The final night of Lovestock rounded out the story of Kaštela as a city of love - and love for good music. Fierce alternative acts from Split, Stereotrip, and the world-famous Norman Beaker Band from Manchester, threw the audience into a trance and earned thunderous ovations.
Already with the first bars Stereotrip electrified the atmosphere, letting the few who are not familiar with their work know that they are witnessing a serious band on the rise to fame. The repertoire of surprises, partly from the debut album, partly from the new LP Divlje Zvijeri, delighted the audience and set off an avalanche of good vibes, animating the crowd in front of the plateau of the gymnasium in Kaštel Novi.
Stereotrip dates back to 2019 as a project of Rok Leni Ukić on drums, and vocalist-bassist Marko Petrović, whose lyrics form the core of the songs. They are joined by Ante Madunić on guitar, and keyboardist Antonio Vuletić, and in 2023, experienced guitarist Ivo Tudor arrives in the studio as additional reinforcement, bringing additional intensity to the sound.
Through two hours of hard 'rokia', the resident of the city of love enjoyed a continuous dance, emptying her supplies. Red Lion Pub who enthusiastically accompanied all three nights of the festival with drink stands. With the departure of Stereotrip, thanks were once again extended to the patrons and sponsors: the City of Kaštela, the Kaštela Tourist Board, Cemex, Zeleno i Modro, PŠK Srdela, Konoba Lemo and the previously mentioned Red Lion Pub.
When it was time for a blues rock treat from Manchester - Norman Beaker Band, are accompanied by long applause and smiles on their faces, because this is a long-lived group that ranks high on the blues and blues rock scene. Norman Beaker, guitarist and vocalist, has had the opportunity to record and play with greats in his 75 years of life, and with the band that has been performing since 1982, so it is not surprising that they attract special attention wherever they play - and the number of performances is impossible to count. The current line-up includes Marco Mattietti on drums and Louis Claes on bass guitar.
Everyone expected a good time, and they got an unforgettable time thanks to the energy, great experience of the band and the charisma of the frontman. He adapted to our climate by replacing the chorus of the hit We Will Rock You with the lyrics "beer, beer, brandy". The repertoire full of the band's original hits, masterfully inserted titles and solos by each of the band members brought the audience to delirium. Lovestock's truly impressive finale left a deep impression on everyone, including the performers, because the 'chemistry' was strong on both sides of the stage.
After the encore and the band's thanks, the host Jakov Lučić thanked everyone for their support and reluctantly signed off the seventh Lovestock because the energy of the audience demanded that the gig continue much longer into the night. But as all things come to an end, so too did this seventh edition of the festival of love, under the watchful eye of a full moon and favorable weather. And now all that remains is to wait for the summer of 2026 and the next Lovestock in a row.
Photo: Andrej Valentić
This text was co-financed by the Fund for Promoting Diversity and Pluralism of Electronic Media.
