The RE RE RIGA! festival’s artists’ programme revealed.
A month ahead of forthcoming Street Art and World Music Festival RE RE RIGA! we are announcing the artists’ programme. The festival will take place in August 9th – 11th, during which time it will be possible in the city of Riga to enjoy the miracle of art while meeting different cultures. Breathtaking acrobatic performances, surprising juggling demonstrations, technically complicated tricks, sparking dances, circus troupes that have performed all over the world, unusual world music compositions – it will all be found here in Riga!
The first festival warm-up event took place on Tuesday, July 9th, at the creative – informative space “Rīga 2014” in Esplanade that will be operating during the majority of the festival’s RE RE RIGA! artists’ programme. The festival will fill the streets of Riga with amazing new circus performances, world music, dance and street theatre as part of Riga – European Capital of Culture 2014.
“It is a great pleasure that so many good and world-class artists agreed to participate in the festival RE RE RIGA!. Through colour, sound, mood and diverse creative form of expression festival RE RE RIGA! will offer residents and guests to experience the miracle of art. During the festival, everyone will be able to encounter a wide variety of cultures and feel like they have travelled the world. Artists’ program is really unusual and rich in surprises, as some 100 participants representing 20 groups from 12 countries have prepared their own special and unique performances”, revealed the event producer Vita Valheima.
Performing in the festival RE RE RIGA! will be French new circus troupe “La Meute”, who in their performances uses a variety of acrobatic techniques. From Sweden, association “MagManus” will amaze audience with virtuoso juggling, breathtaking springboard leaps and amazing acrobatics. Representing contemporary juggling and Scandinavian aesthetic, “Patrik & Wes” will be offering to the festival audience their playful show “Between Someonesons”. Dutch artist Bram Graafland will surprise with his performance “The Yelling Kitchen Prince”, since this is the only show in the world in which kitchen drums and organ are played while making pancakes. Four young artists from circus troupe “Collectif Malunés” in their show combine street theatre, air acrobatics and force elements. Frida Odden Brinkmann from Norway is one of very few female jugglers capable of controlling 9 balls at the same time in complex bouncing juggling technique. The youth circus studio “Folie” group FF from Estonia have prepared brand new show specially for the festival RE RE RIGA!.
Also there will be opportunity to enjoy masterpieces of world music on the festival’s RE RE RIGA! Stage, where folk music will be blended with Indian and Arabic vocal tradition, Moroccan music rhythms, psychedelic rock combined with saxophone. We will hear unusual instruments such as accordion, ukulele, flute, Jewish harp, guembre among others.
In the music of Belgium’s “Jaune Toujours” we will hear different languages, mixed music styles and beats – combining ska, gypsy music, chanson with jolly Balkan boisterousness, accordion and jazz improvisation.
During the festival there will be opportunity to enjoy the poetry of the famous Russian poet Sergey Yesenin in the musical arrangement by Russian band “The Retuses”. Unusual music sound will be offered by “Theodor Bastard”, also from Russia, who in their compositions blend world music, folk music, trip-hop with Indian and Arabic vocal tradition.
“Electric Jalaba” from the UK have united British musicians and a Moroccan gnawa music maestro. From Germany, association “K(I)M” is three Berlin based musicians, who will create unforgettable sounds of music with the help of drums, alto-saxophone and Jewish harp.
Representing Latvia in the festival will be few groups: “Sus Dungo”, that expertly works with wide variety of instruments, including accordion and harp. Festival’s stage will take rhythmic composition masters “Pulse Effect”, who in their work use percussions of different nations – African, Brazilian and Egyptian, in collaboration with Azerbaijani mugham singer Leila. Also for you to enjoy the dance group’s “Soul Tap” masterly weaved tap step beats with popular compositions arranged in jazz style, as well as performances by classical Indian dance troupes “Bharata” and “Lila”.
Everyone wishing to let themselves be surprised, to explore new world, to enjoy world culture and to experience the miracle – from August 9th to 11th are welcome to visit AB Dambis, Noass, Opera square and Esplanade. Entry to all of the festival’s events is free of charge.
Festival RE RE RIGA! is going to be one of the most exciting events of this summer, strongly announcing Riga as European capital of culture 2014. Festival has been possible thanks to support from Riga City Council, “Rīga 2014” foundation and “Re&Re” construction company.
Photos on Fbook or G+ by Ivars Veikša
Photo: „Pulsa efekts” and Leila
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