Ljubljana introduces year-end ban on all street musicians

The Ljubljana city council has imposed a ban on impromptu musical street performances until the end of the year after an opposition councillor accused the city authorities, led by Serbian-born Mayor Zoran Janković, of favouring Balkan brass music over local Christmas tradition during festive time in the Slovenian capital.

Concerns have recently been raised on social media and by right-wing media outlets that Ljubljana is increasingly becoming a Serbian city, with Serbian music played in the streets, people dancing the Serbian Kolo and wait staff speaking Serbian, not Slovenian, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

Maruša Babnik, a councillor for the Democratic Party (SDS), brought the issue up during a session of the city council. Raising the absence of an Advent wreath in Ljubljana, she said that while other European cities proudly celebrated Advent and their cultural heritage, Ljubljana was ashamed of its culture.

"During the festive season, the City of Ljubljana favours Balkan music, the trubači, which have nothing to do with Ljubljana, Slovenian cultural identity, or Christmas traditions," she said.

Ljubljana Tourism Board official Ana Lampič disagreed with that view, pointing out that the festive programme included features such as a nativity scene, St Nicholas' parade and a traditional Christmas concert.

Street musicians, including the brass bands known as trubači, are not part of the official programme, she said.

Mayor Janković then put forward a proposal to ban spontaneous street performances.

"To be clear, we're going to hold a vote about a ban on trubači," he said.

The ban does "not mean that they will be able to stay in one place for two hours and then move somewhere else. They cannot perform any more," he added.

After some confusion and a re-vote, the proposal was carried by 25 votes in favour and six against. Janković said the ban would enter into force immediately and stay in effect until the end of the year.

Denis Striković, a councillor for the green party Vesna, complained that the vote was invalid and an act of intolerance of the trubači, but Janković brushed his concern about the vote invalidity aside.

Janković told the press the next day that the decision was prompted by complaints from residents who were bothered by the trubači as well as the accordion player in Prešeren Square.

"The trubači bothered me too," he said.

The ban will apply in the city centre and to all street musicians. Those flouting the rule face a fine of €150 per person.

The right-wing media do not seem to be appeased with the decision though. The magazine Demokracija and the broadcaster Nova24TV have suggested the ban does not in fact target the trubači, but a large gathering of accordion players planned for 26 December in Ljubljana's Prešeren Square in response to Balkan music. However, as the meet is likely to be registered in advance, the ban will not affect it.

As reported by CE Report, Slovenian composer nominated for German Music Authors' Prize.

Photo: Tanjug/STA