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Barefoot diva Cesaria Evora to headline Svirzh festival www.openmusic.ru While the concert scene in Kyiv is always quiet in mid-summer, major musical events take place outside the capital. Two music festivals Svirzh and Slavske Rock, to be held July 31 through Aug. 2, are a great option for a weekend break.

Svirzh world music festival is taking place next to Svirzh castle, located 40 kilometers from Lviv. The festival features over 60 artists and bands performing on three stages: Main, Rock and Folk. You’ll get a chance to see and hear the biggest world music stars as well as all young and promising Ukrainian bands from all over the country.

The main headliner of the festival is Cesaria Evora – the legendary barefoot diva from Cape Verde. Evora became known worldwide, already in her 50s, when her debut album “La Diva aux Pied Nus” was released in 1988. Now, the singer still remains the most famous performer of mornas – songs about sadness, sorrow and yearning. Also the lineup includes such well-known performers as Nino Katamadze & Insight from Georgia, Zdob Shi Zdub from Moldova, German Eastblok Music DJ Team, Pelageya from Russia and Little Cow from Hungary.

Ukraine is represented by folk rock’n’roll from Ot Vinta, humor rock from Yurkesh, poetic rock from Taras Chubay & Plach Yeremiyi and Ukrainian folk rock at its best from Vopli Vidoplyasova. The festival grounds will also feature a dance floor, where you can learn African, Cuban, Indian, Oriental, Irish and Armenian dances as well as Argentinean tango, salsa, bachata and cha-cha-cha. Also expect literature readings, exhibitions and discos. Festival guests can reside in the camp on the territory.

Slavske Rock festival is annually held in Slavske village, a picturesque spot in the Carpathian Mountains. 22 bands in total will perform during the three-day festival, including a number of foreign guests. Among them are: indie band Officer I am High and Mamasweed playing alternative rock – both from Berlin, progressive rockers Screampiece from Latvia, Czerwone Gitary that were nicknamed the Polish Beatles and N.R.M. from Belarus. As for Ukrainian bands playing at Slavske, those include Plach Yeremiyi, Dalai Lama from Lviv, Pan Pupets from Ivano-Frankivsk, ethno-rockers Voanerges from Kyiv, Kolo Khmar playing art rock and others. The program also includes sport, ecological and art events.


Svirzh(Lviv Oblast), July 31-Aug. 2. Tickets from Hr 125-500 (for one day), Hr200-1,000 (for three days) www.gabri.kiev.ua

Slavske Rock (Slavske, Ivano-Frankivsk region), July 31-Aug. 2. Tickets Hr 75 for 3days. www.slavskerock.in.ua