It's finally the first of several holiday weekends in Russia, and many Muscovites and expats are leaving the city to go to warmer places or see their relatives. But if you are staying behind, there are lots of ways to enjoy music and holiday spirit.
A real Christmas gift for all live music fans is the reopening of the Masterskaya club, at a new venue. When Masterskaya closed last March, half of Moscow's bohemians showed up to say goodbye. It was practically impossible to wiggle your way to the bar let alone get a drink, and the spacious courtyard on Teatralny proezd was crammed with people. Masterskaya's Varya Turova teamed up with Artyom Dyortyev, former art director of Artefaq café, another live venue closed last spring — a victim of rising rents in the city center. The new Masterskaya will be smaller, there will be no separate space for theater performances, but the atmosphere will be just as joyous.
If the closing of the old Masterskaya was a two-day affair, the opening of the new one will be a three-day one, this Thursday through Saturday. Different entertainment programs are scheduled for each of the days, with a mix of live acts and DJs. Live acts will include alternative girl band Young Adults, Vasiliy Zorky, famous for his songs used in soundtracks of popular TV shows; including Ozabochennie (Obsessed) and Vremenno Nedostupen (Currently Unavailable); Sirotkin, who just won Best New Act Award at Jagermeister Indie Music Awards; Artemiev — the remainder of once popular boys band Korni turned indie pop star; Mosbras – one of the best live jazz acts in the city and many, many others.
Masterskaya. 4 Ulitsa Pushechnaya. Metro Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya. Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m.
Kira Lao will give a very unusual concert on Thursday night. A winner of the Artem Troitsky's Steppenwolfe award, Kira Lao is known for her indie rock and post punk songs both in English and Russian. This time Kira will be playing a very special solo concert at the GROUND Khodynka gallery. Kira will be playing piano music composed specifically to accompany 1915 Russian silent movie "Deti veka" (Children of the Century) where Vera Kholodnaya plays the leading role. Kira also promises to perform a couple of her new songs.
GROUND Gallery Khodynka. 2 Ulitsa Iriny Levchenko. Metro Oktyabrskoye Pole. Thurs. at 8 p.m.
Mana Island, a cheery indie pop band, will play on Friday night at 16 Tons. Their music is similar to other English language bands on the Moscow scene, such as Pompeya and On-the-Go, and they are quickly gaining popularity. BTsKh, a group that performs neo R'n'B to poems by such Russian greats as Yesenin, will open for Mana Island.
16 Tons. 6/1 Ulitsa Presnensky Val. Metro 1905 Goda. Fri.at 11 p.m.
If you are into dance music, don't miss the last future pop party "Tantspol" (Dancefloor) at the Powerhouse this Saturday. This time it will be Star Wars themed, so come dressed as a droid or a storm trooper and dance till dawn.
Dewar's Powerhouse. 7/4 Ultisa Goncharnaya. Metro Taganskaya, Markistskaya. Sat. at 11 p.m.
Contact the author at artsreporter@imedia.ru
