From Africa to the Baltics: blues musician Roland Tchakounte will be in Lithuania this weekend as well as other African performers. Photo by Jérôme Travers.
If you want to see the local culture in the Baltics the next week is perfect because of the midsummer celebrations — Jaaniõhtu in Estonia, Jāņi in Latvia and Joninės in Lithuania.
Next week will be a shortened work week in each country for the midsummer traditions of bonfires, drinking all night, holdover rituals from the pre-Christian era and concerts. We’ll have more on the midsummer’s events early next week.
In the meantime this weekend in the Baltics is all about other cultures, with two African concerts in Lithuania, Brazilian reggae in Latvia and a world music festival in Estonia featuring Uzbekistani smooth jazz and bouncy, organic Sierra Leonean hip-hop.
So expand your world music horizons over the weekend, and then prepare for a very fun week of pure Balticness.
LITHUANIA
Lithuanian national football team
June 18, 20
Lithuania vs. Estonia, Lithuania vs. Latvia
Hey, they didn’t make the World Cup but then again neither did you if you’re reading this, so if you want to take a break from the telly and watch a live football match you can this Friday and Sunday in Vilnius as the Lithuanian national team takes on their Estonian and Latvian counterparts. Tickets: 12 litai (€3.40)
Here's the view you'll get if you go.
June 18, 10 p.m.
Party People at the Europa Tower
Europa Tower, Vilnius
Ever wondered what it’s like to party at the top floor of a skyscraper? Well, Friday night you can find out in the tallest building in the Baltics, Vilnius’ Europa Tower.
Normally used for more sober activities like stock trading and accounting, this Friday will be dance beats and drinks courtesy of the Sinter Pramogos event producers. Tickets: 23-43 litai (€6.60-€12.40)
June 18, 11 p.m.
Miss String Lietuva 2010
Lithuanian Wild Club
Yes, the Lithuanian Wild Club’s string bikini contest is back! Any girls that want to bare almost all are welcome on-stage. Bear in mind this isn’t in the strip club section of the Wild Club, but it may as well be given the night’s program. The final round will be next weekend. Entrance: 23 litai (€23)
Roland Tchakounte
June 22, 23
Roland Tchakounte
Communication Museum Courtyard, Kaunas and Ramybė Club, Palanga
Born in Cameroon, far from the cotton fields that shaped his elders’ style, Roland Tchakounte now lives in France and brings his blend of traditional African and blues music to Lithuania this week. He’s doing a show in Kaunas and a show in Palanga, curiously missing out on Vilnius. Ticket prices vary depending on location.
www.bilietai.lt/en/event/5978 (Kaunas show)
www.bilietai.lt/en/event/5977 (Palanga show)
June 23, 6 p.m.
African Sonante
For a more buttoned-up affair than Tchakounte, who plays the same night in Palanga, African Sonante, hailing from South Africa, offer African music and classical further south on the coast in Klaipėda. Why not Vilnius? Not sure. Tickets: 17-22 litai (€5-€6.30)
LATVIA
June 18, 8 p.m.
Sinfonietta Riga
Spīķeri Concert Hall, Riga
The acclaimed local chamber music group Sinfonietta Riga will be playing a mix of Lindberg, Ligeti and Schneider at Spīķeri, located in Riga’s coolest neighborhood, the redeveloped warehouse district. Tickets: 5-7 lats (€7-€10)
www.spikeri.lv/pasaakums/cigani-klezmeri-minimalisms-ungaru-roks
June 19, 8:30 p.m.
Brazilian Night: Sensational Reggae Party
Brazīlija nightclub, Riga
The Brazīlija nightclub will be living up to its name Saturday with the Brazilian Night: Sensational Reggae Party which will feature a wide variety of Brazilian bands and DJs — Los Amigos, Malimbu Show, Fandango and Crystal Sound System will be playing until dawn. Tickets: 3.50 lats (€5) with flyer at the website below, otherwise 5 lats (€7) at the door and 15 lats (€21) for VIP room access
www.bilesuserviss.lv/eng/concerts/muzika/klubu_pasakumi/?concert=68512
D.E.U.S. Quartet
June 19, 7 p.m.
D.E.U.S. Quartet
Maskavas Nams cultural center, Riga
For music that’s a bit closer to home, you can check out the Russia acappella group D.E.U.S. Quartet, who sing catchy songs without accompaniment in Russian. браво! Tickets: 5-12 lats (€7-€17)
www.bilesuserviss.lv/eng/concerts/muzika/slagermuzika/?concert=65924
Photo by Delmi Álvarez/Baltic Reports
June 19, 22
Riga Circus summer shows
Riga Circus grounds, Riga
Clowns, acrobats, gymnasts, jugglers, magicians, airy bubbles, dancing, sawdust, animals — the Riga Circus has it all and they’re doing the first two of four summer performances this week. Usually open only in winter, take the young ones to the best (and um, only) circus in the Baltics.
Turbas
June 23, 12 p.m.
Studentlife LĪGO 2010, Turkalne
If your college-age, hitch a ride out to Turklane to celebrate the midsummer’s eve with Latvian college students in what is sure to be one of the most fun places to spend that special night at the Turbas entertainment complex. Bonfires, beer, Baltic culture — bliss. Tickets: 5-7 lats (€7-€10)
http://studentlife.lv/party/ligo-svetki/
ESTONIA
June 18, 11 p.m.
JazzyJazzy
Korter Club, Tallinn
The U.K.’s electronic artist JazzyJazzy, who ought to be called DubbyDubby, will bust out a trippy dubstep set for those ready to get lifted and spliffed-ted this Friday night. Tickets: 100 krooni (€6.40)
http://www.krtr.ee/est/kava/dubstep-ee-presents-jazzy-jazzy-diamond-eye-irk/
June 18-19
Maailmaküla World Village Festival
St. Brigitta Convent Ruins, Tallinn
Whether you want Uzbekistani smooth jazz or bouncy, organic Sierra Leonean hip-hop the Maailmaküla World Village Festival has it all, including a number of excellent homegrown artists.
Runs Friday and Saturday in the roofless St. Brigitta Convent, which is a killer atmosphere for a show. Located next to the port. Tickets: 490 krooni (€31) for festival pass
http://maailmakyla.ee/?id=10391
June 19-23
Suure-Jaani Music Festival
Various locations in Estonia
The ninth annual Suure-Jaani Music Festival brings a number of jazz, classical and adult contemporary acts playing throughout the week in Suure-Jaani in southern Estonia. Check the website below for ticket and location info.
www.piletilevi.ee/eng/tickets/muusika/muu/?show=16395
June 23, 7 p.m.
St. John’s Eve
Estonian Open Air Museum, 8 km from Tallinn
The Estonian Open Air Museum has an impressive, family-friendly line-up for midsummer’s eve that includes bonfires and two folk dancing ensembles. One of the best Estonian culture 101 courses you can take is by attending. Tickets: 160 krooni (€10.20), half-price discount for children, students and elderly
Baltic-German family portrait, unknown artist
until Aug. 29
“Baltic Bledermeier”
Art Museum
The exhibition “Baltic Biedermeier” shows the Baltic German art of the first half of the 19th century in Estonia and Livonia through one of the most important features of the era – the Biedermeier style. The term ‘Biedermeier’ was used to denote the bourgeois way of life in the peaceful times following the Napoleonic Wars. Free admission.
www.ekm.ee/eng/kalender.php?event_id=547&d_fil=1
