Gogolfest Returns with La Fura dels Baus

This year Gogolfest will host a performance from the cutting edge Spanish theatre company

Lyapis Trubetskoy (pop, punk), Crystal Hall (Dniprovsky Uzviz 1), 22 September at 20:00 

Coming all the way from Belorussia, the songs we most remember by Lyapis Trubetskoy include Golubi (Doves) and Vsem Devchonkam Nravitsya (Liked by all the Girls). That, however, doesn’t mean that there aren’t a tonne more; a reality the only original member of the group, Serhiy Mikhalok, will attest to. On the road for 20 years already, Lyapis’ popularity might not be what it was back in ’00, but bringing it all back to Kyiv this September, we’re all going to be left wondering why that is...

Exhibition of paintings by Tetyana Vezelova, Wunjo-Art (H. Stalinhrada 10a), 28 September – 29 October

Tetyana Vezelova spent quite a long time preparing for this particular exhibition trying to pin point those long-forgotten images of childhood and recreate them in some way so that everyone might understand. Full up on the mysteries of love, hope, trust, and mercy, the artist’s imagination flies high allowing her to create portraits of a never before seen beauty.

Pierre Richard, I. Franko Ukrainian Drama Theatre (Ivana Franka 3), 15 – 17 September at 19.00

Receiving hundreds of letters from all over the world, this 69-year old, grey-haired man replies to them all: his fans, students, politicians, theatre directors, clairvoyants, astrologers, girls with erotic photos... Within those letters, the foundation for this autobiographical production about the French legend who has done his share of living is formed. In a life where stars abound and told like no one else, the parties he’s been to, the people’s he’s met, in essence his life, will be retold with flair and humour that gives meaning to the statement, ‘France’s most famous Blonde’.

Gary Moore (blues), Palace Ukraine (Chervonoarmiyska 103), 7 October at 19.00

There was a time when the blues was considered music that if you weren’t black, you couldn’t sing; no matter how hard the rest of us tried. Thirty years ago, however, Gary Moore stepped up to the mic and a white, blues-singing legend was born. His hits Still Got the Blues, Empty Rooms, Story Of The Blues, Midnight Blues, The Loner, Out In The Fields, The Wild Frontier and Parisian Walkways remain popular even today, so get your ticket and get in on the legend of the white-man’s blues.

Placebo After Party, Sullivan Room (Prorizna 8), 18 September at 23.00

Let’s just set the record straight now: Placebo will not be the Placebo After Party special guests after their big concert at Kyiv’s International Exhibition Centre. Their local clones, however, Marrakesh, will be, where you’ll be able to fill up ever so much more on the sound those British pop idols are so famous for. And if that weren’t enough, DJs Cane, Mod and OldStyle promise to mix up the band’s bigger hits with the club beats of the day. Check it out.

Uma2rman in concert (pop-rock), Arena Entertainment (Baseina 2a), 30 September at 20.00

Deciding seven years ago to do something a little different, these two brothers from the Russian town of Nizhniy Novgorod put the Uma2rman band together and have been laughing ever since. While it’s true the songsters themselves look nothing like the famous Hollywood actress, it’s their music that is important and is something even she might be moved to call ‘stunning’.

Rudolf Nureyev by the Roman Viktyuk Theatre, October Palace (Instytutska 1), 29 September at 19.00

Rudolf Nureyev is a name that those in the ballet world will never forget. Impulsive and impatient, this man lived the life not many from inside the former Soviet UNI0N could boast, having defected to France in 1961. Forever a force to be reckoned with, in the end it would be AIDS that broke the man; a feat many had attempted but never succeeded at.

Keiko Matsui in concert, Palace Ukraine (Chervonoarmiyska 103), 24 October at 19.00 

As one of Tokyo’s most powerful and introspective musical influences, Keiko Matsui will be enchanting audiences with her sound come this October. And while the concert itself will be something rather out of the ordinary, this isn’t the first time she’s graced the capital with her presence. Matsui, in fact, is quite a familiar face round these parts; regularly presenting various compilations from her more than 20 albums out so far. With an instrumental, jazzy sort of groove to notes that just sort of string themselves together, the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra will also be giving her a helping hand, making this one night, musical aficionados are going to love.

Samaia – Legends of Georgia, Palace Ukraine (Chervonoarmiyska 103), 8 November at 19.00

There are shows and then there are super-shows, and that is what critics are calling Samaia. Exceeding in scope and drama, while implementing some pretty cutting-edge technologies, this Georgian legend narrates the fates of the Georgian people: the wars, the conquests, and the love. All the while employing only the best artists to fulfill its prophesy. Audiences all around the world are calling it a “thrilling extravaganza of dance” and “a spectacle everyone should see at least once in their lifetime”. So what are you waiting for?

Oleksiy Kortnev & Neschastniy Sluchai (pop, rock’n’roll, blues), October Palace (Instytutska 1), 23 October at 19.00

Formed in 1983 by Oleksiy Kortnev and Valdish Pelsh, these two pushed the boundaries of everything Soviet playing some totally rebellious rock’n’roll. With an invitation for more and more musicians to join them in their endeavours, they created Neschastniy Sluchai (Bad Luck) and would take 11 long years before they decided it was time to make a debut album.