Rock Oktet in Bale: Rock Classics on Tomaso Bembo Square

Saturday, 05.09.2026. 21:00. h

Rock Oktet brings Rock Classics to Tomaso Bembo Square on Saturday, 5 September, performing in front of the Gothic-Renaissance Soardo-Bembo Castle. The concert starts at 21:00 and admission is free.

From Rock Simfonija to Rock Oktet

Rock Simfonija was founded by Banja Luka guitarist Dragan Moconja and gave its first concert at Banski dvor in 2014. In its full line-up, the project brings together 50 to 80 musicians, with an orchestra, choir and vocal soloists joining the band.

The arrangements place orchestral parts alongside electric instruments and vocals rather than around them. Rock Oktet carries that approach into a smaller concert line-up with eight string players. The more compact format makes it easier to hear how the strings change the dynamics and colour of familiar songs without obscuring their melodies.

A repertoire of more than one hundred arrangements

Rock Simfonija’s repertoire now includes more than one hundred arrangements of rock songs from the region and abroad. Rock Classics brings a selection of them to the stage in versions for band and string octet.

Earlier programmes have included hits by internationally renowned artists (David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Queen). The exact set list for Bale has not yet been announced.

Four vocal soloists

Vanja Cvijanović sings and plays guitar in the alternative hard-rock band KOB, which he has fronted since 2012. He also performs as a vocal soloist with Rock Simfonija.

Vanja Mišić is a singer-songwriter with her own original material and a vocal soloist with Rock Simfonija.

Davor Tojčić is the frontman of the Banja Luka band Tupas mene and one of Rock Simfonija’s founders. In Bale he appears as a vocal soloist.

Bojan Madžar is a singer and songwriter who has performed with the rock band Fjužna pruga. He too appears as a vocal soloist with Rock Simfonija.

When a chorus and guitar riff are already familiar, every change introduced by the string arrangement stands out. If you would like to stay after the concert, browse accommodation in Bale.