It's only mid-November but it feels like the winter has been here forever. The frost has started creeping up your windows and the snow clearers are out in force. Drinking and dancing is a time-honored way of dealing with the Russian winter, and what better way to lift your spirits than at one the gigs we have picked out for you this week.
OQJAV is a trio of indie musicians involved in other prominent projects, including Obe Dve, Alpha Beta and La Vtornik. The band is named after the famous Soviet singer-songwriter Bulat Okudjava. OQJAV will play their second critically acclaimed album “Marta,” as well as hits from their debut album in Moscow on Thursday.
16 Tons. 6/1 Ulitsa Presnensky Val. Metro 1905 Goda. Tickets from 1,000 rubles ($15). Thursday, November 17, at 8 p.m.
Garbage is an American band with a Scottish front woman — Shirley Manson. With perennial hits like “Stupid Girl,” "Only Happy When It Rains" and the theme song for the Bond movie “The World Is Not Enough,” Garbage has earned its place in the annals of pop music. After a hiatus of several years, during which Shirley Manson did a stint in the cult series “Terminator,” Garbage came back with a brand new album in 2012. This year they released a follow-up album “Strange Little Birds,” which is reminiscent of the band's early efforts. Two Moscow concerts are part of the tour to support the latest album, but hopefully fans will also be able to hear some of their greatest hits.
Yotaspace. 11 Ulitsa Ordzhonikidze. Metro Leninsky Prospekt. Tickets from 2,700 rubles ($42). Thursday, November 17 and Friday, November 18, at 8 p.m.
Noize MC, one of the most prolific artists on the Russian rap and hip-hop scene, will present his new album “Tsar Gory” (King of the Mountain) at Stadium Live on Friday. Most famous for his song “From the Window,” which is laced with profanities and political subtext, Noize MC has emerged in recent years as a mouthpiece for liberally minded young people in Russia, and often performs at opposition rallies.
Stadium Live.7 Ulitsa Baltiyskaya. Metro Sokol. Tickets from 1,600 rubles ($25). Friday, November 18, at 8 p.m.
Elektronika-16 is a 12-hour festival that will take place at Space Moscow from 6 p.m. on Friday till 6 a.m. On Saturday. The first part will consist of back- to-back live performances of some of the best Russian electronic acts. These include Anton Maskeliade, who became the first Russian artist to ever play at Glastonbury, and Mujuice, who received the the electronic band of the year award at the Jagermeister Indie Awards last year. The headliner is a German electronic duo Digitalism, which played at major festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza. The second part of the festival will feature various Djs, including world renowned Adam Beyer and Marcel Dettmann.
Space Moscow. 36/11 Kutuzovsky Prospekt. Metro Kutuzovskaya. Tickets from 1,000 rubles ($15). Friday, November 18, at 6 p.m.
General Ludd from Glasgow, Scotland, will play a live set at Powerhouse, mixing techno and house into his own signature brand of electronic music.
Dewar’s Powerhouse. 7/4 Goncharnaya. Metro Taganskaya, Marksistskaya. Tickets 500 rubles ($8). Friday, November 18, at 11 p.m.
M83 is definitely the highlight of the Mosaic Music series of concerts that take place in the atrium of Garage Museum. M83 is a French band that is considered one of the most popular electronic projects in the world. It's their first time in Moscow and the concert will be in support of the band’s latest album Junk, released this spring. M83 will also play the greatest hits of their 15-year long career.
Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. 9/32 Ulitsa Krymsky Val. Metro Park Kultury, Oktyabrskaya. Tickets from 1,000 rubles ($15). Saturday, November 19, at 9 p.m.
