Event Guide

ESTONIA

July 09-14, Viljandi Old Music Festival, Viljandi

Viljandi Old Music Festival is the oldest such festival in Estonia. It first took place in 1982 and has been combining the beauty of the ancient town with centuries-old music ever since. Performers over the years have included Paolo Pandolfo, Jane Gingell, Trio Mediaeval, Egidius Quartet, Conrad Steinmann, Paul Hillier, the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, Tõnu Kaljuste, Andres Mustonen and Hortus Musicus. For more information please email [email protected] or call (+372) 566 59257.

July 10-21, Festival The Music of Seven Cities, Ida-Viru County

The Music of Seven Cities Festival is the most significant summer meeting place in Ida-Viru County. The original idea of the festival – seven days, seven concerts, seven cities – has grown over time and today The Music of Seven Cities has become a major event in the exciting concert venues of Ida-Viru County. The long-awaited summer music festival will host a total of 15 concerts, among which the listeners of different ages will find musical encounters to fit his or her liking. This year, the festival will focus on various music genres, including swing, jazz, rock, choral singing, orchestral music, blues, early music, pop, R&D, funky and delicious French chansons. Full festival information and tickets can be purchased at www.concert.ee 

July 11-14, Medieval Days, Old Town, Tallinn

The Medieval Days are one of the most important annual events of the Estonian Folk Art and Craft Union since the year 2000. The Medieval Days take place in Tallinn’s Old Town every year on the first full week of July from Thursday to Sunday. During the festival you can immerse in the atmosphere of the flourishing Hanseatic era. A large medieval market is set up in the Town Hall Square with merchants and workshops. Musicians and dancers from near and far take the stage. A medieval procession opens the event followed by various workshops, excursions and theatre performances. The children’s area is situated on the Niguliste hill where children can participate in workshops, knight tournaments and other exciting activities. Learn more on Facebook.

July 12-13, Pärnu Street Artists Festival WALK, Pärnu

WALK is a street festival which brings a quantity of vivid street artists to Pärnu for two amazing summer days, including artists like musicians, (fire)dancers, living sculptures, circus artists, poets and many other creative entertainers. The festival has been created in the walk-by form, meaning that the artist performs on the street corner, a hat in front of him/her, and the passer-by puts money in the hat to support the artist – that is also where the festival gets its name. As well as the visitors can enjoy nice entertainment, the festival also offers a lot of good and delicious food by local cafés and restaurants presenting their delicacies in pop-up cafés. Come and enjoy good food and support your favourite street artists! All festival information is available at www.walkfest.ee 

July 15-21, Pärnu Music Festival, various venues in Pärnu

The Pärnu Music Festival and Järvi Academy will continue the fine tradition of musical festivals in Pärnu that has been established over the decades. Pärnu Music Festival is primarily focused on orchestral music and the main carrier of this concept is the special world-class Pärnu Festival orchestra. The musicians of the orchestra are high-level professionals from all over the world. Furthermore, the festival presents brilliant soloists, who will perform with orchestra and also as chamber musicians. The other important aspect of the festival is the teaching – Järvi Academy offers musical education for young musicians via master classes, which are mainly carried out by the same interprets, who perform at the festival. For full festival information please go to www.parnumusicfestival.ee 

July 25-28, XXVI Haapsalu Early Music Festival, various venues in Haapsalu

Founded in the beautiful Western Estonian resort town Haapsalu in 1994, the annual Early Music Festival is one of the largest festivals of the kind in Estonia and has caught the attention of many outstanding foreign artists. The festival projects bring together the best musicians from Estonia and the rest of Europe – together, they aim to revive the music of many past centuries and offer unforgettable experiences to the audience. Haapsalu Dome Church from the 13th century is an excellent place to do so, but concerts are also held in Jaani Church, Resort Hall, and elsewhere in Haapsalu. For more information and ticket purchase please go to www.studiovocale.ee 

 

LATVIA

July 02-06, Rigas Ritmi Festival, various venues in Riga

Riga’s Rhythms (Rigas Ritmi) Festival this year will mark the centenary of jazz in Europe, offering a musical program that features representatives of American jazz school of different generations, Jon Cleary, Jamison Ross and Judith Hill, and French Flamenco lady Paloma Pradal, Swedish music pride Johan Nilsson, and three-continent union of musicians “Freedoms Trio” who will perform at the Riga Congress Hall. Also, among participants of the festival will be 19-year old piano star from China - winner of this year's international young jazz artist contest “Riga Jazz Stage” A Bu, inventive Italian saxophone player Frederico Milone, promising Russian vocalist Kristina Kovalova, merry Estonian Gypsy-jazztrio “Titoks”, colorful Latvian musicians Agita Rando, “The Coco'nuts” and “Radio Trio”, and other musicians performing at VEF Jazz Club, Kaļķu Vārti Club, “Egle” recreation park, jazz club “Trompete” and Origo Summer Stage. For full festival info please visit www.rigasritmi.lv and for ticket purchase please go to www.bilesuserviss.lv 

July 06, Jomas Street Festival, Jomas Street and Majori Parking Lot, Jurmala

The Jomas Street Festival celebrates exactly what is mentioned in the name – Jurmala’s main pedestrian street. An exciting cultural and entertainment program is planned for this year’s festival, as well as creative workshops for children. During the festival, the folk-dance festival Soļi Smiltīs (Steps in the Sand) will also be held. The dance event will bring a merry opening to the festival, where anyone can dance themselves away on the longest pedestrian street in Jurmala. Dance concerts will be held all throughout the day, with record numbers expected to be performed. Learn more at www.visitjurmala.lv 

July 12-14, 3rd International Operetta Festival, various venues in Ikskile

The Operetta Theater will excite and surprise both the young and older audience with concerts and events in the town of Ikskile, located just 30km from Riga. The three-day events will feature gatherings, soloists from Austria, Italy, Lithuania, Italy and Serbia, as well as beloved local singers like Sonora Vaice, Emils Kivlenieks, Nauris Indzeris and many more. The culmination of the festival, or the gala concert, will be held at the Ikskile open-air stage, with a romantic evening of waltz to be held afterwards. For the little ones, a theatrical experience called Let’s Create an Operetta! will be held. The town of Ikskile can be easily reached by train (from Riga Central Train Station), by bus (from Riga International Coach Station), as well by car – the A6 highway. To learn more and to buy tickets online please go to www.bilesuparadize.lv

July 18-21, Laima Rendezvous Jurmala’19 Festival, Dzintari Concert Hall, Jurmala

The bright, exquisite and romantic festival, established by the well-known Latvian singer Laima Vaikule, each July gathers the biggest popstars, as well as legendary world musicians and some of the most up and coming performers. In the stunning atmosphere of the festival, unexpected duets and trio suddenly appear – these are true musical “rendezvous”. This year more than 40 artists from 13 countries will perform in the festival, from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Denmark, Estonia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Italy, Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, and of course Latvia. Full festival info can be found at www.jurmalarandevu.lv and to buy tickets online please go to www.bilesuserviss.lv 

July 19, Music Festival Gateway Riga, Club One One, Riga

Gateway is “Future Garage” (Nu-Garage, Post-Garage, Space Garage, Minimal Garage, Atmospheric Garage) style music festival with atmospheric, broken rhythm and melodic sounds. Participants of the Gateway Festival will include some of today’s brightest and best-known English Future Garage representatives “Sorrow”, “Vacant” and “Bucky”, atmospheric music representative “SQZ ME” from Ukraine, talented producers “Menual” and “La Soul” from Russia, also the only local representative of the genre and producer “McAlvis”, a participant of Brimstone project. To buy tickets online please go to www.bilesuserviss.lv 

July 19 – September 01, Riga Jurmala Music Festival, Latvian National Opera and Ballet, Great Guild, Dzintari Concert Hall, Riga and Jurmala

In summer 2019, a new world-class symphonic orchestra festival – Riga Jurmala Music Festival – will take place in Latvia, during which world-famous orchestras and conductors will perform in in the cities of Riga and Jurmala. The RJMF will take place over four weekends at the Latvian National Opera, the Great Guild, and the Great and Small Halls of the Dzintari Concert Hall. At the centre of each weekend will be two symphony orchestra concerts, solo concerts and morning concerts featuring rising musical stars. To learn more please visit www.riga-jurmala.com and to buy tickets online please go to www.bilesuparadize.lv

July 26-27, Positivus Festival 2019, Fishermen's Park, Salacgriva

Positivus Festival is the largest music and arts festival in the Baltic States that takes place every year at Salacgriva Fishermen’s Park. Foreign media constantly highlight Positivus Festival due to its light and friendly atmosphere, Salacgriva’s wonderful nature, as well as absolutely great music. Positivus Festival has been awarded the title “Best European Festival”, beating such giants as Roch Werchter, Roskilde Festival and the Spanish Benicassim. “Festival Guide” (UK), the most famous festival guide for students, says that Positivus Festival excels with a “distinctive charm that no other event can match”. According to “Festival Guide”, location, music choice, as well as comparatively friendly prices are the most attractive aspects of the festival. For complete festival information and ticket purchase please visit www.positivusfestival.com

LITHUANIA 

Open till July 05, Solo Exhibition by Beatrice Mockeviciute, Reading Room of Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius

Beatričė Mockevičiūtė associates the act of creating with the possibility to grasp that which is usually translucent and ephemeral in the everyday. Apartment blocks visited by reflections of the sun or truck tarpaulins blown about in the wind may be meticulously man-made, but they are also independent and unpredictable. A gaze is the main instrument which allows us to recognize and define such translucent characters of the everyday. The first version of the exhibition “Asukas” was presented at Lithuanian Composers‘ Union House in 2018. To learn more please go to www.cac.lt 

July 10-14, International Street Theatre Festival Spot, various venues in Vilnius

Become the centre of the free street theatre festival. Explore urban spaces and watch a series of performances and installations in the streets and squares of the city. Choreographed performances, concerts and contemporary theatre performances will introduce you to a different side of Vilnius Old Town. More information can be found at www.menuspaustuve.lt 

July 15-26, Midsummer Vilnius’19 Festival, Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Vilnius

When cities are covered with summer heat, the heart of Vilnius starts beating; the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania situated at the foot of Gediminas Hill is full of life in the midsummer. The streets of the old town are flooded with the residents of Vilnius and its guests who are looking for a fresh cultural wind. The gate of the Palace is opening for everyone who is waiting for the evenings to leave a footprint in the memory. From real Classics, to an impetuous popular music gust. From the finest operatic arias, to soul and jazz chords, with the accompaniment of the stage light orchestra. Midsummer Vilnius – a pure, vivid, sophisticated and intimate festival at the heart of Vilnius, is to invite everyone who is looking for a rich respite. For festival’s line up and ticket purchase please go to official website www.midsummervilnius.com 

July 22-28, Festival Magic of Straw, Ethnic Culture Center, Vilnius

All those who are interested in mysterious and authentic hand-made good of folklore art – a straw garden – are kindly invited to the international festival “Magic of Straw”. During the festival the handicraftsmen will teach the participants to bind traditional straw gardens in various ways and to make many different elements of straw gardens: birds, suns, angels, etc. The participants of the festival will be able to present their own works of straw at the exhibition of straw gardens and straw crafts. Find out more at www.etno.lt 

July 26, Vilnius Burger Fest 2019, Courtyard of the Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema, Vilnius

You will definitely smell this festival from far, far away. The aroma of the coals and grilled meat will lure you to the yard where the burger pros will fight for your attention and surprise you with inventive gourmet combinations. Attention, burger lovers: there are some hamburgers that can only be found at this fest. Fresh and local produce is used in the preparation of hamburgers, as the festival believes in the slow food philosophy, the principles of environmentally friendly food, and ethical behavior. The festival starts at 12:00 and the entrance is free.

July 27 – August 03, Vivace Vilnius Festival 2019, various venues in Vilnius

The 8th Vivace Vilnius International Summer Music Festival provides opportunities for promising musicians to advance their studies, and also to enliven the summer season in the historic city of Vilnius with world-class performances that are accessible and free to all. Learn more at www.vivacevilnius.org