Week in Tallinn

Maria Minerva playing in Sõprus Cinema in Tallinn, Estonia.

Apparently she left her homeland to play in London instead. 

Preparing for film premiere in the same cinema as Maria Minerva was playing in the night before:

 

Premiere of three short films that my friends, with my help, shot/produced in the same cinema:

Me on the left. I had to give a little explanatory speech about the short films and what our company does and what our new projects are.  My speech was a little too short and messy since I did not prepare much and still was "tired" after Maria Minerva's party the night before...

The main star of the night, Lena Kudryavtseva

And finally, we decided to attend amateur Fashion show in one of universities in Tallinn:

All of clothes were designed by fashion students. I made a lot of photos but most of them were blurry...

Birmingham, London, demonstrations

Birmingham, UK

 

 London

London

UK, like some other Western European countries enjoyed some protests against Congolese election results; apparently they had two presidents elected at the same time, and now the country is a brink of another civil war. Demonstrators expressed their unhappiness with how UK government deals with this this issue. I am not sure if they want sanctions against Congo or repeat of Libyan scenario, but let's see what happens next. Some people in Belgium, during similar demonstration, died. I think no one got hurt in UK...

 Trafalgar Square, London

Hotel I was staying in London... Joking.

Still looks nice..

London seems like a nice place to live in, so I will try to move there as soon as possible. As I found out (after like two months of living here) Birmingham is considered as one of the worst places to live in England, at least that's what Brits told me when I was visiting Estonia. Interesting that no one told me this here in UK. Well, at least now I know. But it's not as bad as its reputation I guess, but lack of parks and greenery does make this place a bit depressing. 

The only park in Birmingham city center. Or the only one I remember now. And it's way too small anyway. Please, residents of Birmingham, have a demonstration for creating more parks in your hometown. From another side, there's a saying in Russian "в чужой монастырь со своим уставом не лезь", rough translation would be "don't go to another monastery with own rules". Who am I to tell you what to do, I am just a passer-by. Haha

 

 

ZzZzZz

Time to make this blog useful. Since I arrived to UK I am having trouble waking up in the morning. In the end I loose half of a day for nothing, and then look out of a window and all my motivation for going out of the house vanishes into nothing.

Suggest some techniques/tips for waking up early! (or going to bed earlier).

UK

OK, my fourth country this year (after Estonia, Czech Republic and France): United Kingdom.

UK greeted me with showers and freezing wind, as was expected. Just like at home...

I decided to settle in Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK, that has around 4 million residents taking into account its suburbs.

Bullring, one of the largest shopping centres in Europe:

My neighbourhood:

Occupy Birmingham...

...aka 99%:

Ducks on on of the channels of Birmingham enjoying pleasant British weather:

And same ducks flying south:

I didn't have enough time (or just became lazy) to look for new alternative venues/events, but I promise to upload some footage very soon.

One good thing is that you can still hear Balkan music on some streets here, just like in France...

Another good thing is that I missed some roughness in France (probably same as in Estonia), and even in general England seems like one of the most dangerous countries I've been to; more than Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, whatever... Or maybe I don't know it well enough yet... 

Outsider music + Manifesto

Here I solemnly present you one of the finest examples of proto-psychobillie/rocabilly or however-you-may-call-it music. 

This music is simply awesome; as it is described on Amazon review: "Outsider musicians can be the product of damaged DNA, alien abduction, drug fry, demonic possession, or simply sheer obliviousness."

Ledge: THE LEGENDARY STARDUST COWBOY - Standing In A Trash Can

Wesley Willis-Rock'n' Roll McDonalds

Into Outer Space With Lucia Pamela

CD Arf! Arf! Records

One publisher and a reviewer puts it like this: "Sincerity and lack of self-awareness rarely earn musicians platinum status or a spot on MTV. Thankfully, for every manufactured boy band and lip-synching pin-up there are 10 "outsiders"--the earnest, often psychotic and not necessarily ingenious stars..."
(Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

These and many more songs are part of an album Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music. You can buy the book with CD here!


In the end I want to publish Roman's Manifesto:

"I refuse to follow the guidlines of conventional slick design and correct spelling. I will do everything I can so my blog does not become a part of one of these "lip-synching pin-ups". Following examples of the above geniuses (and true musicians), I will try to incorporate bad design, awful sound and video quality and misleading judgement, presented as philosophy with critical thinking, in my blog.

That is where true sincerity lies."

Amen

North Korean Megamix

Here you can listen to some excerpts from the last year's Servataguse Muusika festival organized in Tallinn, Estonia. Mostly for fans of untraditional music... This year's festival will be held in Tallinn again, on 4,5,6 November 2011. So if anyone is interested in unusual music of the Northern Europe, this is the place for you!


And for the fans of Sublime Frequencies, possibly one of the best record labels I am aware of, Motherland Megamix - Radio Pyongyang:

Ça Fait Zizir Festival, Lyon France

Never mind the quality of these videos, as well my hands were shaking like always...

It was the first day of a three-day Ça Fait Zizir Festival in Lyon. Some good French performance with gypsy influences... Or not gypsy? Does anyone know if ska punk has to do anything with gypsy music? I know that use of trumpets in music does not necessarily signify it is gypsy music, but still...?

A very angry-looking lead singer.

The crowd.

Nantes, France

View on the hostel I am staying in. Nantes, France.

Open window at night. Still too hot.

Castle of Nantes

Flag of Nantes.

Wall in one of the toilets in old town.

Residents of Nantes are very proud of a giant moving elephant, that moves across the town once a year.

Anarchists are active in Nantes.

Poster for the unification of Brittany. Nationalists with a leftist influence. Breton language, now close to extinction is one of few Celtic languages (Cornish in South-West England, Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Isle of Man area)

 Musée des Beaux Arts.

After the battle of Waterloo. Morning.

 

Another scene from  Musée des Beaux Arts.

Was walking around old town, trying to find language schools. Found protesters, demonstrating against the new airport that Nantes wants to build not far from the town. 

I asked a guy in the beret cap if they are going to occupy the square. He told me that they do not like violence, and just want to spread information, but if they have to, they will resist. I told him that in Eastern Europe people do not tend to protest. He agreed, citing his friend from Russia. I liked the young Lenin, but had to keep walking.

Action-art!

Typical street in Nantes Old Town.

Sebastian is master of unexpected encounters. I am not sure he is aware of it himself.

Audience:

Backstage action

Crazy drummer at Toolse FreeLove Festival

The third festival this week was called FreeLove, in Toolse, North-East Estonia. The name was especially ironic since it was full of local chavs who were ready to punch your teeth in case you said something wrong. Especially if you did not speak Russian. Luckily, everything went well and without incidents. 

Toolse Castle where festival was held.

Making plans for the night.

Occupying grass in front of the castle.

Professional cook/soldier

Session before the main concert.

Check out the drummer

Highlight of the while night.

People climbing 

Morning

FreeLove is held every year in different places around Estonia, this was my first attendance. I expected more people and better weather, but in general it is worth attending since it is also free...