New Baltic Sounds – A Night of Contemporary Baltic Music in Gothenburg

A night of Baltic contemporary music New Baltic Sounds takes place on October 17 from 19:00-22:00 at Oceanen in Gothenburg, Sweden. The concert features three duos from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Earlier that day, a network meet-up for music organisers and organisations will be held at Utopia from 13:00 - 15:00, offering a chance to connect with international music professionals.

The meet-up is a unique opportunity for the new Artistic Directors Stefan Klaverdal (SE) and Clara de Asís (ES/ NL) to meet local organizers and organizations while they are in Gothenburg. The meet-up will also be attended by the visiting Baltic Contemporary Music Network, with representatives from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to talk about possible collaborations and ideas in Utopia Jazz bar’s cosy environment with complimentary drinks and snacks. It takes place before New Baltic Sounds at Oceanen. Space is limited to 30 people, so sign up to secure your spot!

The evening begins at 19:00 with renowned Latvian harpsichordist Ieva Saliete, whose repertoire spans from the late medieval period with the clavicymbalum to baroque and contemporary music. She was awarded Latvia's prestigious Great Music Award in 2018. Arturs Noviks, a versatile accordionist who has competed internationally and collaborated with ensembles such as the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and the LNSO String Quintet, will be joining her on accordion.

Twenty Fingers Duo, founded in 2016 in Vilnius by sibling musicians Lora Kmieliauskaitė (violin) and Arnas Kmieliauskas (cello), creates music that blends extended playing techniques with graphic scores. Their projects emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, extending beyond traditional concerts to include work in opera, theatre, dance, and film.

The concert concludes with the unique duo of Anna-Liisa Eller and Taavi Kerikmäe, who have performed together for several years, combining the Estonian kannel and keyboards. Their performances blend early and contemporary music in captivating ways. Kerikmäe plays piano, theremin, keyboards, and custom electronic instruments, while Eller expands the possibilities of the rarely heard Estonian chromatic kannel, often described as having a heavenly sound.

The event has an age limit of 20 years. Tickets are 120 SEK for adults and 100 SEK for students, available at this link. The concerts are organized in collaboration of Göteborg Art Sounds and the Baltic Contemporary Music Network. More details can be found at GAS Festival's website.