Daugavpils’ Beloved “Laima Muzykanti” Celebrate 30 Years with Special Concert Featuring Long-Time Collaborators
Daugavpils, Latvia – The iconic Latvian folk music ensemble “Laima Muzykanti” is set to mark its 30th anniversary with a celebratory concert, honoring three decades of musical excellence and cultural contribution. The event will feature special guest appearances by long-standing creative partners Inga Kalniņa, Baiba Zeile, and Inga Ergle, musicians who have shared the stage and creative journey with the band for manny years.
Audiences can anticipate a repertoire filled with beloved hits, including “Girl’s mother, far away live,” “Evening goes,” “Kruga Madaļeņa,” “Kruoga,” “Dead,” and “I’m silvery,” among many others. The concert promises musical surprises, adding an extra layer of excitement for attendees.
Founded in Daugavpils in 1995 by multi-artist Arthur Ushkan,”Laima Muzykanti” has undergone various transformations over its 30-year history. The current core of the ensemble remains anchored by its founder and leader, Arthur Ushkan, who showcases his talents on voice, accordion, harmonica, bagpipe, kokle, and pipe. He is joined by Darth Drava (voice, violin), Diana Login (voice, mandolin, pipe), Armands Varslavans (guitar), and Matisse Ushan (bungows).
The concert’s visual experience will be enhanced by the lighting direction of Eric Vilert, while the band’s long-time sound engineer, Edgars skrīgis, will ensure a high-quality audio experience.
Since its inception, “Laima Muzykanti” has achieved significant recognition both within Latvia and internationally. The group has performed at numerous festivals across Lithuania, the USA, Canada, Australia, Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Italy, and Uzbekistan. A notable highlight was their depiction of Latvia in the cultural program of the XXIII Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018, where they delivered five concerts, including two live broadcasts from the Alpensia Ski Jumping stadium that were viewed globally.
The ensemble has released four studio albums, with their 2023 release, “Turu Buru!,” earning nominations for the prestigious Latvian Music Record of the Year Award “zelta mikrofons” and the Latgalian Culture award “Boņuks.”
As 1998, “Laima Muzykanti’s” music has been an integral part of all General Latvian Song and Dance Festivals and the Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Celebrations, resonating deeply with dancers of all ages. The band is also a regular performer at major city and national festivities across Latvia, with their music enjoyed by audiences spanning generations. Their recordings are frequently played on radio stations throughout Europe,including Luxembourg,Greece,Slovakia,Ukraine,and Lithuania.
Tickets for this milestone concert are available for purchase through “Biļešu paradīze” at their box offices across Latvia and online at www.bilesuparadize.lv.
