Latvia's Youth Song and Dance Festival is one of the best ways to discover the local culture. Photo by Dainis Matisons
While last weekend the three Baltics were united in going all out for live music, this weekend your entertainment choices will vary greatly depending on which country you’re in.
The exception to that of course is Sunday’s World Cup final which will be shown on large-screen TVs in bars, restaurants and tents all over Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. Although the Baltics have yet to produce a world-class football team, people here are just as enthused about South Africa 2010 as anyone else in Europe.
But thankfully the best thing going on this weekend in the Baltics isn’t a sports game on another continent.
If you couldn’t make it to Ibiza this summer, Estonia is trying to make up for it by turning into a Baltic version of the Mediterranean’s island capital of techno and decadence with the Pacha world tour and other live electronic acts.
Latvia’s Youth Song and Dance Festival is one of the best ways to discover the local culture if you’re in this weekend, and if you tire of the folk songs there’s Russian pop, another country music festival and an indie rock festival, too.
Lithuania’s live music options are noticeably tamer than the other two Baltics this weekend. On the coast there are local pop acts Mantas Jankavičius and Mia, which your preteen daughter may enjoy and classical offerings from the Summer Festival and Academy. There’s also a lengthy list of pensioner-friendly musical performances with singers doing Lithuanian-language versions of Broadway tunes and very slow, staid Lithuanian-language pop from the 1950s and 60s, but we didn’t list those for obvious reasons. Well, there’s a UEFA game and a new art show anyway. And the World Cup game on TV.
At least the weather is supposed to be nice, so maybe a trip up to Aukštaitija National Park is in order?
LITHUANIA
Mantas Jankavičius
July 9, 7 p.m.
Mantas Jankavičius
Fredricho Pasažas, Klaipėda
Mantas Jankavičius looks and sounds like a former member of the Backstreet Boys, so if a Lithuanian version of that sounds enticing to you or your children, head to Klaipėda.
Perhaps drop the kid off at the show and then hang out on the Curonian Spit, as the weather Friday should be lovely. Tickets: 43-63 litai (€12-€18)
Mia
July 13
Mia
Ramybė Club, Palanga
Lithuanian pop star Mia, a regular feature in the local tabloids, will be performing a set of the usual light and fluffy at Palanga’s Ramybė Club.
A talented singer, expect the Lithuanian variant of the shallow but fun pop format Europeans never tire of. Tickets: 33 litai (€10)
July 14
Ekranas vs. Mažeikiai 7 p.m.
Aukštaitijos Stadium, Panevėžys
Here’s a reason to visit Panevėžys besides just as a pit stop when traveling between Vilnius and Riga — UEFA football. Obviously you won’t see the caliber of play the World Cup has, but you’ll be able to see it live instead of on TV. Mažeikiai take on the home team Ekranas. Tickets: 13-18 litai (€3.75-€5.30)
Until July 17
Summer Festival and Academy
Dance Theater, Vilnius
If cheesy pop isn’t your thing, in Vilnius the Summer Festival and Academy kicks off with a number of classical music performances, including Igor Lovchinsky from the U.S. performing Haydn, Gershwin and Liszt on piano and the Ukrainian Alexander Hrustevich on the bayan. Check the website for more info on times and tickets.
Until Aug. 29
“Vytautas Kairiūkštis and his Milieu”
National Art Gallery, Vilnius
The National Art Gallery will have the works of Lithuanian painter Vytautas Kairiūkštis on display until the end of summer. His Cubist-inspired style will be of interest to those that enjoy 1920s-era painting. Tickets: 6 litai (€1.70)
http://ldmuziejus.mch.mii.lt/NDG/Index_en.htm
LATVIA
Photo by Dainis Matisons.
July 8-11
Youth Song and Dance Festival
Various locations in Riga
You don’t really know the Baltic states into you go to one of their song festivals. Ethnic costumes, folk songs, dancing, flowers, smiles, national pride — their souls really come alive at these things. A must-see if your in Latvia this weekend. Free entrance.
July 9-10
Bauska Country Music Festival
Bauskas Pilskalna estrāde, Bauska
Yes, just after last weekend’s country bash there’s another one in Latvia, this time in Bauska. Do these Balts love their honky-tonk jamborees or what? Tickets: 8 lats (€11.20) for both days
www.bilesuserviss.lv/eng/concerts/muzika/cits/?concert=68457
IKKI playing Riga earlier this year.
July 9, 10 p.m.
IKKI
Dirty Deal Cafe, Riga
France’s IKKI returns to Riga, bringing his mix of heavy metal and house, which in case you haven’t been listening to Ed Banger Records or the worldwide stars Justice, this is the hottest sound in electronic music these days. The video below is of IKKI playing the Dirty Deal in March. Tickets: 2 lats (€2.85)
Fonofest last year
July 9-10
Fonofest
5km from Cēsu
The indie rock festival Fonofest up in Cēsu will feature talented unknowns (hey, it’s indie rock!) like Skyforger and Deep Insight. Bring your tent and if you get tired of watching shows, there’s archery and other outdoor activities to do, too. Tickets: 10 lats (€14) for both days
A-Studio
July 12
A-Studio
Dzintaru koncertzāle, Jurmala
They claim to be inspired by The Beatles, but A-Studio is really just your usual cheesy Russian pop. Danceable and sexy, don’t worry if the lyrics are cheesy because if you don’t know Russian you won’t be able to understand anyway. Tickets: 10-40 lats (€14-€56)
http://www.bilesuserviss.lv/eng/concerts/muzika/roks_un_pops/?concert=63948
ESTONIA
July 9, 6 p.m.
American Beauty Car Show
Haapsalu Piiskopilinnus, Haapsalu
Do you like 1940s, 50s and 60s era American cars? Then you’re in luck as the American Beauty Car Show will have them in spades. Tickets: 75-350 krooni (€5-€22)
www.piletilevi.ee/eng/tickets/muusika/rock_ja_pop/?concert=65883
July 9, 6 p.m.
Summerjam Festival
Türi Laululava, Türi
Here’s part of bringing the Ibiza experience north — techno acts like the Headhunterz and Marc Van Linden will be spinning hot beats in little Türi for the Summerjam. Tickets: 325 krooni (€20)
www.piletilevi.ee/eng/tickets/muusika/muu/?concert=64795
July 9 10 p.m.
The Prophet
Sunset Club, Parnu
Part II of bringing the Ibiza experience to Estonia, at the seaside town of Parnu Dutch gabber madman The Prophet will pump dark, heavy beats into the night along with other local DJs. Sold out but you’ll likely be able to find scalpers at the door.
www.piletilevi.ee/eng/tickets/muusika/klubi/?concert=68977
July 9-10
Pacha World Tour
Various locations
Part III of bringing the Ibiza experience to Estonia, the Pacha World Tour is bringing its Balearic house DJs to Estonia in Tallinn and Parnu for 3 different shows. Pacha is one of Ibiza’s most-famous superclubs. Check out the web address for more information on tickets and locations.
www.piletilevi.ee/eng/tickets/muusika/klubi/?show=17410
Calvin Harris
July 14
Calvin Harris
Song Festival Grounds, Tallinn
Scottish electro-pop act Calvin Harris is in Tallinn for the first day of the Õllesummer Festival in Tallinn. Fun, catchy and increasingly popular in Europe, it’s Harris’ first appearance in the Baltics. Tickets: 95-195 krooni (€6-€12)
