Volia Guitar Project started in the spring of 2022 shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is a collaboration between Universum Guitars Kyiv and True Temperament, Trollhättan, Sweden.

During the first 12 months of the war, 7 guitars were built in Ukraine that reflect Ukraine’s history and freedom struggle. These unique guitars are hand-built under difficult conditions and the project’s patrons are President Zelenskyy and former Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny. Both have each signed their guitar, which now hangs in a museum in Kyiv, Ukraine.

One of the 7 guitars is on site in Gothenburg and has been signed by a large number of musicians from Gothenburg and will now be the first guitar to be auctioned for the benefit of the International Movement of Maestro Sergo Chanturia’s “Cultural Mission” where the money will be used in full for rehabilitation through culture for children of war victims and war injured.

The auction

The auction takes place digitally on the website of Gothenburg Auctions, which is part of AuctionNet with several auction houses in Sweden and the world, and they are participating in the project completely free of charge, thank you!

You can find the auction here and it ends on 6 October 2024 at 16:00.

Events

On 6/10 between 14.00 and 16.00 we will be visiting the Gothenburg family’s Auktionsverket Kulturarena, Tredje Långgatan 9 in Gothenburg, Sweden where we will follow the auction directly via screen, surely we will find a little more about this opportunity to meet parts of those who signed and to see the guitar live . Thanks also to you at the Gothenburg family! Welcome!

Artists signed

Håkan Hellström, one of Sweden’s most popular artists with audience records for concerts in Sweden ahead of big artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay and Mettalica

Mikkey Dee, Gothenburg and Sweden’s contribution to Motörhead and nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2019. Mikkey is still active and currently plays with Scorpions

José Gonzales, one of Gothenburg’s most streamed artists who has been awarded around the world, among other things, he received the European Border Breaker Award in 2006.

Sarah Klang, world-touring singer-songwriter and 2019 Grammy winner, the same year her album “Creamy Blue” was nominated for IMPALA’s European Independent Album of the Year Award

Oscar Dronjak, metal guitarist and one of the founders of Hammerfall

Kee Marcello, guitarist and singer in both Europe and Easy Action, today a solo artist.

Peter Iwers, bassist previously in Chameleon and InFlames, today bassist in The Halo Effect

Niclas Engelin, guitarist and songwriter. Previously in In Flames and Gardenian, now in Engel and The Halo Effect

Anders Iwers, bassist and guitarist, formerly in Dark Tranquility and In Flames, now in Tiamat and Avatarium

Max Flövik, former cello in Rallypack, now guitarist in Lillasyster

Sam Vesterberg, singer in one of Gothenburg’s greats in the 70s, Nynningen and now a solo artist and singer in the big band Bad Brothers. 2023 Sam Vesterberg received the City of Gothenburg’s cultural scholarship

Robert Svärd, internationally recognized and multiple award-winning flamenco guitarist and composer!

Andy LaRocque, guitarist, producer and songwriter who participated in many constellations but is perhaps best known as a member of the Danish metal band King Diamond

Håkan Svensson, guitarist and band member in the Nationalteatern for about 25 years, played with many, e.g. Louice Hoffsten, Stefan Andersson

Magnus Rosen, bassist in Billionaires Boys Club, Hammerfall and on the album Past Future he performs together with the Gothenburg Symphony in a number of different classical works

Stefan Sporsén, musician, composer and bandmaster, Stefan plays trumpet and piano and was in Håkan Hellström’s band later Augusti the family who were the husband band in På Spåret (one of Sweden’s most popular TV programs) and has appeared on records with José González, among others, Jens Lekman, Soundtrack of Our Lives and own groups Augustifamiljen, Nurse and Stefan Sporsén Quartet.

Emrik, singer and composer, formed Stonefunkers in the early 1980s, today active as a solo artist and in the Emrik & Wefunky band

Dare to care!

This project has been exciting from so many perspectives, how do people feel during burning wars, how do they cope and where do they find the strength to somehow maintain an everyday life? Although as an outsider you cannot understand everything, it has given us an insight and also many moments of joy. We naturally hope that the auction will bring in a substantial amount of money for our friends over there. Money to support the children who lost their parents or who were injured during the war. The project on site is led by Sergo Chanturia, who is one of Ukraine’s most famous guitarists and, as far as we know, the only Ukrainian guitarist featured in Metal Hammer Magazine. Sergo currently runs a number of large cultural projects and will now, together with others in the organization, rehabilitate the affected children through various cultural projects. Everyone at Universum Guitars in Ukraine should of course also be mentioned, what a craft you do, and in the midst of burning war, you are heroes!

How can you help?

Place a bid on the guitar, the artwork, Volia! Spread the word by sharing the post, talk about the project because we mustn’t forget that our friends in Ukraine are still in a very difficult situation even though terrible things are happening in other parts of the world.

Come to our event if you have the opportunity or tell others you know who might have the opportunity.

Thanks to everyone involved, let the auction begin!