Starring Georgia attracts global artists, “big surprises” announced for 2024
This year’s edition of Starring Georgia, a series of shows promoting the country's tourism potential and showcasing it on the map of entertainment events around the world, is over, with the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili calling the campaign “rather successful” following shows hosted at Georgian venues. Photo: Black Sea Arena
Initiated by Garibashvili, the campaign was launched this year. The initial lineup of the campaign was rather impressive, however some of the gigs were cancelled due to the tragic landslide in the country’s west. Photo: Black Sea Arena
The goal of the campaign is to “promote the country and strengthen the tourist, economic and cultural potential of Georgia”, Garibashvili said. Photo: Black Sea Arena
The latest show was hosted in the capital city of Tbilisi’s Dinamo Arena stadium, where the popular American singer Bruno Mars delighted crowds. Photo: Black Sea Arena
A memorable moment of the performance came with a rendition of Tbiliso, a song by the popular late Georgian composer Revaz Lagidze, on the stage of the show. Photo: Black Sea Arena
Maia Omiadze, the Head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration, said about 70,000 music enthusiasts were hosted for the show at the venue. Photo: Black Sea Arena
The winner of 15 Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards and other prizes, Bruno Mars was sought by organisers of the two-year programme aiming to see Georgia host a "constellation” of stars of the international popular music scene, a release by Black Area Arena performance venue said. Photo: Black Sea Arena
Another memorable show was the concert of the American rock band Imagine Dragons, who performed in front of a crowd of more than 30,000 at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi. Photo: Black Sea Arena
The four-time Grammy Award-winning band performed popular hits from all five of their albums in the show for the fans. They were in Georgia for the first time, as part of their fifth world tour, and saw organisers bring the new stage of Black Sea Arena - a venue in western Georgia's seaside town of Shekvetili - to Tbilisi on 35 trucks for their performance. Photo: Black Sea Arena
The Georgian support band Killages played a set of alternative hip-hop songs in English to warm up the audience for lead singer Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman. Photo: Black Sea Arena
Between songs, animated stories were presented on the big screen, while Reynolds himself shared an inspiring message for those struggling with depression and noted his own experience. Photo: Black Sea Arena
The performer thanked audiences in Georgia for their warm hospitality and noted the country’s beauty, while promising to return. Photo: Black Sea Arena
Prime Minister Garibashvili also pledged the campaign to continue next year with “important, big surprises”. Photo: Black Sea Arena