?This programme is organised from the bottom up, we don?t ask anybody to participate. The artists themselves organise their performances,? said Gábor Presser, a giant on the Hungarian music scene for decades who established the first Day of Hungarian Song two years ago. ?We don?t decide who, where or for how much [artists] will perform. That?s the work of the organisers for each stage,? he added.
At last year?s Day of Hungarian Song, the second, there were 25 stages in Budapest and other cities around the country.
It would be nice to have 40-60 stages some time, but this year ? because of the economic crisis ? we?re happy to have 25 stages just like last year, Presser said.
This year?s Day of Hungarian Song will start early on Sunday as DJs at clubs all over the country switch to an all-Hungarian show. Among the participating venues in Budapest are the Comedy Theatre, Klub Radio, the BNV, WestEnd City Center?s rooftop terrace, the Millenáris, the Zöld Pardon, the Palace of Arts, the Kobuci and Orczy Park.
For the first time, an invitation was called to become this year?s Capital of Hungarian Song. Eger, in northwest Hungary, has won the title for 2010.
Eger will set up five stages on September 12, said Géza Ipacs, one of the event organisers. Two of the stages will be open-mic stages, he said, adding that the aim was to get all of the citizens of Eger involved.
Other cities involved in the Day of Hungarian Song are Győr, Mosonmagyaróvár, Szombathely, Zalaegerszeg and Békéscsaba.
In the capital, participating performers include Bea Palya, Félix Lajkó, Charlie, Kaláka, Barbaro, the Tátrai Band, Gyula ?Bill? Deák, János Bródy, 30Y, Irie Maffia, Jamie Winchester, Erika Kertész, Magdi Bódy, United, Bea Tisza, Tamás Somló, Stúdió 11, Kolompos, Muzsikás, Ágoston Crew, Napra, Besh o Drom, Ádám Török and Károly Frenreisz.
Budapest?s public transport company BKV will operate a ?tram of song? for a week before the Day of Hungarian Song.
