-Naujo and Mindaugas Vadoklis.
All events are free of charge.
Keep Singing
The Festival Inspired by Jonas Mekas
December 13–16, 2023
Program
13–WEDNESDAY
Jonas Mekas Visual Arts Center (Malūnų str. 8)
18:30
Openingof the exhibition „Žvėris / The Beast“ by Jonas Mekas
Curator Sebastian Mekas
14–THURSDAY
Sztral Hall of the House of Signatories (Pilies str. 26) / Entrance via Eskedar Coffee Bar
18:30
Simonas Nekrošius
Self-made electro-acoustic instruments
19:30
Nojo Objects Ensemble
Objects, conducting: Dalius Naujo
Objects: Jonathon Haffner, Edvardas Šumila, Agnė Ambrozaitytė, Gintarė Gurevičiūtė, Aurimas Rimeikis, Salomėja Kalvelytė, Mikas Kurtinaitis, Simonas Kaupinis, Dovydas Stalmokas, Rokas Pralgauskas, Haroldas Parulis, Laima Griciūtė, Emilija Noreikaitė, Lukas Pivoriūnas, Marius Mockevičius, Tuomas J. Räsänen, Džiugas Daugirda, Kasparas Pocius, Mindaugas Vadoklis, Kazimieras Jušinskas, Kristupas Gikas, Adas Gecevičius, Arminas Bižys, Matas Samulionis, Kristupas Kmitas, Mėta Gabrielė Pelegrimaitė, Jūra Elena Šedytė, Milda Laužikaitė, Sebastian Mekas
Jonas Mekas’ poetry: Ričardas Šileika
20:30
Vėjeliai
Mindaugas Vadoklis (trumpet), Aurimas Rimeikis (trumpet), Dovydas Stalmokas (saxophone), Aaron Keane (bass), Dominykas Vyšniauskas (trumpet), Dominykas Norkūnas (guitar), Dalius Naujo (drum set)
21:30
Mindaugas Vadoklis (trumpet), Kristupas Gikas (electronics), Kristupas Kmitas (drum set), Jonathon Haffner (saxophone), Paulius Vaškas (guitar), Arminas Bižys (tenor saxophone), Adas Gecevičius (electronics), Ričardas Šileika (Jonas Mekas’ poetry), Dalius Naujo (drum set, conducting)
After the concert:
Jonas Mekas
The Sixties Quartet (1990–1999 m., ±30min)
15–FRIDAY
Sztral Hall of the House of Signatories (Pilies str. 26) / Entrance via Eskedar Coffee Bar
18:30
Tritaškis
Kenny Wollesen (vibraphone, percussion, bass drum), Agota Zdanavičiūtė (voice, kankles), Toma Čepaitė (voice, kankles), Danielius Pancerovas (saxophone), Dalius Naujo (drum set, electronics)
20:00
Šarukas Joneikis (bass, voice), Mantas Joneikis (guitar), Dalius Naujo (drum set), Kenny Wollesen (bass drum, percussion), Jonathon Haffner (saxophone)
21:30
Aurelijus Užameckis (bass), Flavia Huarachi (flute, voice), Kenny Wollesen (drum set)
After the concert:
Experimental short films by Emilija Noreikaitė
• Behind the Shield of Achiless (2022, 7min)
• I have a dream of planet healing our wounds (2020, 7:30min)
Jonas Mekas
„Memory 2 – December 25, Christmas Day at Anthology 1998“ (1998, 15min.)
Edited by Arturas Jevdokimovas and Dalius Naujo
16–SATURDAY
Sztral Hall of the House of Signatories (Pilies str. 26) / Entrance via Eskedar Coffee Bar
17:30
Artisans
Dominykas Snarskis (drums), Kristupas Gikas (flute, winds), Liepa Vozgirdaitė (violin), Lukas Butkus (piano) Gediminas Stepanavičius (double bass, trumpet)
18:30
Gintė Preisaitė (piano), Kenny Wollesen (drum set), Kazimieras Jušinskas (saxophone)
19:30
Monikaze (electronics), Kenny Wollesen (vibraphone, drums, percussion), Dalius Naujo (drums, electronics), Jonathon Haffner (saxophone)
20:30
Mėta Gabrielė Pelegrimaitė (bass), Jonathon Haffner (saxophone), Gintė Preisaitė (piano), Jūra Elena Šedytė (voice), Dalius Naujo (drums)
21:30
Nojo Objects Ensemble
Concerto for Eugenijus Varkalis and Ignas Kasikauskas
Objects, conducting: Dalius Naujo
Objects: Kenny Wollesen, Jonathon Haffner, Edvardas Šumila, Agnė Ambrozaitytė, Gintarė Gurevičiūtė, Aurimas Rimeikis, Salomėja Kalvelytė, Mikas Kurtinaitis, Rokas Pralgauskas, Simonas Kaupinis, Dovydas Stalmokas, Kasparas Pocius, Haroldas Parulis, Laima Griciūtė, Emilija Noreikaitė, Lukas Pivoriūnas, Marius Mockevičius, Tuomas J. Räsänen, Džiugas Daugirda, Mindaugas Vadoklis, Kazimieras Jušinskas, Kristupas Gikas, Adas Gecevičius, Arminas Bižys, Matas Samulionis, Aurelijus Užameckis, Flavia Huarachi, Mėta Gabrielė Pelegrimaitė, Jūra Elena Šedytė, Milda Laužikaitė, Sebastian Mekas
Jonas Mekas’ poetry: Ričardas Šileika
22:00
Jonas Mekas
Zefiro Torna or Scenes from the Life of George Maciunas (1992 m., 34 min.)
The life and work of Fluxus artist George Maciunas as seen in clips filmed between 1952 and 1978.
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Organized by Jonas Mekas Visual Arts Center and the House of Signatories a branch of the National Museum of Lithuania
Supported by the Office of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
Partners: Culture Innovation Agency “Art Gene” / Eskedar Coffee Bar