Riga may not be the biggest of cities, but it certainly has its share of decent events. The fourth Rigas Ritmi festival (Riga Rhythms) runs from June 30 to July 4 at a variety of venues around the city and is a wonderful celebration of rhythm, in all its many musical forms. From reggae to contemporary jazz, from soul to bossa nova, Rigas Ritmi has an impressively diverse line-up of acts.
You have to admire the dedication of the festival organizers in attracting top performers without being motivated by a hefty payoff. Award - winning acoustic guitarist Antonio Forcione, who is considered one of the most charismatic and inventive performers to come out of Europe in recent years, is among the top names performing. He breaks the mould with his guitar whether he's performing in the field of jazz, Spanish, African or Brazilian music or whether he's simply jamming. The young British/Malawian musician called Malia is a crazy mixture of timeless classicism and up-to-the-minute modernity. And then there's the splendid musical mind of the Marc Isaacs Trio and Britain's finest big band, Jazz Jamaica Allstars. These are just a few of the riveting performers you'll be able to see at this year's festival. This year's concert venues are going to be Kalku Varti, Congress Hall, Spalvas pa Gaisu, as well as various open-air performances around the city and the Sony Jazz Cruise along the Daugava River. For more info visit www.rigasritmi.lv
