It’s been an amazing week and I hope you’re ready for an even better weekend, because as always, Moscow is ready to party! There have been — and still will be — lots of Halloween parties across the city, but if you’ve finally wiped off your zombie makeup and are all partied out, there is still plenty to do. Moscow is playing host to not one, but two amazing French performers, and if that’s not your thing, there are plenty of other concerts for you to enjoy, so let’s get right to it.
The place to be on Friday night is the Olimpiisky sports complex, because that’s where the legendary Mylene Farmer will be performing. Originally from Quebec, Mylene moved to Paris when she was a little girl and has since been one of the most successful recording artists in France. She’s sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, so don’t let her age fool you — even at 52, she still puts on an incredible show and her voice is as mesmerizing as ever. This tour, called Timeless 2013, is actually in support of her latest album, cheekily titled Monkey and Me, which was released in December 2012. And just to give you an idea of how popular Mylene Farmer still is, more than 200,000 tickets for her tour were sold on the very first day. This isn’t her first visit to Moscow and her concerts are very popular, so if you like her quirky style, hurry up and get those tickets — unless you want to be the odd one out, hearing about how great the show was from your friends!
Saturday is easily the most varied night in the city, when you are almost guaranteed to find something to your taste. If it’s drum ’n’ bass you’re after, head on over to Solyanka; for techno beats, stop by Arma 17 and for some great hip-hop all the way from Detroit, the place to be is 16 Tons. But if you’re not in the mood for dancing, then I suggest heading over to GlavClub, because that’s where These New Puritans will be performing. This trio from Britain started out playing very unconventional post-punk beats but have continuously evolved and are now bringing some of their new sound, from their latest album, “Field of Reeds,” to town. Some critics are calling their new album “neoclassic pop with an academic twist” and it’s definitely intriguing enough to go and watch These New Puritans perform. The concert kicks off at 8 p.m. and tickets start at 1,200 rubles.
From Britain, we’ll be moving back to France, closing out the weekend at Crocus City Hall with none other than Isabelle Geffroy. Who is that, you might ask? Well, here’s a hint: You probably know her by her stage name, Zaz. That’s right, ladies and gents, the acclaimed French singer who tore onto the music scene with her now-multi-platinum single “Je Veux” is performing here on Sunday night, so don’t miss your chance to hear her live! Zaz is easily recognized by her fusion of jazz and chanson with a sprinkle of French variety and a touch of soul, and it’s that mix that made her the most popular concert artist in France back in 2010. She’s currently on tour supporting her second studio album, “Recto Verso.” Rumor has it that she’s been asked to represent France at the 2014 Eurovision contest, too. The singer herself has yet to confirm, but if she does, chances of a French win are high. If you want to see her in Moscow, however, be prepared to pay: Tickets start at 1500 rubles, and you can get them on the Crocus City Hall website. The concert kicks off at 7 p.m. sharp, so don’t be late, and brush up on your French, too — singing along always makes a concert that much more special!
Winter may be just around the corner, but fear not, we’ll fight it off with some amazing tunes. As you can see, there is plenty to do in Moscow this and almost every other weekend. The city that never sleeps has always got something amazing up its sleeve. All that’s left for me to do is point you in the right direction and hope you have a fantastic time!
Katerina Azarova is a radio host at Moscow FM 105.2, Moscow's English-language radio station.
Contact the author at artsreporter@imedia.ru
