Patti Smith, a celebrated punk poet, singer and artist, will perform on the border between Slovenia and Italy in October in a prelude to the 2025 European Capital of Culture hosted by Nova Gorica and Gorizia.

The 5 October concert will be held at a new venue in place of a former border crossing known as Rožna Dolina (Valley of Roses) in Slovenian or Casa Rossa in Italian.

In a statement distributed by the organisers of the concert, Smith wrote that she was "looking forward to perform in the future capital of culture".

"I can't think of a better name to go borderless than the Valley of Roses, uniting Italian city of Gorizia and Slovenian city of Nova Gorica.

"Coming to the region where Pasolini, Kosovel and Rilke were writing their poems is a great inspiration for me," she added.

Her concert, which will be admission free, was announced in Gorizia on 30 May by representatives of organisations involved in the European Capital of Culture.

Romina Kocina, head of the European Association of Territorial Cooperation, said it is a great result of cooperation in the cross-border area.

The association, which brings together the municipalities of Gorizia, Nova Gorica and Šempeter - Vrtojba, organises the concert together with Gorizia and Zenit Srl, and financial assistance from the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Gorizia Mayor Rodolfo Ziberna said Smith's arrival in Gorizia together with the British band Editors was an incredible international step for the Capital of Culture.

Nova Gorica Mayor Samo Turel hopes the two cities will manage to attract a number of visitors and tourists as part of the concerts planned in the border area.

"The atmosphere is warming up and the vibe of both cities will be crowned with the 2025 European Capital of Culture title with a quality programme of concerts, cultural and tourism events," he said.

Stojan Pelko, programme director at the organisation running the European Capital of Culture project, announced a major exhibition on punk rock to shed light on "this important period of rebellion in Slovenia, Croatia and Italy".

Smith gave a concert in Ljubljana in 2015, and in Trieste in 2019, where she read poems by Slovenian Modernist poet Srečko Kosovel (1904-1926).