Alright, Muscovites — phrases like "lots of snow" and "below zero" are getting ready to take over more or less permanently until spring 2014, but there are other ways to keep warm and stay positive! There are dinners with friends, fireplaces, hot toddies and great concerts, of course! And this weekend is no exception because there are some great shows lined up in our fair capital. All you have to do is pick the one you want to see the most and head on over. So listen up, because I've got all the info you need!
Friday is a day I'm very much looking forward to because The Subways are in town, and I can't wait to go see them live. This British alternative/indie rock band burst onto the music scene in 2004 with their first album, called Young For Eternity, which charted well, sold well and generally gave The Subways the recognition they deserved. But my favorite story about this band is actually about how they got their first big break. The trio had set up a small studio in the kitchen of one of their parents' houses, and one day they got a call from some friends asking for help in recording a demo song to send to Glastonbury Festival. That was the year Glastonbury held a contest for unsigned bands, and the winning performer would get to play at the festival. So The Subways decided to try their luck, and what do you know, a few weeks after they sent their track in, they got a call from the organizers saying they'd won. They rocked Glastonbury and have been on a roll ever since, so don't miss their concert! The Subways are playing Arena Moscow on Friday, and the show starts at 8 pm.
Saturday, as always, is clubbers' day, so if that's your scene your choices are limitless. Arma 17 is opening its doors to all fans of trance and house music, and the Manifest Club is hosting one of the most famous names in trip-hop and abstract hip-hop Teebs from California. But if you want something a bit different, then I'd suggest you go check out Boombox at Izvestia Hall. Boombox are a funky groove band from Ukraine, known for their quirky beats and fun lyrics, and they're definitely worth a visit. It was founded by two friends back in 2004, and their first tracks were actually burned by the guys themselves and just handed out to people they knew. Since then, however, they've become very popular and have just released their 6th album, called Terminal B. They sing in Russian, English and Ukrainian, and the atmosphere at their gigs is always incredibly positive and fun, so go and see these guys perform! They're taking to the stage at Izvestia Hall at 8 pm this Saturday.
I don't know about you, but I like Sunday concerts. The positive energy of a great live performance stays with you and makes Monday that much better, so I'm all for them. And this Sunday's show is going to be a good one as well because Yoav is in town! Born in Israel and raised in South Africa, this multitalented singer-songwriter is bringing his music to Moscow. He was here earlier this year, touring in support of his latest album Blood Vine, but Yoav is incredibly popular in Russia, so he decided to delight his fans with another show. One of the most amazing things about this performer is that all he takes onstage is his voice and an acoustic guitar, which he uses to create his signature electronica-style beats. Since Yoav's critically acclaimed debut album "Charmed and Strange" was released back in 2008, he has sold out headline shows in Canada, the United States and Europe. He also toured with Tori Amos and Katie Melua, so this man definitely knows what he's doing. Don't miss his concert at Moscow Hall this Sunday, Nov. 17. The show starts at 8 pm and tickets start at 1,400 rubles, so book them now and enjoy the concert!
As you can probably tell, I personally am very excited about this weekend because even though each week I hand-pick the concerts I tell you about, this week it feels as though they've been tailored to my taste, so I'm looking forward to it and you should be as well! So let's all enjoy it and see what next week will bring us!
Katerina Azarova is a radio host at Moscow FM 105.2, Moscow's English-language radio station.
Contact the author at artsreporter@imedia.ru
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