Serbia's Cult Club 'Zeleno zvono' Marks 35 Years Since Founding

Thirty-five years ago, a club was born in Zrenjanin, Serbia, that would soon become a vital hub for the independent cultural scene across the region. "Zeleno zvono" (Green Bell), though it closed its doors a decade ago, continues to resonate deeply with musicians, artists, and audiences alike.

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Green Bell, dong dong dong... It rings, rings for the year 2000, when I met Guta from Zeleno zvono, and it was actually one of the first places we came to play in Serbia after the war.

For twenty-five years, the iconic venue hosted more than 1,700 concerts, featuring artists like Darko Rundek, Vlada Divljan, Bajaga, Rade Šerbedžija, and Bebi Dol. Beyond music, "Zeleno zvono" also served as a space for book promotions, forums, and exhibitions, solidifying its status as a cornerstone of alternative culture.

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I performed at Zeleno zvono with Bajaga and with Babes. It was a place where I had great gigs, with a great audience.

Founded in 1991 by Branislav Grubački Guta amidst the breakup of Yugoslavia, "Zeleno zvono" aimed to foster a spirit of social engagement with anti-war, anti-militarist, and non-nationalist messages. "Culture was the best model through which these messages could be sent," Grubački recalled. "We were simply looking for a space to gather people who thought differently. The first message of Zeleno zvono was that there is always a way out, this is our attempt."

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The first thing I think of when Zeleno zvono is mentioned, well, I think of Guta, of course.

Initially starting as a cafe-pizzeria in Grubački's grandfather's house, the club found a new location in 1994, becoming a theater club in the city center. Zrenjanin transformed into an unmissable stop for prominent musicians, writers, and artists from across the former Yugoslavia, drawn not by large budgets but by trust, sincerity, and a shared passion. Today, a group associated with the "Novi optimizam" (New Optimism) movement is commemorating the anniversary by initiating a series of thirty-five stories from musicians who performed at the club.

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Get out of the way, Guta is coming.