The very names that have been announced for the first and hopefully not the last, Arena fest were invitation, loud enough, for  fans of good rock and metal to come on the 18th August, just before closing the tourist season, to one of top destinations in Istria – Pula.

And so the almost end of summer in the beautiful surroundings of the Arena yesterday spice Arena fest 2011. Although organized as the idea of ​​closing the season, while also opening the new concert season in September in Croatia leading a very interesting names from the international alternative scene, this festival brought together many people from all countries, but still not enough to Arena is fully filled. The organization was really good, but still I must mention that the prices of beverages were really too high.

Concert Spectacle was opened at 20:30 by Slovenian Laibach. Bend which to a younger audience, style, and stage presence to remind of Rammstein, with his first original and unique artistic and musical concept, which has undergone decades of existence, and outlived all the political structures that have worked against them and has become synonymous with the free art form, and one again thrilled the audience with their performance which lasted an hour.

Then follows the Guano Apes, a band from Germany whose singer Sandra Nasic stems from the Croatian. Guano Apes during the last decades of his album “Do not Give Me Names ‘ and ‘Walking On A Thin Line” reached the heights of European charts to the band then released breakups. After years of stagnation, the band returned to the scene with this year released the album ‘Bel Air’, which led them at first Arena fest where they did a solid rock performance, not too strong, in some parts a bit boring in my opinion, but I think the audience would not agree with me because the atmosphere was great. Sandra Nasic in front of Pula and the audience demonstrated why she is considered one of the strongest European female voices, and the band delighted with the songs  ”Open Your Eyes ‘,’ Sunday Lover ‘,’ Lords Of The Boards” and surprised with very good processing hit from the 80′s ‘Big in Japan’ group Alphaville.

Finally comes true spectacle of the evening – Apocalyptica. All those who are into world’s rock / metal scene know that this is band of cellist complemented by extraordinary drummer gained its popularity in the mid 90′s when they were presented to the world of processing Metallica played on their cellos. The former students of the famous Finnish Sibelius Music Academy, meanwhile, have become world renowned cellist, a little more than a month after their current album, ’7 th Symphony ‘presented in Zagreb and thrilled the Arena in Pula. With a well-known processing Metallica they also played their original songs, culminating in the concert was when they played Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” when the audience sang the whole song. But with equal enthusiasm the audience this is always a welcome back the energetic foursome that its music-playing skills all fell before him and greeted the song ‘Inquisition Symphony’, ‘I’m Not Jesus, “” I Do not Care’ or ‘Hall Of The Mountain King ‘.

And what to say in the end? Selection of bands for the Arena Festival 2011 was more than excellent, they all showed the richness of their musician and artistic skills, and the Arena is perfect place for a concert like this and it certainly contributed to the perfect atmosphere and make it a memorable concert. The audience went home satisfied and, therefore, with even greater expectations we wait for Arena fest 2012th!

Report & photo: Elena Crković

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