Music all around

Although the first real summer week-end is rather grim-looking regarding the weather, we have high hopes for the rest of the month. The school-year will end soon, just as finals at colleges and universities, and many of us are planning our long awaited summer holiday. Open-air places are open and there's a wide variety of events to pick from. So here's an eclectic selection of concerts in June, and reminders for July and August.

07.06. Zagar (Zöld Pardon) Balázs Zságer and his crew mix electro, trip-hop and rock into an atmoshperic, unique audial experience.

12.06. Soulterraz (Artkatakomba) For those who love minimalistic beats and underground locations there's a party featuring a group of DJ-s playing minimal, techno and house all night long.

12.06. Hangfürdő a Lukácsban Parti Nagy Lajossal (Lukács Thermal Bath) A somewhat unusual Cinetrip-like party takes place at Lukács bath. Reknown author Lajos Parti Nagy will make the audience smile and sob over Hungarian reality, as he'll read a selection of his poems and short stories. After that one can enjoy the relaxing tunes and the VJ performance.

13.06. Khamoro, Új Magyar Gipsy Jazz, Rományi Rota, Romano Drom (Gödör Klub) Gödör Klub hosts the 3rd Athe Sam Romani Art Festival, which is a great opportunity to spend several evenings listening to the finest Gipsy bands from all over Europe. On the 11th though there's a remarkable line-up of Hungarian bands, including world-famous Béla Szakcsi Lakatos.

14.06. Besh o Drom (Zöld Pardon) Part jazz, part Balkan-style ethno, part surprise: that describes staple worl-music band Besh o Drom the most accurately. Their lively gigs are always really energizing.

19.06. Liane Carroll(Budapest Jazz Club)
Liane Carrol is a jazz and soul singer who has cooperated with some of the biggest names of the music scene and won the BBC Jazz Awards. At her Budapest concert she'll be accompanied by Hungarian jazz musicians.

19.06. Kaiser Chiefs (Papp László Budapest Sportaréna) Their biggest hit Ruby is played on MR2 Petőfi at least five times a day, and they were an instant success at last year's Sziget Fesztivál as well. Don't miss them now!

21.06. Suhancos/Titty Twisters Orchestra/Zenzile (WB Színpad, Városliget) The biggest open-air event of the European Music Day will feature the traditional Hungarian folk-rap crew Suhancos, classic
frat rock'n'roll played by the Italian Titty Twisters Orchestra, and French dub as interpreted by Zenzile.

21.06. Acoustic concerts at the stops of the 4-6 tram (Mechwart-liget, Margit híd pesti hídfő, Oktogon) The European Music Day also hosts a surprising series of concerts as well: there'll be live music at selected stops of the 4-6 tram to make passengers smile.

23.06. Depeche Mode Not that there are any tickets left for the long awaited concert, we're just bragging about it: fans don't have to make the pilgrimage to Vienna or Prague, the cult classic New Wave gods will descend right here. Just to return on 11th January 2010.

24.06. Harcsa Veronika Quartet, Sergent Garcia (Gödör Klub) Veronika is the loveable jazz diva successful throughout Europe and especially in Japan. This time, she'll sing with her quartet before Sergent Garcia's latin fiesta.

27.06. Simply Red,Király Viktor - Kapcsolat koncert(Ötvenhatosok tere) The "connection concert" is one of the largest music events in Hungary, organized and sponsored by telco giant T-Mobile. This year's stars will be Simply Red and Viktor Király, winner of the Hungarian version of Pop Idol.

28.06. Barabás Lőrinc Eklektric (Zöld Pardon) Lőrinc Barabás is a young, talented trumpeter who proved his extraordinary skills accompanying many bands, playing in many styles. Nowadays he can be seen and heard leading his own group of musicians. The Eklektric is a cross-over of different musical worlds - as crossing over musical borders is an essential feature of jazz.

30.06. Tajtékos kedd: Kobza Vajk Group, Makám (Könyvtárklub, Treffort Kert) In the upcoming world-music event of Eötvös Loránd University's club, Könyvtárklub two highly interesting ensembles will be featured: the Kobza Vajk Group plays meditative melodies, borrowing harmonies from several oriental cultures, whereas Makám is a group originally known for their repetition-based folk-jazz pieces.

And finally, here's a quick run-down of the big shots coming to Hungary this summer:


22.06. Lorreena McKennitt at Margitszigeti Szabadtéri Színpad
22.06. Dimmu Borgir at Petőfi Csarnok
01.07. Dream Theater at Papp László Sportaréna
22.07. George Benson at Papp László Sportaréna
24.07. Nine Inch Nails - last tour at Syma Csarnok
25.07. Suzanne Vega at Gödör Klub
03.08. Plácido Domingo in Pécs
24.08. Madonna at Kincsem Park
31.08. Leonard Cohen - last tour at Papp László Sport Aréna