Always follow the Milky Way,
you’ll find your way ahead
These are the lines of the anthem of the International Festival of Contemporary Songwriting in memory of singer and composer Nikolai Kravchenko «Milky Way».
The festival was organized by Ochakov musicians in 2000 — in the year of Nikolai Kravchenko’s death. This is the best thing they could do in memory of their friend, a talented man who loved music more than anything else in life and tried to instill this love in everyone. He worked with professional musicians and in folk groups, with elderly people and children. Until his last days, Nikolai sang in the church choir.
And most importantly with all his might he helped young talents. His dream of a vocal studio for children was no longer destined to come true.
The festival has outgrown the framework of the district scale and received the status of international. Its participants are young singers from many regions of Ukraine, Russia, Transnistria and Belarus. The festival has many friends who help it to live with their professionalism, optimism and inspiration.
Nikolay Kravchenko came to Ochakov from Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) with a full band «Milky Way». Soon the collective broke up, and Nikolay headed the local group «Ochakov». It was a pleasure to work with professionals who put their whole soul into their favorite business.
For several years the group has gained popularity in the region, participated in many events and beyond its borders: there were «Chervona ruta», «Chornomorska khvilya», the prize of audience sympathy at the festival «Krok do zirok» in Ternopil. The result of daily tireless labor became more than 200 recorded songs, several albums.
Having lost their leader, the musicians did not neglect his work. So the festival was born, which was to attract people to Ochakov, to remind them that the band is alive. And its main goal was to reveal and help young talents, which are rich in Mykolaiv region and the whole Ukraine. Every year the festival is held at a higher and higher professional level, and the geography of participants is expanding.
The song festival got its permanent residence on the Black Sea Spit. And became a business card Ochakov, attracting many music lovers to this resort area. Good endeavors of the Ochakov musicians are supported by the Department of Family and Youth Affairs of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, district and city administrations, and the Chernomorsky Village Council.
Sponsors, businessmen providing their services are sure that support of such a large-scale social and cultural action is not only an opportunity to make themselves known, but also to contribute to the future of our country by supporting its youth.