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Europe Day 2023: Kyiv’s Atlas music venue takes over the European capital with a fundraising event at Ancienne Belgique
Europe Day 2023: Kyiv’s Atlas music venue takes over the European capital with a fundraising event at Ancienne Belgique
For the ninth consecutive time, we hosted our annual celebration of Europe Day through music on May 9th. The event brought audiences together to celebrate European values and pay tribute to Ukraine’s music scene.
This year, our host Ancienne Belgique joined forces with the iconic Ukrainian venue Atlas to bring two promising emerging Ukrainian acts to its iconic stage in the capital of Europe.
Before the concerts kicked-off, we organised a talk with two heavyweights of the Ukrainian music sector as well as the Ukrainian Ambassador to the EU. They filled us in on how the Ukrainian cultural sector has been mobilising since the start of the war, and why it's crucial for us to keep building stronger European ties with their country.
Raising funds for Ukraine
In parallel to the event, we have launched a fundraising campaign for Music Saves UA, an initiative established by the Ukrainian Association of Music Events to provide humanitarian aid, such as the delivery of supplies (hygiene, food…) and the evacuation and resettlement of refugees. Each €10 collected financed one humanitarian box providing food for one person for an entire week. The boxes will be mainly distributed in Kherson, the biggest city liberated by Ukrainian forces since the start of the war. You can still make a contribute through this link.
This event was co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union and had the official endorsement of the Cultural Creators Friendship Group, a cross-partisan coalition of currently 28 Members of the European Parliament from 6 different political groups and 14 different countries.
Programme
17:30 – 18:30 Talk: Ukraine’s music community to the rescue @ AB Salon (free admission upon availability)
More than 14 months after the start of the Russian full-scale invasion, this talk shed light on the cultural professionals and operators that shape the Ukrainian music scene. From artists touring abroad to help fundraise to music venues becoming humanitarian hubs and shelters, culture and music are on the frontline in this war that is threatening the core values and principles behind the European idea.
While European solidarity has been reaching unprecedented levels, why is it important to keep strengthening connections and building bridges between Ukraine and the EU? How can we make sure we don’t lose the momentum and ensure these cooperations can also continue after the end of the war?
Vsevolod Chentsov
Ambassador Vsevolod Chentsov is the Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community. As a guest of honour, he launched the talk with a few opening words.
Alona Dmukhovska
With almost 10 years of experience in the music industry over the world, Alona is the director and co-founder of Music Export Ukraine, an independent organisation that helps Ukrainian artists build international careers.
Vlad Yaremchuck
Vlad is the programming director at Atlas, Kyiv’s iconic music venue and curator of the evening’s concerts at AB. He is also the partnership manager at Music Saves UA, the fundraising initiative providing humanitarian aid in risk areas in Ukraine.
Moderated by Margot Otten, journalist at BRUZZ
18:30 – 20:30 Networking cocktail and dinner @ AB Café (by invitation only)
Networking cocktail and dinner open to cultural operators, representatives of European institutions, and media professionals.
20:30 – 23:30 ‘Music Saves UA’ showcase @ AB Club (free admission upon availability)
Two promising Ukrainian acts took the stage of the legendary AB Club:
RAGAPOP
Can you imagine a combination of post-punk, lo-fi electronica, acting and performance? Because that’s exactly the idea behind Ukrainian band Ragapop, the successful side project of Dakh Daughters members Ruslana Khazipova and Anna Nikitina in collaboration with producer Anton Ocheretyanyy.
Their first EP ‘Siasya’ is a tribute to the famous 19th-century Ukrainian poet Ivan Franko. It is based on his not-so-well-known lyrics and brilliant translation of ‘Oedipus the King’ by Sophocles. Essential to the band is the energy drawn from Ukrainian culture. The mysticism and eroticism of this place are sure to captivate you, no matter what language is spoken. Ragapop sounds solid and fresh on their albums.
THE LAZY JESUS
Meet The Lazy Jesus, Ukrainian DJ and sound producer with a multi-genre taste and an ear for the modern interpretation of ancient sounds.
After organizing several events all over the world exploring the stylistic diversity of ethnic music, he got inspired to delve into his country’s folk and ancient music culture.
For Europe Day, the Kyiv-based DJ will bring his latest project, UA Tribal, where non-trivial rhythms blend with the musical folklore heritage of Ukraine. Further, the music component is enhanced by the visual art animation created in collaboration with Kyiv illustrator Magistr Magii.
