Folklore? What's so special in it?

One folklore ensemble in Latvia, who are celebrating their 60 years anniversary the next year and has poor online presence, kindly asked me to make for them a simple blog, so they could announce their news and also put online the history of the ensemble online. For every work you do there is some music that can help you, and, of course, today my music was Latvian folklore, post folk and sounds of Latvian traditional music instruments. I simply can't avoid telling you about Latvian relationship with folklore, although take in account that I'm talking from a very subjective perspective.

First of all, acquaint yourself with traditional Latvian music instrument called 'kokle' in this nice piece of music by Latvian musician Laima Jansone (I'm a little bit in love with this music): 

I'm pretty confident to affirm that every Latvian has danced traditional dances and sung folk songs. It is everywhere here starting from the kindergarten. We are proud of our traditions and old folk songs. While there are many people "fighting" for preserving our traditions, especially because there aren't that many Latvians (ehmm... 2 million people?), our traditional culture and old traditions really are ALIVE comparing to other European countries! Latvians at all ages are passionately dancing traditional dances, voluntarily involving into folklore ensembles, learning traditions from elders and creating modern improvisations based on the elements of traditional music and choreography.  Of course, our post-folk and folk-rock is loved among Latvian youngsters. 

I have also heard that there isn't more superstitious nation in Europe than Latvians. Ok, we can argue about it, but, of course, we know that if you put your keys on the table or pour out salt there will be argument at that home, if a fork or knife falls on the floor you will have guests, if you put your hat on the table your head will hurt, if at the dinner table you sit on the corner that means 7 years you will not get married and... and the list of small things that are part of our daily lives goes on... Different beliefs coming from different parts of Latvia.

Once per 5 year huge song and dance festival (included in the UNESCO world heritage site) brings together people from the entire country in Riga to sing and dance together (read here) and Midsummer's night every year makes everyone to remember at least some of our traditions (read here).

What's so special about folklore in our daily lives? I don't think I can describe it so easily... The words of strength, solace and happiness - that's in Latvian folk songs. Philosophy, natural rules, the art of living - that's what we find there. That's true - you have to know something about it and look into symbols to be able to read that all... We have incantations and spells in our folk songs. Here you are allowed to laugh at me, but, for example, there is a folk song that you have to sing to scare away the rain - more people are singing it, more powerful these words are, and I've checked it. It worked.

The problem of folklore not living into everyone's life is pretty simple - we live in cities, we are getting away from the nature and the rhythm of life that is actual for rural people doesn't find its' place in cities. And here is what keeps the traditions alive, makes people interested in them and helps people to understand the treasure of folklore - musicians (and other artists & performers) who are able to make folklore attractive for modern people.

Check these:

If you are interested in folklore and traditional culture and it happens that you are coming to Riga, here is what you should visit (main places, but not the only):

• Latvian Etnographic Open-Air Museum - one of the oldest and largest open-air museums in Europe with over 100 historical buildings, permanent and temporary exhibitions and festivities that honor Latvian traditional culture.

• Sena Klēts - traditional costume center (it's like exhibition & shop) right in the heart of Riga (at the Old Town, near the Town hall square, Rātsalukums 1)

• Folk-club "Ala" - great place for your evenings and nights (read here)

Summer Festival You Deserve

Your friend in Riga last months has been pretty lazy on this blog... Let me apologize for this silence. But of course I have excuses, everyone has excuses for everything - for not traveling, not eating healthy and even for not having fun. 

Summer in Latvia is in it's peak. The streets of Riga today are almost melting and beaches are crowded. Every weekend comes with festivals outside Riga, music and beer seems to rule the world. From folklore festivals to entertainment for mainstream lovers - whatever your heart is longing for. Folklore festival Baltica 2012 has already left the streets of Riga, one of the coolest Latvian festivals Positivus in Salacgrīva (with 25 000 visitors), Fonofest close to Cēsis and others are behind... But some festivals are still in front of us: my summer festival vote goes for LabaDaba - international music festival on August 3-5 (2012). Friendly and positive festival with the name that could be translated as "Good Nature". That's what the organizers say on their website about the festival: 

"LABADABA would like recall that the world is colorful, hospitable and free.

LABADABA – for people who make the world turn around!"

This festival has something to do with Nabaklab (located at the Old Town) and something to do with the only non-commercial radio station in Latvia - University of Latvia radio "Naba". Yap, these are the same hands and brains working also on this festival. No pop-music there. On the menu of this festival is reggae, etno-folk, rock, electro... - pretty interesting music to enjoy on five stages - Bear's stage (that's the main stage), Dog's stage (barn), Hedgehog's stage (world, reggae, folk), Raven's aerie (electro, Dj) and Chillout stage ”Green owl’s lair”. I guess for many visitors the most waited performers are Chinawoman from Canada, but this definitely is not the only interesting band you will meet there - Spiritual Seasons from Ukraine, Dub Syndicte from Jamaica, Bombillaz from Estonia, Clubroot from Great Britain, Skafandr from Russia, Adolescents from USA, Dr. Ring Ding from Germay and the list goes on. From the huge list of Latvian performers there are some you definitely have to see - Auļi, Iļģi and Dzelzs Vilks with their folk, post-folk and folk rock programs are truly amazing! 

Besides the music many other activities are waiting for you there - geocaching,  bathhouse (sauna), different creative workshops, getting henna tattoos, a tent for curious people, kindergarten, cosmic swing, mail art exposition, cinema house, different sports, discussions, yoga, theatre and the list goes on...

After a long period of non-stop work I think I deserve it and if you are in Latvia on that weekend, you have to check out their website now to make the right decision: LABADABA.lv

Where Locals Have Fun III

Time to get to know other places where locals are having fun, in other words - places for your evenings and nights in Riga. Previously I took you to "Pulkvedis", "Greenwood", "Nabaklab", "Leningrad" and "Shot Cafe".

If "Pulkvedis" is a place with 16 years experience in making people to dance, then here is one other place with huge experience  - "Cuba Cafe" - coctail bar in the heart of the Old Town, on the same street with other bars like Spot Cafe and Greenwood next to the Dome Square. "Cuba" cafe doesn't give you a huge dancing place, but still - their DJs will make you to move. Quite romantic place, often filled (or really crowded) with tourists and locals. Kind of a place for tequila and heating the dance floor. 

One of newest most interesting places in Riga Old Town is folk club "Ala" on Smilšu street, close to the Powder Tower (War Museum). This place takes people in the journey around the world: folk bands from around the world are performing here, and when there is no foreign artists, you will be invited to join joyfull Latvian folk dances. This place in the basement is really charming - the first and only traditional music bar in Latvia. Dancing evenings are great here: you can watch traditional Latvian dances and get into the dancing like Latvian. If you are in Riga, I hope you will get there in one of these dancing evenings. 

Where Locals Have Fun I
Where Locals Have Fun II

Are you ready to kick your mind out of the comfort zone?

That's true - if in summer Riga is the capital of hot non-stop parties, in autumn the face of the city is different. All these parties are stilll here, and maybe even more, but in facial expressions the city is different. It's getting cold and dark. Days are short. Rain. That's a perfect place for autumns depression... Riga is using this dark, uncomfortable season to make you even more uncomfortable: modern arts are taking over the streets and buildings of Riga. You will be surprised, excited, upset and more. One of these events every autumn in Riga is SOUND FOREST - Adventurous Music and Film Festival.

‘Sound Forest’ (Skaņu Mežs) is music festival which plays not only with your ears, but mostly with mind. The first Sound Forest was organized in 2003 to show the latest activities in the world of music and this is also a provocation for new angles in music. The artists in Sound Forest are surprising, boring, shocking, incomprehensible... These are brave artists from all over the world - the future of music – the music for which we are probably not ready yet.  Sound Forest 2011 will be in Riga on 16^th – 17^th of September.

The organizers of the festival say, they are doing it to “knock the mind out of the comfortable and dull "reality" to remind you of an alternative”. Isn't that what we need to keep as moving? Aren't we too comfortable with our own complaining and our own brainwashed opinions? Aren't we too much into "realities" which we have  artificially built in our minds?

Other events every autumn in Riga which make you "to step out of the box":  Riga is going to take you away to the magical world of arts and dreams this autumn