RIGA - When people ask me about the best time and place to visit Latvia, my answer is unequivocal: visit Jurmala, Latvia's famous resort town, at the end of July. That's when New Wave, the biggest event of the year takes place. An international pop music competition, this music event attracts thousands of locals and visitors alike to the beaches of Jurmala for five days of sun, fun and serious music discoveries.
Today in the world of popular music there are an abundance of dull and uninspired singers and "here one day, gone the next" groups, but "real stars" seem to rise only rarely. Each year at New Wave, bright names, original personalities and strong voices emerge to ultimately sweep Europe. This is a competition that creates stars and is attended by hopefuls from all over the world set on catching the wave and riding it as far as it will take them.
This year, 18 singers from 13 different countries, including the United States, Russia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Israel and of course, the Baltic States, will compete for the top prize 'sthe Crystal Wave and $25,000 in cash. And with prizes of $20,000 and $15,000 respectively for second and third place, all winners walk away happy.
A competition with a serious and loyal fan base, New Wave has the same schedule each year. A participant sings a song in their native language on the very first day of the competition, then perform music of the jury's choice in the second round, and finally, a third round features songs written especially for the festival. The high profile jury, led by festival organizers and composers Igor Krutoy and Raimonds Pauls, features Valerij Meladze, Konstantin Meladze, Igor Nikolayev, Leonid Agutin, Laima Vaikule, as well as Universal Music Russia producer David Junk.
On any day in Jurmala, you can find a famous face, but this event has more than its fair share of stars; New Wave week sees a huge influx of Russian pop stars to Jurmala and fans flock to see their favorites. This year, special guests Al Di Meola, and Chris de Burg will make an appearance at New Wave and for the first time, Russian pop music legend Alla Pugacheva will present a special award to her favorite performer when she hosts the third day of the event.
In addition to the concerts, expect an overall party at New Wave. With its outstanding beaches and see-and-be-seen atmosphere, Jurmala is a great place to have a good time and this week is the highlight of the seaside resort's summer calendar.
Overall this is a prestigious event which creates stars that never forget their roots. Many of today's popular stars became known as a result of the contest in Jurmala and not surprisingly, they continue to see it as their duty to participate in the concert program year after year. This adds a lot of weight to New Wave and makes it an event worth attending.
So let's meet in Jurmala from July 27- 31 to discover new talents and watch them rise to stardom. Because nothing unites people like a new wave of music.
New Wave
Dzintari Concert Hall
Turaidas 1, Jurmala
Tickets: 5 's 70 lats
(7 's 100 euros)
For more info,
call 7762086
