On May 31, 2025, the Starlight group made an unforgettable trip to Kotor, a picturesque town on the shores of the Boka Bay in Montenegro. The goal was to attend a concert of the legendary Bosnian band Dubioza Kolektiv, which took place in the format of the opening of the summer season instead of the performance originally planned for January 1. Before the concert program, our company did not miss the opportunity to visit one of the oyster farms near Kotor to appreciate seafood delicacies and enjoy the views of the bay.
Opening of the summer season and the concert of Dubioza Kolektiv
Initially, Dubioza Kolektiv were supposed to perform in Kotor on January 1, 2025, as part of the winter “Kotor Winter Fest”, but due to a tragic event in Cetinje, the concert was canceled. As compensation, the organizers rescheduled the performance for May 31, declaring it the official opening of the summer season in Kotor. The event took place on the spacious Trg od sata square, where more than 2,500 spectators gathered. The program included a signature mix of reggae, ska and punk rock, as well as socio-political lyrics, for which Dubioza Kolektiv is appreciated all over the world.
Visit to an oyster farm
A couple of hours before the concert, Starlight group went to a shellfish farm in the village of Ljuta, a few kilometers from the Bay of Kotor. The farm is known for its oysters and mussels, grown according to the principles of sustainable development: the shellfish purify the water, maintain the ecological balance and do not require additional feeding. We tried the freshest oysters straight from the floating pier, washed down with light homemade wine, which has been stored in the waters of the bay for many years, and learned about the peculiarities of aquaculture in Montenegro.
History of Dubioza Kolektiv
Dubioza Kolektiv was founded in 2003 as a result of the merger of two bands from different cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Zenica and Sarajevo. The group became famous thanks to its eclectic style, combining hip-hop, reggae, dub, punk and elements of Balkan ethnicity. The peculiarity of their work is the lyrics in several languages, often criticizing social and political phenomena. Over two decades, Dubioza Kolektiv has developed its signature slogan: “People can dance and think at the same time.”
Before the main guest, a young local band Rotko Stjuart performed on the stage of Trg od sata, whose energetic punk-rock compositions and charismatic vocals warmed up the audience and set a driving atmosphere for the evening. The final chord of the warm-up – a cover of “Blitzkrieg Bop” – caused a storm of applause and prepared the audience for the appearance of Dubioza Kolektiv. Rothko Stewart is not the name and surname of one person, it is a symbolic name for a group of music lovers who decided to explore the breadth of ideas and emotions through funk as a base and admixtures of other musical genres. With their authentic approach to music, they brought a new freshness to the Montenegrin scene. Behind Rothko’s songs are honest stories, through which Podgorica humor shines. In a short time, Rothko managed to go from a virtual artist, as he was originally conceived, to a living sensation, and all this is due to the success of the first track “Igram Sad”. It was this that prompted the founders of this project to give a chance to several more young musicians and create a group. The identities of the members of Rotko Stewart are unknown to the public, but their songs, including “I play now”, “Na pirun pipun”, “I no longer know who you are”, “On daje ti something” are well known not only to locals, but also to fans of good sound throughout the region. Rotko Stuart’s first public appearance was at the Rokstrikcija festival in 2024 in Podgorica, and the atmosphere created by the “wigged musicians” was discussed for a long time.
Then the audience heard not only the already released songs “I play now”, “Na pirun pipun”, “On daje ti sechto”, “Eurovision Song”, “I no longer know who you are”, “Oblaka provala”, but also some that have not yet been officially released. Rotko Stuart’s first album is creatively complete, played and ready for the public.
Rotko was conceived as a virtual music star, but with the second single and video “Na pirun pipun” everyone discovered that they were actually a band. However, they managed to skillfully hide the identities of the band members. Rotko Stuart was created as a project of three friends from Podgorica with the selfish intention of having as much fun as possible “in the good old days” and enjoying their free time together, playing music and multimedia.
In today’s world, dominated by social networks and technology, privacy has become a luxury. And with their concept, the band made it possible for themselves to afford this luxury. From the very beginning of the project, the musicians decided that Rotko Stuart would focus on the music, not on the team members and individuals. In his songs, Rotko talks about love and the city, and he is not interested in tiring his art and the audience with some personal actions, which are too many on today’s scene.
Already with the first single “Igram sad” the band conquered the region. Namely, at the Muzzik Video Awards you were awarded the prize for the best video of a new artist.
Rotko Stewart loves funk because it has an energy that inspires and a rhythm that moves and puts a smile on your face.
History and interesting facts about Kotor
Kotor is one of the oldest cities on the Adriatic, the first mention of which dates back to 168 BC, when it was called Acruvium and was part of the Roman province of Dalmatia. In the Middle Ages, the city was under the influence of Byzantium, Serbia and, from 1420 to 1797, the Venetian Republic, which is reflected in the architecture of the powerful fortress walls and narrow cobbled streets of the old town.
- UNESCO included Kotor and its fortifications in the list of World Heritage Sites due to the unique combination of a natural amphitheater and medieval paving.
- There are several hundred street cats in Kotor, who have become the unofficial “guardians” of the old town. There are special feeding troughs and shelters for them, and the Kotor Kitties charity foundation takes care of the sterilization and care of the animals.
Features of Bokelj Bay
Bokelj Bay, often called the “southernmost fjord in Europe”, is formed by a flooded river bed and is about 28 km long, with a maximum depth of 60 m and an average depth of 27.3 m. The water surface area is about 87 km², which creates ideal conditions for aquaculture and shipping.
- The bay is decorated with seven islands, including the legendary Our Lady of the Rocks – a man-made island with a church built in honor of the miraculous discovery of the icon of the Virgin Mary in the 15th century.
- The slopes of the surrounding mountains Lovćen and Orjen create a unique amphitheater for musical and cultural events, the main one being the summer festival KotorArt, which brings together artists from all over the world.
Conclusion
The Starlight group’s trip to Kotor was a vibrant combination of cultural immersion and gastronomic discoveries: from learning about the history of the ancient city and the grandeur of the bay to tasting oysters and a driving concert by Dubioza Kolektiv. It is on such trips that stories are born that you want to retell again and again – to the sounds of reggae, the whisper of the waves and the rustle of fortress walls.
