Salacgrīva, Latvia
The French indie electro-rock masters have played over 200 live shows from small stages as SXSW music conference in Texas to big stages as Modern Sky Festival in Beijing, and now they have come to play at Positivus festival. They seem to prefer the second option as it’s harder for them to play in a very small place, they admit in a press conference. It could be true after hearing their lively music that obviously needs space. The French duo, that is very proud to sing in their mother tongue thus sounding unique and different, come on Positivus stage to start with the rather instrumental Alesia, the title song of their second album. They go on with the melodic and catchy Chateau. ‘Ladies, can we hear you screaming? Gentlemen, and now you?’ they have found a very appropriate way how to present the next song Les Hommes Et Les Femmes. We also get to hear the energetic Synthetiseur and catchy Oh Yeah. They give a great show with a true happiness to be here and are a perfect start to open Positivus main stage.
Malin Dahlstrom, Gustav Karlof and Magnus Boqvist or Niki & The Dove gave one of the most impressive performances at Positivus. The Swedish electropop trio comes on a stage, and the first thing to notice is Malin’s colorful and bright outfit next to Gustav’s combination of black & white. They start with Mother Protect from their debut album Instinct immediately followed by their greatest and probably most awaited hit Dj, Ease My Mind. That strongly excites the audience, and having felt that, the band doesn’t hide being overwhelmed and expressing their happiness to play at Positivus. ‘You give us so much love,’ they say and dedicate the next song Tomorrow to the ‘loveable and amazing crowd’. After that Malin offers to climb a hill together in the song The Fox, and then it’s time for the last song - The Drummer when we hear for the last time Malin’s magnificent voice, Magnus’s gifted drum play and Gustav’s hypnotic mastery of keyboards accompanied with some well-studied Latvian words. Niki & The Dove leave the stage with Gustav’s ‘goodbye’ in Latvian (čau, čau) and seem very glad to have played at Positivus.
Known for their eclectic musical compositions using trumpet, mandolin, violin, musical saw and other instruments London’s Fanfarlo was expected to play at Positivus already last year. Having apologized for not being able to do that, they are here this year and give a double joy with their beautiful music and friendliness towards the audience. Moreover, as they come on the stage they have stopped the rain, and white clouds start arising for them to appreciate their wonderful music with Amos Memon’s extraordinary voice. They perform songs from both albums (Reservoir and Rooms Filled With Light), thus we get to hear Lenslife, Comets, Finish Line, The Walls Are Coming Down and others. Very emphatic and inspirational performance! ‘We will come back as soon as possible’, the vocalist promises and their fans feel good about it.
Polish singer Monika Brodka with her band comes on a stage as colorful as her music which combines modern electro and alternative pop with folk elements. She has been noticed internationally, and British The Guardian has compared her to Polish Kate Bush. With her new songs recorded in Los Angeles she is ready to conquer the world. She sings mostly in Polish but there are also some English songs on her set list like Varsovie and Dancing Shoes which are catchy and full of energy - that’s what you need on a fine Saturday afternoon.
July 20 – 21
Reviewed: Lucy Rose, Housse de Racket, Niki & The Dove, Ewert and The Two Dragons, Fanfarlo, Brodka
Reviewed: Lucy Rose, Housse de Racket, Niki & The Dove, Ewert and The Two Dragons, Fanfarlo, Brodka
Magical festival (Tom Chaplin from Keane), as in a fairy-tale forest (Ed Macfarlane from Friendly Fires) with its distinct aura not turning into one big festival (Lucy Rose). Musicians who played at the sixth Positivus festival in Salacgrīva, Latvia on July 20 and 21 have praised its unique ambience in different words. Keane, Damien Rice, The Vaccines, Manic Street Preachers and many more international and Baltic acts were enjoyed by 25 000 music fans from many countries. Concertsnews.be reviewed some of the gigs.
Lucy Rose (UK)
She might look like a very young and fragile girl but actually this English singer/songwriter Lucy Rose is very confident and persistent about what she is doing. ‘Control freak’ as she called herself in a press conference. She will make sure she is involved in every single part in regards to her music. Lucy Rose has received a lot of promising words from music critics, and after seeing her performance at Positivus festival you will agree it’s totally deserved. As the talented musician comes on a stage, she starts with one of her best known songs Middle of the Bed immediately making a connection with the audience. She admits this is one of the greatest crowds the band has ever experienced and cannot resist her lovely smile between the songs looking charmingly timid. Lucy Rose breaks hearts of many as she goes on with her beautiful and delicate music and plays other songs such as Lines and Bikes from her upcoming debut album Like I Used To ready for a release in September.
Housse de Racket (FRA)
The French indie electro-rock masters have played over 200 live shows from small stages as SXSW music conference in Texas to big stages as Modern Sky Festival in Beijing, and now they have come to play at Positivus festival. They seem to prefer the second option as it’s harder for them to play in a very small place, they admit in a press conference. It could be true after hearing their lively music that obviously needs space. The French duo, that is very proud to sing in their mother tongue thus sounding unique and different, come on Positivus stage to start with the rather instrumental Alesia, the title song of their second album. They go on with the melodic and catchy Chateau. ‘Ladies, can we hear you screaming? Gentlemen, and now you?’ they have found a very appropriate way how to present the next song Les Hommes Et Les Femmes. We also get to hear the energetic Synthetiseur and catchy Oh Yeah. They give a great show with a true happiness to be here and are a perfect start to open Positivus main stage.
Niki & The Dove (SWE)
Malin Dahlstrom, Gustav Karlof and Magnus Boqvist or Niki & The Dove gave one of the most impressive performances at Positivus. The Swedish electropop trio comes on a stage, and the first thing to notice is Malin’s colorful and bright outfit next to Gustav’s combination of black & white. They start with Mother Protect from their debut album Instinct immediately followed by their greatest and probably most awaited hit Dj, Ease My Mind. That strongly excites the audience, and having felt that, the band doesn’t hide being overwhelmed and expressing their happiness to play at Positivus. ‘You give us so much love,’ they say and dedicate the next song Tomorrow to the ‘loveable and amazing crowd’. After that Malin offers to climb a hill together in the song The Fox, and then it’s time for the last song - The Drummer when we hear for the last time Malin’s magnificent voice, Magnus’s gifted drum play and Gustav’s hypnotic mastery of keyboards accompanied with some well-studied Latvian words. Niki & The Dove leave the stage with Gustav’s ‘goodbye’ in Latvian (čau, čau) and seem very glad to have played at Positivus.
Ewert and The Two Dragons (EST)
It took them two years to play on the main stage at Positivus. As they remember themselves, it has been an interesting journey. Estonian indie-rockers started playing at Positivus on a small stage in 2010 followed by a bit larger one the following year and finally in 2012 they are deservedly gathering a great crowd at the main stage. Crowd that is up for them already from the band’s first accords as they start with the well known hit (In The End) There’s Only Love from their second album Good Man Down. Titled as currently the best internationally known band from the Baltics, Estonian dragons have played gigs and been noticed in America and now earned a very long and still ongoing tour all around Europe. ‘You are all responsible for that’, the lead singer Ewert Sundja is thankful to their faithful audience at Positivus. As their concert continues, they also play such well known singles as Jolene and Good Man Down; the latter has reached number 1 on Latvian iTunes right after the festival.
Fanfarlo (UK)
Known for their eclectic musical compositions using trumpet, mandolin, violin, musical saw and other instruments London’s Fanfarlo was expected to play at Positivus already last year. Having apologized for not being able to do that, they are here this year and give a double joy with their beautiful music and friendliness towards the audience. Moreover, as they come on the stage they have stopped the rain, and white clouds start arising for them to appreciate their wonderful music with Amos Memon’s extraordinary voice. They perform songs from both albums (Reservoir and Rooms Filled With Light), thus we get to hear Lenslife, Comets, Finish Line, The Walls Are Coming Down and others. Very emphatic and inspirational performance! ‘We will come back as soon as possible’, the vocalist promises and their fans feel good about it.
Brodka (PL)
Polish singer Monika Brodka with her band comes on a stage as colorful as her music which combines modern electro and alternative pop with folk elements. She has been noticed internationally, and British The Guardian has compared her to Polish Kate Bush. With her new songs recorded in Los Angeles she is ready to conquer the world. She sings mostly in Polish but there are also some English songs on her set list like Varsovie and Dancing Shoes which are catchy and full of energy - that’s what you need on a fine Saturday afternoon. |
| With guys from ''Housse de Racket" |
No comments:
Post a Comment