TALLINN - When the greatest problems that a person has to deal with are his math homework or finding the money to top up the credit on his cell phone, then chances are he's a fan of that enormous industry known as mainstream pop music.
This is just the kind of audience that will probably fill out Tallinn's Saku Suurhall for the seven-hour Samsung Hit Arena international music festival on April 10.
But who knows? Perhaps the concert will be of some interest for the not-so-old parents who sometimes find themselves tapping their feet along to the never-ending stream of pop music that dribbles out of the local infotainment radio, and who can at least vaguely remember the name of Britney's latest hit (by the way, was it "Oops, I'm Not a Girl Again" or "My Silicone is Toxic")?
Sylver, a dance music duo from Belgium, will be the main foreign guest at the event. Popular at home, as well as in Holland and Germany, the duo of club DJ Wout Van Dessel and charming young singer Silvy De Bie will be playing a selection of hits from their two albums.
Chalice, the one and only jazzy hip-hop artist from Estonia, who recently received widespread publicity after winning prizes at the Estonian Music Awards, is one of the most heavyweight performers in the line-up. Well, at least for the younger part of the audience. Older members of the audience will be more familiar with Terminaator, a rock band which was around while Jarek Kasar (aka Chalice) was busy learning his times tables at primary school.
However, Terminaator's sound has mellowed in recent years which has given the band access to local radio and TV, and so made it better known to teenagers.
The line-up of Estonian bands and artists also features 17-year-old Bjork-obsessed singer Kerli, popular boy band Soul Militia, Estonia's first beat-box crew, Dynamic Tongues, and the dance groups Dancing Machine, Semiir and Submission.
Estonia's Baltic neighbors will be represented by Mantas, the rising Lithuanian pop-rock star, and former lead-singer and guitar player of La Vita boy band. Although his first album is yet to be released he is already quite popular among 16 - 25-year-olds, thanks to his single "Natural Blond Girl." Mantas performs songs in English written by Vaiko Eplik, front man of last year's Estonian Eurovision band Ruffus, so there's no need to bring a dictionary along.
The festival organizers will also offer the audience the chance to witness the creative process of the biggest piece of graffiti in the country (it will cover a 25-meter-high wall). This gigantic masterpiece of street art will depict the five elements of hip-hop that are DJ, MC, beatbox, breakdance and graffiti and will be created by SEK, CNP, RGF, SON and NGA graffiti crews. Interesting. Very, very interesting. o
Samsung Hit Arena
music festival,
Saku Suurhall,
104b Paldiski Rd., Tallinn.
April 10, from 3 p.m.
to 10 p.m.
Tickets 11 euros until April 9, and 12 euros on the day
Available at Piletilevi
