Riga will not be left without music - Rīgas Ritmi 2020 will take place this year

The international improvisation, jazz and world music festival Rīgas Ritmi 2020 will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year both at the beginning of July and at the end of the year. From July 2 to 4, the most talented Latvian jazz artists will perform at the festival, but at the end of the year there will be biger concerts of foreign stars.

 

The fresh programs of most attractive Latvian jazz funk band Very Cool People, guitarists Reinis Jaunais and Rihards Lībietis, singers Dināra Rudāne and Rūta Dūduma, and singer Aija Andrejeva’s dedication to Janis Joplin in July will be enjoyed at Old Riga open-air restaurant No problem at the Rātslaukums (Town Hall Square), Finnish pianist Tuomo Uusitalo and the winners of the competition Riga Jazz Stage will perform at jazz restaurant Trompete (Trumpet), while at the end of the year the festival's concerts will take place at VEF Culture Palace.

 

“At a time when festivals are being canceled one after another, it is important to find solutions and not completely delete 2020 from the festival history calendar,” says Māris Briežkalns, founder and artistic director of the Rīgas Ritmi Festival. “It is also important to maintain the annual rhythm. We have also felt the same attitude on the part of artists, therefore Rīgas Ritmi 2020 will be and Riga will not be left without music!”

 

On November 19, Latvian biggest Maestro Raimonds Pauls will offer a special dedication to the anniversary of the festival. He will perform a very fresh jazz program Walk Around Riga with his trio. At the presentation concert of the new vinyl record, Maestro will perform together with two other legendary musicians - Estonian double bassist Toivo Unt and already mentioned Latvian percussionist Māris Briežkalns.

 

“I was walking around Riga when it was completely empty,” says Pauls. “And the idea of such a cycle arose - Walk Around Riga. You should always be happy about your city.”

 

On December 10, the VEF Culture Palace will host a gift from the management company of the legendary American producer Quince Jones on the anniversary of the festival - a performance by the new star of pop jazz and soul music Clark Beckham. A day later, he will also perform in the series Olainfarm Jazz Nights at the club Kaļķu vārti, where the talented Latvian guitarist Gints Smukais will also play.

 

On December 13, Cuban jazz star Roberto Fonseca, together with the popular Cuban R&B singer and hip-hop artist Danay Suarez, will return the feeling of summer sun to Latvian viewers.

 

The performance of the world music supergroup Bokanté has been moved to next year's festival. Tickets already purchased for the performance of these artists will be valid for the concert of Raimonds Pauls Trio on November 19.

 

Tickets for the closing concerts of the 20th anniversary of the Rīgas Ritmi Festival can be purchased at bilesuserviss.lv. Pre-purchased tickets are valid for year-end concerts. This also applies to purchased Super Tickets, which are valid for all three major concerts of the festival at the VEF Culture Palace.

 

The program of local musicians will be available for free at the festival. There will also be festival master classes, which will be announced.

 

The satellite event of the Rīgas Ritmi Festival will take place on the Ciemupe stage for the fifth year. On July 5, the Tuomo Uusitalo Quartet will perform there together with singer Une Stade. Entrance to the Ciemupe stage will also be free.