The Empty Hills (Pustye Kholmi), Russia’s largest open-air non-commercial festival of alternative music and arts, was held for the ninth time in the Kaluga Region on June 9-13.
The Empty Hills (Pustye Kholmi), Russia’s largest open-air non-commercial festival of alternative music and arts, was held for the ninth time in the Kaluga Region on June 9-13.
The festival was born in 2003, when a group of 300 enthusiasts held an open-air gathering, which turned into a major event combining features of a music festival, arts master-classes and even a carnival.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
The festival, which was held on June 9-13, 2011, gathered from 30,000 to 70,000 people from many Russian regions and some former Soviet republics although the event has not been widely advertized.
The festival has no definite music style, it is a mixture of rock, reggae, folk, blues, jazz, electronic music, etc.
Music at the Empty Hills is not that important. What is really important is the unique and unforgettable atmosphere of freedom, love, spiritual relaxation, positive energy and creativity.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
Those who are not interested in music can walk around the market of handmade crafts...
...play games, enjoy theater performances and attend workshops and master classes...
...or bathe in the river.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
The installations at the festival are really impressive.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
"The Rabbit Hole" installation.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
A flying horse.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
The snail labyrinth.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
The installations are created by Empty Hills volunteers.
Volunteers arrive at the site of the festival months before the opening and begin building the stages, bridges, toilets, cafes and other facilities.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
One of the festival's food courts. The sign says "Exclusive pleasure".
Freedom is the main concept of the Empty Hills festival.
Empty Hills is a unique gathering of free, sincere and happy people.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
And it is really amazing how the festival has survived in the modern world that is ruled by money.
