EVENTS IN JULY 2019. A useful shortlist.

One could most likely be at the beach right now. Or on a vacation. Or at the countryside. After all, when France has its heat records destroyed - it only begins to feel like Riviera here in Latvia. Therefore July is the month of festivals, open air events and music, music, music everywhere. This July particularly will provide a great event menu for those loving alternatives and going off the pop culture rails in Riga.


EURO FEMMES
 capital r riga blog
When: until 14 July
Where: Arsenāls
How much:
"Euro Femmes is a group show with the young generation of six Latvian and international feminist artists: Elīna Brasliņa, Vivianna Maria Stanislavska, Mētra Saberova, Daria Blum, Kirstin Barnes, and Camila Gonzalez Corea.The chosen artists deal with the broad spectre of feminist topics that the Latvian society finds hard to realize on their own, still battling through the notions of traditional a.k.a. discriminating perceptions of gender and sexuality. Next to that, the works of the young artists from Latvia showcase that patriarchy does not stop feminism from blooming in our own back garden."
Web

the UTOPIANIST
 capital r riga blog
When: 3 July
Where: Tu jau zini kur (entrance from Tallinas 10)
How much: free
A pianist from St. Petersburg Araik Vietinghoff travels around for improvised music concerts and asks local musicians to join him on stage. "Advocating pop/rock and electronic music patterns in his piano works and improvisations, Araik will be accompanied by Jacques B.G. (a.k.a. Jacques of S'T'A - musician, producer, guitarist, bassist, mostly known by his 20 year-long work in Hip-Hop genre), and by Adrians Grīns – multi-instrumentalist with percussion instruments as his speciality."

UN/GREEN
capital r riga blog
When: 4 - 6 July; until 22 September
Where: Latvijas Nacionālās mākslas muzejs
How much:
"This annual festival curated by RIXC New media culture centre aims at complicating the pervasively employed notion of “green” by providing a cross-disciplinary platform for discussions and artistic interventions exploring one of the most paradoxical and broadest topics of our times. The Festival features the “Un/Green” exhibition at the Latvian National Museum of Art, and the 4th Open Fields Conference (4 - 6 July) which aims to ‘un-green' greenness, eco-systemically reconnect post-human postures, and discover and unpack ‘Naturally Artificial Intelligences.’"
Web

LABRYS
capital r riga blog
 
When: 4 July
Where: Tu jau zini kur (enntrance from Tallinas 10)
How much:
"“Labrys” is a well received, immersible, geometrical dance performance that can be compared to a labyrinth: a place in which one can get lost even if the organisation seems clear. Movement trajectories as well as sound of “Labrys” resemble live tracery simultaneously emerging in space and vanishing. In “Labrys” like in their previous performances, creators try to find ways for art to be experienced from within. This time performers move around the seated audience, in turn, audience members turn around their axis and consequently all mentioned participate in both: observing as well as creating choreography."

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY
capital r riga blog
When: 8 July
Where: Melnā piektdiena
How much: €€
Corrosion of Conformity is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982. The band started as a hardcore punk band but later moved towards a slower, more melodic and blues-tinged heavy metal sound. Today the music Corrosion of Conformity creates might be more of heavy rock identified closer to Motorhead's feels. This is the first time for them in Riga!

LAIKA SUNS
capital r riga blog
When: 11 July
Where: NOASS
How much:
Although having no lyrics in English, the music by "Time Dog" (also a word game of Laika dog - the first animal to orbit the Earth) speaks a universal language. Each member holds their own separate history of Latvian indie rock scene that spans over several decades, thus creating a refined, energetic and utterly perfect sound and voice. If there is a truly Latvian band that has a tune comprehensive to the world, Laika Suns can provide it with all the seriousness and devotion.

MINISTRY + DYING FETUS
capital r riga blog
When: 15 July
Where: Melnā piektdiena
How much: €€€€
Like it or not, but without the industrial music pioneers Ministry there would be a different sound to grands like Marilyn Manson, Rammstein, Nine Inch Nails, and other industrial, metal, rock and experimental genre founders. Now, the legendary heavy music band is out from their hiatus and stopping by in Riga for a first time, and is warmed up by another, way more heavier name - Dying Fetus. This is definitely not music for a fragile and sensitive taste!

RIGA JURMALA MUSIC FESTIVAL
capital r riga blog
When: 19 - 21 July; also in August
Where: various locations
How much: €€ - €€€€€+
"The new Riga Jurmala Music Festival 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 (starting with a first in July) there will be several grandiose symphony orchestra concerts, solo concerts and morning performances featuring rising musical stars. The goal of the festival is to become one of the world’s greatest classical music events, offering Latvian music lovers an opportunity to hear dazzling performers and unforgettable repertoire."
Web

AUGam
capital r riga blog
When: 20 July
Where: Tallinas ielas kvartāls
How much: free
"AUGam a plant-based food festival with more than 20 vendors that will offer various vegan dishes throughout the day. Taking place in the now emerging suburban culture quarters between Tallinas and Miera streets, the festival will offer Cakes, muffins, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, pancakes, smoothies, ice-cream... - everything plant-based you've ever wanted to try out."
 
KOMĒTA FESTIVAL
capital r riga blog
When: 26 - 28 July
Where: Daugavgrīva fortress
How much: €€€€
"Kometa is an open-air culture and music festival taking place on the island of Daugavgriva Fortress in Riga. With live music performances from every corner of the Earth as well as DJ sets, contemporary circus, cinema, workshops, lectures, exhibitions and performances, Kometa is a unique and vibrant three-day event that embraces diversity and leaves long-term traces in its participants, by inviting and encouraging to practice freedom to think, choose, connect, create and participate. Freedom from advertisements, slogans or hidden agendas. Freedom to transform. Kometa is a cosmic culture festival which shows that music, art and humans coexist in harmony with one another and Mother Earth.
On Sundays, the festival is traditionally open free of charge to all."
Web

MORE INFO
Out of Riga: there are also several larger events taking place in July you could be very much interested in. Also because all of them cover a slightly different audience:
  • Kartupeļpalma - a very enjoyable music festival of Latvian indie music scene at the National Botanical garden of Latvia in Salaspils. Takes place during blooming period of a Potato Palm, hence the name;
  • Cēsu mākslas festivāls - the biggest rural art festival in the Baltics (probably) opening this July again in Cēsis 
  • Dabas Koncertzāle - two events of the "Nature Concert Hall" taking place in Skrīveri and Līgatne. Each year the event with concerts, lectures and installations is dedicated to one specific species;
  • Positivus festival - the biggest (still) act in the Baltic states, Positivus festival will again take place in Salacgriva seashore town for more than 10 years.
  • Sand sculpture park - an annual event in Jelgava for sand castle lovers that expand that love with enormous sized and variated sculptures
  • Bonnie Tyler -  yes, yes, she's alive and kicking! Taking place at Dzintari concert hall she will most likely perform a gig with all the top hits to an audience that has never seen her perform in their lives. Simply the best, people!
What else: for a beach trip we still suggest Vecāķi or Kalngale right outside of Riga. The former is with beautiful housing, yet overpopulated, the latter is a bit further (25 mins by train is mos def not a long ride!), but very distant and rural.

NB: take precautions as you evaluate the heat. It might intensify around this month.

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