• Russian Winter Festival Afterparty at Movida!

  Eventica and Movida host Russian Winter Festival: Afterparty 2008! with the Artists Mixed by Dyagilev Resident DJ Lupin
  Must RSVP Tables/List 07748902272 eli@movida-club.com
  Sunday 13 January, 10:30pm - 3am-morning, £15 Entry
  8-9 Argyll St Mayfair W1
  www.movida-club.com

• Movida and Eventica have invited DJ Lupin to perform at the Russian Winter Festival!

  DJ Lupin is from the infamous Dyagilev Club - Moscow's most legendary venue. He also holds residencies in some of Moscow's most renowned spots, including Jazz Cafe, the Ministry and Rai Project, and has also featured at Movida in London. Having started his DJ career in 1996 at then infamous Moscow afterhours club The Treasure Island, DJ Lupin has become a frequent guest DJ at Kare(Ment) & Jimmy*Z (Monte Carlo) & V.I.P. Room (St. Tropez) and has played with the likes of Armand Van Helden, Danny Tenaglia, Bob Sinclar, Tim Paris among many others. He has gained an excellent reputation while performing in a true glamorous and hedonistic style. Today DJ Lupin travels with numerous gigs around Russia and Europe as well as holding monthly residencies at Fabrique in Moscow & Arena in St. Petersburg, and a weekly radio show on Moscow's Megapolis 89,5FM radio station.

• Group Alisa joins the party!

  Alisa, the legendary Russian rock band founded in 1983 in Leningrad (aka Saint Petersburg), like many of its contemporaries of the Leningrad rock scene, was fiercely opposed by the Soviet authorities for its open expression of life at the time and the problems of the era. However, as the group grew, it attracted a vast following of rock lovers and its concerts commanded so great a presence that they sold out each time.  The businessman behind Alisa, Konstantin Kinchev, has made it a priority constantly to maintain the band’s high level of morality, spirituality and justice and to this day thousands of fans still enjoy the fruits of his labour. Alisa’s creativity is anchored in an open dialogue with the audience about contemporary reality.

• Cuba in Great Britain!

  The group was born in 2004 on “Star factory “ project. The songs of the duet of two girls - Anna Kulikova and Alexandra Balakireva are very positive, energetic and adored by Russian young people.

• Mark Tishman – winner of the Russian X-Factor – Star Factory project

  All fans of Russian  reality show “Star factory” know the name of Mark Tishman very well! After he became one of the winner of the project recently his plans inculde integration into the Russian show biz to keep the status of the famous Russian pop artist. Mark will perform at such a big public event for the first time and it is a real chance to prove to the audience what it is like to be a winner of a “Star factory”.

• RWF media partner European Media Group brings Russia’s own Pop Idols to London!

  Fabrika – the Russian pop group formed during the making of the popular Russian show Star Factory, and winner of second place, has performed to date more than 200 concerts. Unlike many girl groups before them, Fabrika shows no sign of disbanding. On the contrary their song “For Love” stayed for 26 weeks in the charts and has undeniably won the hearts of many a pop fan. Their performance at the Russian Winter Festival promises a vibrant compilation of both new and older group hits. Igor Matvienko, produces the group.

• The Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography brings the group Slavyanye to the Russian Winter Festival 2008.

  Slavyanye - a professional folk group with original and cheerful concert programme - although still young, is already well known by Russian as well as foreign audiences. The group’s repertoire includes all genres of Russian folk music, from lengthy ballads to traditional rounds, dance melodies to modern Russian folk. Slavyanye’s stage productions are very colourful and festive, utilising bright and intricate costumes. They use instruments such as the garmoshka, the accordion, spoons, treshchotka and tambourine, a combination of which gives their music a very special and distinctive sound.

• From Siberia to Britain’s capital… The Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography invites Baikal to Trafalgar Square.

  The Buryat National Ensemble Baikal, comprising of a 24-person dance group and 15-person singing group, keeps alive the traditions of Buryat culture, language and tradition. Thanks to the Baikal Foundation that was opened in 2003 to sustain and develop Buryat culture and to provide support for its young people, Buryatia lays claim to initiatives ranging across a number of sectors; culture (singing, dancing, children’s studies and music recording); sport (volleyball and football); information (website, publishing and press service) and legal (support and aid). The Buryat National Ensemble Baikal is just one of the many examples of opportunities provided by the Foundation for its members to re-invest in this rich and ancient culture of exquisite international interest.

• Loved and recognised Russian Folk artist, Lyudmila Ryumina, comes to London.

  Born in Voronezh, and graduated from art school, Lyudmila Ryumina first worked as a designer. At the age of 18, Lyudmila joined the music group “Voronezhskiye Devchata” as a native Russian folk singer. She has continued her education under a number of great Russian masters and still today trains her premier instrument – her voice, under the guidance of Elena Nikolayevna Noskova. Ryumina has a good command not only of a folk music but also of classical vocals. The combination of these two techniques renders an original and exquisite folk sound that never ceases to make a deep emotional impression on her listeners. Lyudmila has won the stature of Honored Artist of Russia for her drive, and is admired throughout Russia and abroad by a varied audience for the sense of performance, stage direction and dramatic experience that she brings to Russian folk music.  She sings romances, chamber and classical music, and opera with many of her songs born in cooperation with well known poets and composers. Her music reveals a deep understanding of folk traditions and old customs from all over Russia, including reminiscent tones from urban, wedding, military, Cossack and pagan music, from lamentations and other native art forms. Lyudmila Ryumina is also known for her charity work for which she received a special prize from the Major of Moscow and for her willingness to appear in aid of a range of good causes including performances in Russia’s less peaceful areas. In October 1999, Lyudmila opened a Moscow Cultural Centre with a support of Yuri Luzhkov, the Major of Moscow and Valery Shantsev, Deputy-Major, of which she now holds the role of Art Director. In this venue multinational festivals and concerts of professional creative folk groups are held. Lyudmila also organises numerous theatrical programmes for children including New Year and other performances in the famed Christ-the-Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, believing in the need to preserve integrity and soul in a country that risks spiritual desolation in the rise of consumerism.

• Festival Favorite Dima Bilan returns for another year, thanks to the RWF’s media partner European Media Group.

  Genuine Russian pop fans will be delighted at the news that thanks to popular demand Dima Bilan will once again be headlining at the Russian Winter Festival. Undoubtedly a Show Business Personality of incredible appeal, Dima Bilan has been busy over the last year. With 3 albums that sold off the shelf and history as MTVs Best Performer of the Year and Best Artist, not to mention an award winner at several prestigious international music awards and a recognizable voice for international film voiceovers, Dima has just finished filming  “The kingdom of Distorting Mirrors”.  This New Year musical, directed by Alexander Igudin, will air on December 31 on the TV channel Rossia. The musical is based on the film of the same name by Alexander Row, although the plot differs somewhat in its parody of Russian show business. Dima plays a lead role in the musical – Gurd, alongside other famous names of Russian stage and screen Alla Pugachieva, Philipp Kirkorov, Lolita, Kristina Orbakaite, Soso Pavliashvily and Natasha Korolieva.

• Varvara comes to London

  With a name that translates to mean either loosely Barbara or from the ancient Greek - female barbarian, it may come as a surprise for the audience of Trafalgar Square to see the slim, somewhat fragile and smiling female artist who will appear on stage in a blaze of theatrical charisma. Immediately she opens her mouth, the festival crowds will be rooted to the spot, in awe of the power and beauty of this young creature’s vocal prowess. So captivating is Varvara’s talent that her numerous fans cannot help but sing along with their eyes glued to the young musician who has caused such a stir across Russia with her unique inspiration, her energy and ability to manipulate and control not only her music, but also almost time and space. Hers is a spiritual radiance, a musical format that does not slot easily into any traditional music category. Varvara’s is a style beyond contemporary notions of ‘rock’ or ‘pop’, with compositions that seem to encompass all musical fields with their alternative and symphonic tones. She combines the ethnicity of northern Europe with eastern melody, electronic pop with new age sounds, as she seemingly struggles to find the organic sound that appeals the world over. For this her name is apt – she is indeed the ‘outsider’ that the term ‘barbarian’ in its origin sought to express. For Varvara stands out amongst her peers as a Russian sound that finally is mature enough to take the more established global music markets by storm.

• Vocal Trio Relikt to resound in London

  The vocal trio Relikt was masterminded within the walls of the Moscow State University in 1986, by three students of musical theatre and stage craft. Their goal was to promote Russian music and vocals by way of a highly talented male trio. Their first concert was held in Moscow on March 1987, and by January 1988, their fame was already spreading under the name Relikt (literally relic). Relikt worked for many years with the outstanding vocal harmonist Boris Shlyakhter. Their varied repertoire includes Russian folk, ancient romances, military, chamber and classical music and songs especially written for the trio. Many of their songs are sung a cappella, all observing a deep respect, love for and understanding of national cultural and artistic traditions, and with spiritual sincerity and fine taste carefully reflected in the group’s Russian manner of enunciation and melody.

  Relikt has appeared at festivals, concerts and competitions at home and abroad. On tour they have played more than 40 countries including Switzerland, South Korea, Greece, Israel, Italy, Spain, China, Thailand, Algeria, Mongolia, Croatia, Portugal, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Azerbaijan. They have released 8 singles and are recorded on a further 9 compilation albums. They have taken part in numerous televised proms and helped in the launch of Russia’s television channel ‘Kultura’ (Culture), as well as playing concerts for war veterans and working with many professional orchestras, collectives, dance troupes and solo artists. Relikt has received Official Letters of Appreciation from the Russian President, from the DUMA, the Moscow Patriarch and the Russian Government, as well as from Heads of State of many Russian Republics and Regions.
• Shtars to perform

  Shtar, formed in 1994 by a group of 4 school leavers, is taken form the word meaning ‘four’ in gypsy Romany. Shtar of today however consists of 7 members, although the name was never changed due to the luck the band believes it to herald.  
  According to the group themselves, the musical style of the Shtar is hard to quantify. A mix of jazz, rock, flamenco and Latin-American combines with Russian gypsy music to create a unique and wholly unusual sound. Gypsy mysticism and flamenco passion combust on stage and the unfettered performance and energetic abandon of the group are key to Shtar’s success.
  Shtar’s first album was recorded in the same studio in which the world renowned Alla Pugacheva was working. Having heard a few of their songs, Alla immediately invited the group to film for ‘Christmas meetings’. Since then, they have received numerous invitations to Alla’s concerts, presentations and parties and have enjoyed the patronage of great Russian performers such as Iosif Kobzon, Alexander Rosenbaum and Boris Krasnov. Autumn 1994 saw the group’s first solo concert in one of Russia’s most prestigious venues – the concert hall ‘Rossia’. This was a daring step given that Shtar was at this point no household name, but this concert acted as the group’s launch pad to stardom, thanks to the presence of Boris Zosimov, the head of Polygram who signed them to the record label.
  The group’s first album ‘Yeyo Glaza’ (Her Eyes) was recorded in just 96 hours and included numbers that had been worked and reworked during the group’s concerts for the past year – largely gypsy dance pieces sung in Romany. All musical instruments were added as live recordings – a fact greatly appreciated in the west where the album sold extremely well. The second album ‘Krasnoye Platye’ (Red Dress) was released in 1997 by ORT Records. Sung mostly in Russian and the result of a tremendous amount of fine-tuning and rehearsal, the album became a tremendous success. Videos made of the hit singles which were shown both at home and abroad, opened doors for the group to perform in Brazil, Cyprus, Germany, America, and Portugal. Indeed the Gypsy Kings were so impressed by the work of their younger colleagues that Shtar has been offered the chance to write a song to be recorded on the Gypsy Kings next album.

• Russian National Dance Show to appear on Trafalgar Square

  For the very first time the highly acclaimed Russian National Dance Show will bring their immense talent to the Russian Winter Festival 2008 in London. Having already won the hearts of audiences around the globe, from Russia to Australia, this incredible dance ensemble will present in its most refined form Russian traditional performance art, moving wholly away from more ‘available’ representations.  The programme cleverly, and with great prowess, unites lyrical sketches with elements of folk lore and ancient Russian epic, whilst preserving the flavour of both Soviet and contemporary Russia. The show is, in its own right, an aesthetic journey into Russia’s deep history.
  The music, especially written for the Russian National Dance Show, is performed by the legendary N.P. Osipov Russian National Academic Orchestra. The programme includes a varied mix of traditional national dance and contemporary ballet pieces. The troupe consists of more than 50 artists with 200 unique costumes decorated with pearls, silver and gold all created and hand-embroidered especially for the show.
  This unmissable performance of dance, music and theatre will thrill the audience of Trafalgar Square with its real extravaganza of Russian culture. As one of Russia’s most expensive stage shows with its live music and gripping effects, guests will be led into a luxurious and fun tale full of surprises that will provide a lasting memory for all festival guests.

  The Russian National Dance Show will also be performing an exclusive full show at the Hammersmith Apollo on 12th January 2008, on the eve of the Russian Winter Festival. The Festival organisers thoroughly recommend its audience to take full advantage of this one-off opportunity, as seeing the show in its rightful theatrical environment with full programme, various historical epochs and multiple costume changes is a joy rarely to behold in Britain.  Tickets can be purchased on the Hammersmith Apollo website.
• Sankt Peterburg on the Thames!

  One of the first groups worthy of the title Russian rock, Sankt Peterburg (SPB) (literally Saint Petersburg) was formed in 1967 by a student of the historical faculty of the Leningrad Sate University, Vladimir Rekshan. The group’s debut came only in September 1970, after a period of rehearsal, song-writing and a constant reshuffling of band members; however the delay was immediately vindicated by almost overnight success. The poetic, mature lyrics of the group placed a finger firmly on the pulse of contemporary world feeling and exemplified the rebellious spirit that pervaded the generation of the sixties.  The group’s simple but fresh melodies (somewhere between rhythm and blues and traditional urban romance) and their aggressive and shocking behaviour on stage, soon singled Sankt Peterburg out on the background of English-speaking epigones such as the Beatles. For the next 2 years the group’s fan base grew and grew and the Leningrad rock scene was formed. SPB played at concerts and nightclubs with popular Polish bands of the day Test and Skal’dovye. In 1972 the band underwent a reshuffle with new faces joining armed with a long history of musical collaborations -Nikolai Korzinin on drums, guitar and vocals, Viktor Kovalev –base and at the end of that year 17 year old virtuoso guitarist and violinist, Nikita Zaitsev. However for a number of different reasons the new collaboration didn’t work out. By the beginning of 1974, Korzinin, Kovalev and Zaitsev plus the pianist Sergei Kurekhin and drummer Mikhail Kordyukov had their debut under the new name Bolshoi Zhelezniy Kolokol (lit. Big Iron Bell) and fast became one of the city’s best loved performers. Sankt Peterburg was regrouped by Rekshan and Lizlov, but not for long and the group split once more in the summer of 1974. Over the next decade there were several attempts for the group to get back together under the gloomy pseudonym of City, but only in the spring of 1987 after Nikita Zaitsev returned to the fold (having been working successfully in the group Tsvetov (literally Of Flowers) and other philharmonic ensembles), did SPB manage to gather the necessary skills and energy to give a sensational come-back concert at the annual N. Vasin rock’n’roll show. In the years to follow SPB has toured and appeared at various rock festivals and in 1988 a short film was dedicated to them. Vladimir Rekshin is also famous for his literary compositions – short stories and novellas such as ‘Documentary Narrative’ and ‘Kaif’ the energetic depiction of the history of SPB and its members.

• Zemlyane to join the New Year beat.

  Zemlyane – a retro band which will need no introduction to the vast majority of Russian music fans – is a group of both the Soviet and Russian era. Created by one of the most famous music producers and rock-business men, Vladimir Kiselev, in Saint Petersburg in 1978, their hits include “Forgive, Earth”; “Grass at home” and “Cascaders”.

  Vladimir Kiselev left for Leningrad from Western Ukraine in the early seventies. He played drums in various musical ensembles before forming in 1975 the group Aprel (lit. April) only to leave briefly to work as a drummer in the philharmonic vocal-instrumental ensemble Poyuschiye Guitari (lit. Singing Guitars). He later returned to Aprel bringing with him a number of artists from the recently split group Rossiyan (lit Russian), including Oleg Gusev, Igor Romanov and Boris Aksenov. For a while they occupied the rehearsal space of the group Zemlyane (which at the time had broken up) in the Dzepzhinskiy House of Culture. However when the original group Zemlyane reformed and played at Tbilisi Rock Festival Vesenniye Ritmi-80 (Autumn Rhythms-80) they found the competition from Kiselev too stiff and renamed themselves Atlas.
  Zemlyane attracted the attention of famous Soviet composer Mark Fradkin who offered them the chance to record their songs on mini-disc. Despite this patronage however, the group did not experience positive relations with the Leningrad authorities and like many rock groups before them, took refuge in Kuzbass. In August 1979, the group signed with the Kemerovskiy Philharmonic Orchestra and finally were given the opportunity to earn money legally from their concert appearances and to tour Siberia and the Urals (later with different ensembles) before eventually ending up in Moscow.

  The group went through a series of band member changes that linked a number of the groups performing at the time. Concerts and tours followed, with increased cooperation with various lyricists and composers, however this did not shield them from criticism from independent rock critics, nor did it prevent pressure from certain official cultural structures that considered the group’s performances too rowdy. At the time Zemlyane were a force to be reckoned with their pro-Western image and special visual effects hitherto unheard of in Russia. However as rock music became officially recognised by the authorities as an entity in itself, rather than included in a line-up amongst soft stage performances, so came stiff competition from the hitherto underground rock bands and a wave of Western performers who had started to play in Russia for the first time. Zemlyane were forced to re-examinetheir future prospects, a fact which played an instrumental role in front-man Igor Romanov’s departure from the group. Kiselev made some significant changes to the image of his group, but with it came internal conflict and further changes amongst its members.  Perhaps as a result, Kiselev left the group to pursue a career working with young ensembles and organising international music festivals and Zemlyane’s management was passed to Boris Zosimov, who set the group on a course of heavy metal music. In 1989 whilst touring internationally the group took on yet another name – Vostochniy Express (Eastern Express). At the same time an old group member Igor Romanov was touring at home under the Zemlyane name. Despite rehearsing and touring together and due to the difficulties facing rock musicians at the time, Romanov declined the proposition of resurrecting Zemlyane fully, choosing also to disband his own group of the time Soyuz (Union). On their return home from foreign tours, Vostochniy Express decided to rename themselves once more Zemlyane. Under this name they appeared at festivals until the unstable politico-economic situation at home caused them to cease their activities until 1994, when they began to make one-off appearances. In order to resurrect the band they released a double CD of best hits and by the end of 1995 had regrouped. Unlike many new Russian artists, the band still tours Russia, the former USSR countries and gives international appearances, and their hits are frequently played on Russian radio stations and sometimes on television. However Zemlyane claim to be content on the periphery of the contemporary Russian show business scene and of its rock-pop festivals.

• Queen of Russian R’n’B will perform on Trafalgar square

  Young vocalist Bianka, recipient of a Russian Music Award for her contribution to R’n’B, will perform at the Russian Winter Festival. She will perform hits from her sell out debut album.
  Despite the current popularity of R’n’B in Russia, Bianka still manages to find her own very individual sound. Writing both her own score as well as lyrics, Bianka combines the melodies of Russian folk, complete with balalaika and accordion, with more standard R’n’B rhythms. It is not for nothing that music critics refer to her as not only an artist of the highest calibre, but also a very professional sound producer. Bianka’s vocal contribution to the songs of Russian rapper, Serega have accorded her quite a fan base.

• The Russian Winter Festival in the shortlist for Visit London Awards – 2007

  The Russian Winter Festival has been recently added by Visit London to the shortlist for the prestigious Visit London Awards 2007 as Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity.
  The capital’s top leisure and tourism businesses fought off unprecedented competition to reach the shortlist. The annual awards highlight the very best of the capital, including accommodation, attractions, entertainment and cultural events. They showcase London’s leaders in creativity and innovation in areas such as customer service, product development and marketing.
  Visit London’s Chief Executive, James Bidwell, said: “The Visit London Awards go from strength to strength each year. This is reflected in the record number of entries received this year, and the consistently high standard of the nominations. “Many congratulations to all of the shortlisted businesses. It is their hard work and dedication to quality that ensures London’s position as the world’s top city destination.”

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