HANSEATIC DAY FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
June 8-9, 2001, Riga, Latvia

RUSA

Riga

Viesturs Polikarps - bass, voc
Guntars Endzelis - g
Tarass Kuzmenko - dr

The band RUSA started playing in 1987 and has played mostly in Latvia. Their way of music is hard-punk and rock'n'roll. The line-up has always consisted of three people, but due to the changes of several line-ups there have been long gaps. The line-up has not changed during the last five years. There is certain reason to consider RUSA the first band in Latvia which has started using two bass drums. The drummer has happened to throw one into the public. The members get on very well, sometimes even with friendly hostility. They incubate not evil and satanism but energy, power and rhythm, which can be pretty well felt in their music.

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SH

Kaunas, Lithuania

Audrius Kalytis - g, voc
Martynas Tamulis - g, dblbg, b-voc
Tomas Ramanchiunas - bg, cello
Arunas Banzaitis - dr

SH are legends of Lithuanian guitar music scene. Coming from the deepest underground of Kaunas city, the band stormed the Lithuanian music scene in mid-90s together with such acts as Empti and Turbo Reanimacija. Drawing inspiration from such diverse sources as Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, Led Zeppelin and John Zorn, SH were awed for their originality and non-conformist sound, but never managed to break big. The band re-emerged last year with a new line up. The singer, main composer and local poet Audrius Kalytis is now joined by Arunas Banzaitis on drums, Martynas Tamulis on guitar / doublebass and Vilnius Music Academy student Tomas Ramanciunas, who added subtle bass and cello playing to the new sound of SH. The band released their new radio single "Sumaisyk mane su cukrum" (Mix me with sugar), remixed by London based Lithuanian producer Darius Zickus, with the major album release to follow later this year.

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SIRKE

Riga

Juris Alksnis - g
Laura Ziemele - bg
Martinez Gonzalez - keyb
Uldis Zarinsh - dr
DJ Hencha - records

www.mp3.com/sirke
sirke@stupid.com

SIRKE is a band from Riga, the capital of Latvia. We play instrumental music, performed on live instruments but leaning towards electronic music. Some compare it to Mogwai and Tortoise, but we do not share this opinion. Now SIRKE sounds more like a crossover between 80s-disco and acid jazz mixed with influences from almost any musical style. The band was formed back in the spring of 1996, and since 1997 we play only instrumental music During the five years of our existence we have played many gigs in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Switzerland, Belgium and the UK, and released 2 full length albums, 1 remix album, 1 split 7" and many singles and split EP's.

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SOUL MACHINE

Cesis

Janis Vitolinsh- g, voc
Maris Liepinsh - g
Peteris Pass - bg
Ugis Krishjanis - keyb
Aigars Lochmelis - dr

pupols@navigators.lv

SOUL MACHINE started two years ago in the town of Cesis. During the last year the line-up has changed a little: the bassist has changed and there are two new members - Maris (sologuitar) and Ugis (keyboard). Our most important concerts: 4th and 5th DACVG rock festivals in Cesis, the Sinepes and Medus festival. We supported the Danish band Olivia in Cesis ("Vidzemnieks" club), Jelgava ("Mobile" club), Riga ("Kabata" club).

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SKUMJU AKMENI

Riga

Helena Kozlova - voc, g
Ivars Blums - bg
Kaspars Pupa - g
Gints Kronbergs - dr
Antons Novodshonovs - g

helenabez@mail.lv

The band was founded in 1994 by Ivars Blums - the leader of the socially active hardcore band Bez Greznibas (1989-1993). The aim of founding SKUMJU AKMENI was to start playing gothic rock oriented music. In 1996 Helena joins the band as just another singer and from this moment onwards SKUMJU AKMENI is one of the most popular alternative bands in Latvia. The renaissance of the band is 2001, when after several years of absence Helena rejoins SKUMJU AKMENI.

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SPICKI I KEDI

Valmiera

Konj - balss, g
Lōva - bg
Jenots - dr

We came together somewhen in the spring of 99. The first line-up included also Lomix (from Non Skid band), but the rest of us have played / are playing in such bands as Neludi (Non Humans), Non Skid, Molotoff Cocktail and Shausmigie Rukishi (Terrible Dwarfs). In the fall of 2000 we recorded our first demo in a friends' home studio in Daugavpils. That turned out to be some kind of pop/punk, slightly green. We will release it. In the beginning the band was called just SPICKI. Konj:"I want to live under a green-yellow-red flag."

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TANKA

Tallinn, Estonia

Oskar Danka - g, voc
Denis Shelepov - g, b-voc
Raivo Piirsalu - bg
Henry Hinno - dr

www.hot.ee/tankaband
oskar.danka.@mail.ee

In the beginning of 2000 we formed TANKA with three guys (Oskar, Denis and Henry) and after three weeks Raivo joined the band. To that moment we had released a CD called "Routine". In the summer of 2000 TANKA had an extensive tour (the Tivoli tour) in Estonia. There were 15 concerts and in June we had a big ceremony concert in Tartu. During 2000 TANKA has had excellent tours in Denmark and Finland too. In the beginning of 2001 we started making our first LP, which we are busy with now. Right now we are in Riga, having fun and playing some good music.

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VENNASKOND

Tallinn, Estonia

Tõnu Trubetsky - voc
Allan Vainola - g
Kaspar Jancis - g
Catherine Matveus - violin
Lauri Leis - bg
Rainis Kingu - dr

www.vabrik.ee/tonutrubetsky/
www.home.index.ee/vennaskond
www.my.tele2.ee/ klassivanem
www.tt.ee/lember/mihkel/vennaskond.htm
www.tm.ee/vennaskond
www.dcc.ttu.ee/Bands/english/get.asp?ident=109
tonu@netexpress.ee

VENNASKOND came to stage during the Soviet era. Leading lights in the mid-80s Estonian punk scene along with the predecessors Propeller, Punk T and Generator M, this sextet from Tallinn betrayed their talent in rocker leather and sexual tint. During the initial years VENNASKOND had to face persecution by the KGB. In the beginning of 1991 all the band fled to Finland. Their first album came out in Estonia in the absence of the band. The anarchic contents of their albums were reflected in their garishly tasteful record sleeves. In October 1996, as THE BEST BAND IN EAST EUROPE, Vennaskond were awarded le Grand Prix Média by the Radio France Internationale at the Rock-Pop ? l'Est concert in Bucharest, Romania. In the more than 15 years of existence the band has played in Latvia, USA, Sweden, Finland, France etc. No doubt, VENNASKOND is the most important Estonian band for Baltic alternative music users for years.

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ZIG ZAG

Riga

Juris Lasinskis - vok, g
Uldis Timoshko - dr
Janis Brunovskis - g, keyb
Janis Marinsh - bg

bonis@parks.lv

The band ZIG ZAG was founded in 1986 when four sixteen-year-old punk-rock-playing oddballs united and in the beginning the band was called Arprac (Madness). ZIG ZAG amazed their audience not only with the music but also with an unusually bright and colorful appearance. At present only two of the initial members are in the band - the vocalist and the drummer. Several of their songs became real hits among the rebellious youth and ZIG ZAG - almost a superband and this is the reason why the KGB banned the band from performing. This prohibition was followed only a short period of time. Starting from 1986 up to now ZIG ZAG is one of the most popular and best-known Latvian alternative rock bands. Currently the band is working in the studio and a new ZIG ZAG album is coming up shortly.

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XINGU HILL

Brugge, Belgium

John Sellekaers + C-drik on stage

www.metarc.com
info@metarc.com

Xingu Hill is free from stylistic limitations, it travels through groovy ambient tunes with surrealistic atmospheres to chaotic soundscapes towards slower, more experimental pieces which however form an intimate coexistence. the complex melting of these different styles emphasises the music with a special, unique character, which may first appear with a strange affection but gets familiar the more attentive you listen. Deeply fractured sonic mutations build up their own morphogenic aesthetics. It's unalterable giving a mindfully listening to enjoy a more experimental side of electronic music and assimilate the full potential with access to an exceptional sound experience! It exists in its own space and with its own rules!

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