‘Sound Forest’ (Skaņu Mežs) is a music festival which plays not only with your ears, but mostly with mind. The first Sound Forest was organized in 2003. The festival is organized to show the latest activities in the world of music and this is also a provocation for new angles in music. The artists in Sound Forest are surprising, boring, shocking, incomprehensible etc. These are brave artists from all over the world - the future of music – the music for which we are probably not ready yet. As the organizers of the festival say,
they are doing it to “knock the mind out of the comfortable and dull "reality" to remind
you of an alternative”.
Sound Forest 2011 will be in Riga on 16th – 17th of September.

www.skanumezs.lv/en/category/news-summary-in-english/
Miera street 58, Riga
+371 29464264
Google map: bit.ly/odTmG0

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This is a great place to enjoy live music outside. Egle is near the Town Hall square – Rātslaukums – with the famous Backheads houses you see
on almost every postcard from Riga. There is a Christmas tree made from pieces of mirror (because Riga is the birthplace of the tradition to decorate a tree on Christmas), Souvenier shop with a big black cat next to it called 'Riga Cat' and then there is cafe 'Egle' – open air leisure venue with live music every evening from 8PM. Traditional music, classical rock songs, jazz, popular Latvian rock and pop bands – all kinds of music.

www.spogulegle.lv/intro.php?lang=en
Oldtown, Kalku street 1a,
+371 25505268
Google map: bit.ly/qdqdSv

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This is one of my favourite places. No Problem has a nice atmosphere and good live music –
rock, jazz, sometimes country. And this is the place which with it’s music quite often makes people to move from their chairs and dance. Also the prices here are really reasonable. Sometimes it’s too crowded to find a place to enjoy the music there which is its only downside really.
It’s a perfect place for your evening – right in the heart not only of Riga, but also of the Old Town. For me this is the place to come at the end of working day, this is the place to meet friends and really forget all your problems.

nekaduproblemu.lv/intro.php?lang=en
Tirgonu street 5/7, Riga, LV-1050
+371 22 006 800
Google map: bit.ly/rhzmQL

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Livu Square (Līvu laukums) close to the Freedom monument (on Kaļķu street) is full of summer cafes. Near the terraces like 'Kaļķu vārti, 'Mad House', 'Blue Cow' and others you will find a place called 'Zelta Fīlings' (Golden Feeling). Taste one of 36 sorts of local and world famous beers they offer and enjoy latino and jazz!

Kaļķu iela 17, Riga, Latvia LV-1050
+371 26 656 368
Google map: bit.ly/oRHvQX

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I just wanted to recommend these guys in Latvia. I have been to Riga a few times but always end up missing the big music events playing there. This company booked me tickets for a big music festival in the summer, in the Latvian countryside which included Muse and the Scissor sisters. Unbelievably the whole thing, including their booking fee, cost about £30.
They have just been in contact and told me that Faithless (one of my favourite bands) are playing Riga in October. So, I have just booked some ryanair flights and will be on my way over again.
I wish I could get this kind of service in the UK!

www.rigaoutthere.com
Google map: bit.ly/aVqyZi

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Andrejsala is the new, trendy district of Riga. If you are visiting Riga then ask around for information about any special parties, exhibitions or clubbing events being held in the bohemian port area of the Latvian capital.

www.andrejsala.lv/

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A relatively tourist-free little cafe by day, it turns into a hipster hangout by night, complete with great indie music, awesome barstaff, and pretty much just cool, laid back Riga kids. I definitely recommend it, but only if you don't act like a tourist when you visit - that would totally ruin what an awesome place it is!

www.riga-life.com/drink/pubs_cafes_details/22-I_Love_You

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I went to Riga last year, and this was one of my favourite bars, not just in the city but ever. A really cool alternative atmosphere, combined with chilled-out indie kids prove that Riga is a young, hip, cool city.

www.riga-life.com/drink/pubs_cafes_details/16-Depo

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Not one for culture as high brow as this, my visit to the opera house was more than a little hesitant. However, it's great. Particularly for opera virgins. Most Sundays they put on a famous show with ballets like the Nutcracker and Swan Lake commonplace. For a tenner you get seats down the front of this incredibly ornate building. Be warned, however, the people around you are likely to be far better dressed than you are.

Aspazijas bulvaris 3; www.lmuza.lv/opera/

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