What is it? KSP in translation stands for the Club of Amateur Song, i.e. it unites people interested in the bard music genre. Bard songs focus more on the meaning with the music being far less important than the lyrics. Another distinction is the commerce-free nature of the genre; songs are written to be sung and not to be sold, as the bards are often working professionals in a non-musical occupation. You can read more about it on Wikipedia. Slyot (“fly-in”) KSP is a Russian bard song festival that gathers fans at an outdoor location where participants camp for the duration. KSP-South began organizing festivals in 2003 and continue to do that twice a year (usually end of October and end of April). These events gather over 500 participants, not counting the children. And these are family events with special programs dedicated to encouraging kids to speak Russian and learn about the Russian culture. Over the last 10 years, Russian Rock music has become a large component of the festival, gaining popularity and drawing fans of this genre to Slyots KSP-South. Non-Russian speakers are welcome at the festival but should remember that the default language of the event is Russian, and they would need to tell (and keep reminding) people around them that they don’t speak Russian. Just look at this experience like a visit to Russia for the weekend without flying across the ocean.
Where:
Salmon Lake Park. 247 Salmon Lake Road, Grapeland, TX.
How much:
Tickets are $30 per person if purchased online in advance and $40 cash at the gate. This includes camping on the campground and participation in the festival. Price is the same for those camping both nights, only one night, or not camping at all, therefore we recommend that you take advantage of all the activities at the festival. Children 15 and under do not need a ticket. Please bring a printout of your ticket for scanning or have cash with you as we do not accept checks or credit cards at the gate.
What:
Friday is the "move-in" day. After most people settle in, there will be a Guest Concert around 9-10 PM where participants can listen to performances of the invited guests from far away states or from Russia (or other parts of former USSR). On Saturday morning people who arrived the night before enjoy the outdoors and visit with their neighbors, as others continue arriving. Children’s Camp opens at noon offering fun active games. Adults are invited to participate in a friendly volleyball tournament. Later there is a Children's Concert, where young talents get a chance to sing for us, followed by The Russian Rock Concert, followed by the main attraction of the festival, The Main (Bard) Concert. After a break for dinner, there will be a short concert of funny songs call Chaihana that lasts till midnight. After the concerts, everyone is invited to join the circles around the campfires for more songs. There are designated official campfire locations as well as those that appear unplanned but nevertheless very much appreciated. Sunday is the "move-out" day, as people exchange contact information and sing the last few songs before leaving the festival.
What to bring:
How:
No registration is required. It is recommended, however, that groups of 3+ tents make reservations. To do so, please fill out the form (the link is on the front page). We realize that it’s mostly in Russian, so please prepare the name of your group, expected number of tents, the preferred location (quiet/singing zone), name/phone number of the person responsible for the campsite and contact us, so we could guide you through it (Please send your phone number and the best time to call you to KSPsouth@gmail.com).