Gucha – Wild Trumpet Festival
“I didn’t know you could play trumpet that way” – Miles Davis, a Guca Festival visitor.
Guca (Gucha) – Wild Trumpet Festival is held every August in small central Serbian village Gucha. It has begun in October 16, 1961 as “The first Dragacevo Assembly of Trumpet Players”. After more then 40 years it became one of the wildest, craziest, sexiest, drunkest and loudest world festivals. People from all over the world come here to enjoy virtuous brass music, dance, rakia, roasted lamb and mingling around 100.000 people.
Festival starts at Wednesday with Opening ceremony followed by music and dance performances. Thursday is day with relaxed atmosphere. On Friday warm up begins with music performances and qualification program. Saturday gets real HOT. It starts with wakening call of the trumpeters followed by festival parade of all program participants and ends up with midnight trumpeters concert on the local stadium – euphoric Gucha ecstasy. Saturday is the last festival day introducing the winners: The First Trumpet of Guca (best trumpet player) and The Best Trumpet Orchestra. Very interesting fact is that best of the trumpet players are self-educated virtuosos. Festival ends with traditional dance – Great festival “Kolo” (chain folk dance with all participants and visitors).
All the time, there are large tent – restaurants with live brass music, table dancing, roasted lamb and pork and “Svadbarski kupus” – local specialty made of cabbage and meat, made in large jars on fire.
Accommodation is really hard to find since the population of Gucha is only 3000 and capacities are limited. Prior reservation is a must! Also, it is possible for some money to put your tent in somebody’s backyard. After first night spent in Guca you will realize that it doesn’t really maters where you will sleep.
Welcome to Gucha, experience like you never had before!
