Tbilisi Open Air


Tbilisi Open Air is an annual international music festival, with the emphasis on electronic and rock music, first held in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 15–17 May 2009. After that the festival is organized each year and is widely considered as the biggest music festival in Caucasus region. The festival mainly maintains several-day outdoor event format.
As the organizers of Tbilisi Open Air clarify, the defining idea behind the festival is freedom. This is freedom from stress, clichés, social controls, freedom to create and express, freedom to experience what is valued by every single one of us as individuals.
It was first held in 2009 as an alternative to the Eurovision [Song Contest 2009], which Georgia was disqualified from because of the political message of their song, "We Don't Wanna Put In".

2023

The 2023 edition was held on 23–25 June. The traffic of the festival was around 80,000, with around 30,000 festival-goers attending each day.

23 June

Main Stage
Eye Stage
  • Etapp Kyle
  • Mattheis
  • Yanamaste
  • Le Violet
Zion Garden
Singer Stage
  • Tornike Gagoshvili
  • Reso Kiknadze Quartet
  • Kay G
  • Singer Jazz Foundation Jam

24 June

Main Stage
Eye Stage
Zion Garden
  • Dirty Saffi
  • DJ Nuky
  • Psymmetrix
  • Katana
Singer Stage

25 June

Main Stage
Eye Stage
  • Margaret Dygas
  • Rhadoo
  • OTHR
  • Gio Shengelia
Zion Garden
  • Braincell
  • Oogway
  • DM3
  • Stultitia
  • Chikovani
Singer Stage
  • Bacho Jikidze & Misi Wonderband
  • Pelargonia
  • Kemtet
  • Maikeru
  • Leftside Story and Ekoterine
  • Ducktape

2022

The 2022 edition was held on 24–26 June and it was attended by more than 80,000 people. That broke the previous record and TOA 2022 became the most attended commercial music event of all time in the history of Georgia. The festival showed heavy support to Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian war that broke out that year – through donating part of the ticket and merch sales to the Ukrainian cause, supporting Ukraine through all media and communication channels, inviting pro-Ukrainian acts, etc.

24 June

Main Stage
Eye Stage
Garden Stage
  • Giuseppe
  • Sashi
  • DM3
  • Chikovani
  • Dimitree
  • Ellarge
Singer Stage
  • Dini Virsaladze Quintet
  • Salome Tsulukidze & Band
  • Erekle Getsadze & Bad Habitz
  • Luka Topuria Quartet
  • Pelargonia

25 June

Main Stage
  • Alt-J
  • Moku Moku
  • არა
  • Killages
  • The Black Marrows
Eye Stage
  • Konstantin
  • Map.Ache
  • Chloe
  • Tomma
Garden Stage
  • Ajja
  • Oogway
  • Katana
  • Acnient Om
  • Kaya Matu
Singer Stage
  • Bacho Jikidze & Band
  • კოლექტივი
  • Reso Kiknadze Quintet
  • Zaza Marjanishvili Quartet
  • Melqo
  • Process

26 June

Main Stage
Eye Stage
  • Petre Inspirescu
  • Barac
  • Gio Shengelia
  • Vako T
Zion Garden
  • Fungus Funk
  • Additivv
  • Ramyjin & Sukoharaa
  • Acidwave
  • Obri
  • Kassra
  • Marcuss
  • Infest
  • Holo
Singer Jazz Stage
  • Tornike Gagoshvili
  • Blinkroot
  • Levan Japaridze & Killer Band
  • Uma & Tuomas
  • Guja Mardini Quartet
  • Adikashvili & Gabadze
  • Papuna Sharikadze Quartet

2020–2021

In 2020, Tbilisi Open Air was set to held through 26 June to 28 June, but due to the COVID pandemic, it was cancelled.
In 2021, TOA denied holding the concert once again.

2019

In 2019, TOA was held on the Lisi Wonderland field and went on for 3 days, with 4 stages operating. Total attendance was around 55 000. The festival dates coincided with 20 June Tbilisi Riots. In the light of those events, many statements were made from the festival promoters and artists from the festival stage.

21 June

Main Stage
Eye Stage
  • Tobias.
  • Edit Select
  • Boyd Schidt
  • OTHR
Garden Stage
  • 1200 Mics By Riktam
  • GMS (Music Group)
  • Psymmetrix
  • Aardvarkk
  • 3 of Life
  • Oogway
  • Acidwave
  • Ancient OM
Singer Jazz Stage
  • Dini Virsaladze Quintet
  • Auditorium A Feat Guja Mardini
  • Kemo Sextet
  • Forest Rain
  • Tornike Gagoshvili

22 June

Main Stage
  • Unkle
  • Rhye
  • მწვანე ოთახი
  • არა
  • Nemra
Eye Stage
  • David August
  • Maayan Nidam
  • Gio Shengelia
  • Tomma
  • Bacho
Garden Stage
  • Pixel
  • Dirty Saffi
  • DJ Nuki
  • Marcuss
  • Katana
  • Ellarge
Singer Jazz Stage
  • Blues Factor
  • Freeride
  • Old Road Band
  • Zura Ramishvili Quartet
  • Zuka Simonishvili Quartet
  • Amaze

23 June

Main Stage
Eye Stage
  • Andrey Pushkarev
  • Matthew Dekay
  • Cestlek
  • Mozzy
  • Vako T
  • Lasha Maruashvili
Zion Garden
  • Freedom Fighters
  • Nigel
  • Obri & Zen
  • Additivv
Singer Jazz Stage
  • Bacho Jikidze & Band
  • Windshield
  • Lekso Ratiani
  • Reso Kiknadze Sextet
  • String Quartet Feat. Dani
  • Blue Moor

2018

In 2018, TOA was held on Lisi Wonderland and had 3 day lineup. Around 70 artists performed on the festival. A new stage – Eye Stage was introduced which was devoted to Techno/House music. Also a new space – Singer Jazz Stage was created which was devoted to mostly jazz artists. Total attendance around 45 000.

22 June

Main Stage
Eye Stage
  • Roman Flugel
  • Cleveland
  • Gio Shengelia
  • Autumn Tree
  • Vako T b2b Mzhavia
Zion Garden
  • Avalon
  • Ritmo
  • Fungus Funk
  • Acidwave
  • Katana
Singer Jazz Stage
  • Reso Kiknadze Quintet

23 June

Main Stage
Eye Stage
  • Alex Niggerman
  • Matthias Meyer
  • Sascha Sibler
  • Liza Rivs
  • Bero
  • Stimmhalt
  • Promescu
Zion Garden
  • Yestermorrow
  • Kala
  • Eldario
  • Oogway
  • Marcuss
  • Ancient Om
  • Ellarge
  • Space Teryaki
  • Tabu
  • Beka Talakhadze
Singer Jazz Stage
  • Dzini virsaladze Trio
  • Blue Moor
  • Lasha Abashmadze Quintet

24 June

Main Stage
Eye Stage
  • Super Flu
  • Gio Shengelia
  • Innelea
  • Dastia
  • So Laut
  • Bekuchi
Zion Garden
  • Anthill
  • Additivv
  • Obri & Zen
  • Neverthesame
  • Dmitree
  • Infest
  • Dm3
  • Kalratry
  • Kaya Matu
  • Ra
Singer Jazz Stage
  • Zura Ramishvili Trio
  • Amaze
  • Papuna Sharikadze trio feat Misho Urushadze

2017

In 2017, TOA was held on Lisi wonderland and had 3 day lineup with around 40 artists. Around 30,000 persons attended the festival.

16 June

Main Stage
Golden Stage
Zion Garden
  • Eldario
  • Space Teriyaki
  • Dimitree
  • Marcuss
  • Tabu
  • Additivv

17 June

Main Stage
Golden Stage
  • Friendly Mosquito
  • Bedford Falls
  • Windshield
  • Alex.Do
  • Greenbeam & Leon
  • Sevda
  • Iazikzazubami
Zion Garden
  • Psysex
  • Go2sky
  • Never thesame
  • Meno
  • Infest
  • Kaya matu

18 June

Main Stage
Golden Stage
  • Moku Moku
  • Sexy Bicycle
  • SF – X
  • Oxia
  • Wiedmak
  • Vako T
Zion Garden
  • Dj Goblin
  • Arjun Apu
  • Amrit Pavan
  • Ougway
  • Psyrati
  • Katana

2016

In 2016, TOA presented 3 day line up with over 60 artists. Festival had 3 stages – Main stage, LTFR/Night stage and Pirate Bay stage. Total attendance was over 30,000. Festival was held on 29–31 July, on a location near Lisi Lake, which received nickname "Lisi Wonderland".

29 July

Main Stage
LTFR/Night Stage
  • Adriatique
  • Nikakoi & TBA
  • Vako Key
  • Lasha Craft
Pirate Bay Stage
  • Aardvark
  • Pogo
  • FOG
  • Psart
  • Katana
  • Marcuss
  • Meno – Project Pheodal
  • Saba
  • Amit Pavan

30 July

Main Stage
LTFR/Night Stage
Pirate Bay Stage
  • Clarity
  • Dima Dadiani
  • Ciga
  • Subex
  • Mangiphera

31 July

Main Stage
LTFR/Night Stage
  • Dense & Pika
  • The Forest
  • Natalie Beridze TBA
  • Mao
  • Friendly Mosquito
  • Kordz
  • ზურმუხტისფერი ბედის ორდენი
  • MAMM
  • EKO
Pirate Bay Stage
  • Black Dub Odyssey
  • Vazhmarr
  • Beveluke
  • Uru
  • Teko
  • Liza Rivs

2015

In 2015, TOA presented 5 day line up with over 60 artists. This was by far the biggest musical event which has ever happened in Caucasus or Middle Earth and the festival broke all records in social media, having three times bigger feedback than in 2013. Also this was the first time when except main stage, 2 additional stages were built – golden stage and Bassiani stage. Attendance was over 50,000 which was also a record for the whole region.

3 July

Main Stage
Golden Stage

4 July

Main Stage
Golden Stage

5 July

Main Stage
Golden Stage

6 July

Main Stage
Golden Stage

7 July

Main Stage
Golden Stage

2014

In 2014 the festival returned to three-day outdoor festival format. Total attendance was 21 000. Although criticized for smaller line-up compared to former years, the organizers announced this was "a decision essential to switch back to the fields and prepare for 2015, which should be the biggest event both by line-up and scale". Due to heavy rain and storm on the 2nd day of the festival, Chinawoman and Lapalux were cancelled on 7 June and were added to 8 June line-up.

6 June

7 June

8 June

2013

In 2013 the festival was held on the Dinamo Arena Stadium. Total attendance was 19 000. With Deep Purple as headliner, the line-up was the biggest happening in the region and received a lot of local and foreign media interest, especially from Armenia, Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Despite this, after the event the organizers of the festival stated their opinion that Tbilisi Open Air belonged more to outdoor fields than Stadiums or any kind of buildings. "We received invaluable experience, but the heart of the festival stays with the fields" – stated organizer Achiko Guledani – "next time we will try to accept the challenge to bring even bigger line-up there."

5 June

2012

The 2012 event was held on Tbilisi Valley at the outskirts of the city. Headliner of the festival was a legendary Russian band DDT, which caused a lot of local interest. Total attendance was over 50,000, which remains as a record not only in Georgia, but in whole Caucasus region.

2 June

3 June

2011

The 2011 event was held on Tbilisi Hippodrome. Total Attendance was 10,000.

11 June

12 June

2009

The 2009 event was held in Tbilisi, on Sharden Street and on local hippodrome. Total attendance was 35 000. As it was the first big happening since 1980 Tbilisi Rock Festival, the festival was covered by foreign media: Times Online, Reuters, El Mundo, Corriere della Sera, Associated Press, Nouvel Observateur etc. 23 bands from nine countries participated in the festival. It served as an important simulator to the local music business and caused a boost in the numbers of new artists.

15 May

16 May

17 May

Camping

In 2012 Tbilisi Open Air started allowing tent camping as an option for festival lodging. The campground site is adjacent to the venue grounds and has its own entrance from the venue. Since then festival receives campers from different countries.

Weather

The festival is held most often in June. Temperatures during the festival's history have ranged from 25 °C in May to 32 °C on June. Tbilisi has mostly welcoming weather in summer and the same holds true for the event.

Management

Tbilisi Open Air is run by Altervision Group which mainly consists of former and active musicians/producers. The first concept of the festival was created by Achiko Guledani, Vaho Babunashvili, Irakli Nadareishvili and Beqa Japaridze in 2009. Nowadays the decision making board of Tbilisi Open Air consists of 7 people. The festival is booked by David Tsintsadze.