It was with emotion and satisfaction that the representatives of EGTC GO and GO! 2025, together with the Mayors of the Municipalities of Gorizia and Nova Gorica, announced today at a press conference the name of a very important international artist that will animate the city in preparation for GO! 2025: the legendary Patti Smith. The world-renowned multifaceted artist will be the protagonist of a concert to be held on 5 October in the square of the Red House, a place of great historical value, a symbol today of the union and cooperation between the two neighbouring cities.  

Patti Smith is a leading figure on the world art scene, thanks to her successes as a performer, songwriter, recording artist and visual artist. Her debut album, 'Horses', released in 1975, was included in the National Recording Registry of the US Library of Congress. Her career is studded with hits, including albums such as 'Easter', which includes the famous song 'Because the Night' co-written with Bruce Springsteen, and 'Dream of Life', which features the song 'People Have the Power', co-written with her late husband Fred Sonic Smith. Patti Smith has been nominated four times for Grammy and Golden Globe awards, winning numerous accolades throughout her career. In 2010, she received the prestigious National Book Award for her bestseller 'Just Kids', in which she recounts her deep friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and the evolution of their work. His other successful books include 'M Train' and 'Devotion'. 

The announcement of Patti Smith's performance was received with great enthusiasm.  

The concert is organised by EGTC GO in collaboration with the Municipality of Gorizia and Zenit Srl, with co-financing from the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The concert will be open to public.

Romina Kocina, director of EGTC GO, said: "This event represents another great result of the cooperation between all the entities operating on the cross-border territory. After the announcement of Editors, we proudly present an event open to all, which we expect will be epoch-making."  

Rodolfo Ziberna, Mayor of Gorizia, said "The arrival of Patti Smith in Gorizia together with that of Editors makes an extraordinary international leap forward for GO! 2025 in line with the aspirations of an area that has all the characteristics and potential to become the epicentre of events of this kind." 

Samo Turel, Mayor of Nova Gorica, emphasised "These events will attract many visitors and tourists to our cross-border territory. The atmosphere is heating up and the liveliness of the two cities will characterise our European Capital of Culture 2025 with its concert, cultural and tourist offer'.

Stojan Pelko, director of the GO! 2025 programme, pointed out that 'Patti Smith's intervention in the run-up to the European Capital of Culture is also very promising for future programmes. In cooperation with the Cankarjev dom and the ZRC SAZU, the Capital team is already planning a large exhibition on punk that will incorporate images, knowledge and memories of this important period of rebellion from Slovenia, Croatia and Italy'.

All the entities involved in the preparation of GO! 2025 confirm that there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes this year, which will certainly bear fruit through the calendar of events of the European Capital of Culture, but also through other cooperation projects that have sprung up as a result of the work for GO! 2025.