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Nov 12, 2025 By Dom Gourlay Photography by Ritvars Stankevics (lead photo) Web Exclusive

As the capital of Latvia and indeed the second largest city in the whole of the three Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia), Riga has established itself as the region’s cultural hub. Renowned for its architecture, operas and theatres, Riga has emerged as a city where counter cultures blossom and grow, with record labels and gig spaces opening up in recent years for both local acts and touring artists from overseas. With a population of just over half a million people and a transport network that puts the UK to shame - 10 Euros for a five-day travel pass that can be used on buses, trams and trains - Riga is one of the most accessible cities in Europe that while always busy, never feels claustrophobic or overcrowded.

So, it’s probably long overdue that Riga Music Week is finally a thing. Essentially the brainchild of Agnese Cimuška-Rekke from Music Latvia and supported by Riga City Council, whose presence at the opening party the day before the festival begins (Tuesday 4th November) provides an insight into Riga Music Week’s humble beginnings. Situated in various spaces around the city’s Tallinas Ielas Kvartāls, essentially a courtyard of buildings formerly used as workshops that plays host to the seven stages where over 50 acts will perform over the two scheduled days (Wednesday 5th & Thursday 6th November). The very first Riga Music Week prides itself on being an international affair that while mainly focusing on artists from the Baltic States - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are understandably well represented. Also features artists from further afield including France, Ukraine, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Poland and the UK. With each of the stages curated by one of the festival’s Baltic partners - I Love You Records, Summer Sounds Festival and Sofar Sounds Riga being among them - Riga Music Week has a truly independent rather than conventional showcase feel about it.

Outside of the main venue numerous pop-up stages play host to secret sets by participating artists. One of which saw Nottingham’s hotly-tipped Vona Vella play a stripped back set in a book shop that also sells beer - Ex Libris. The five-piece have been building momentum in recent months and both live shows here are among the most memorable of the whole festival. Gaining them new fans from the Baltic region as well as those already aware of the band’s wares. Playing a set (both times) almost exclusively lifted from forthcoming second album Carnival, Vona Vella’s mix and match of influences and styles proves a winner, as songs like “Bass Driver” and “Bear Trap” ensures they return for an impromptu encore - so impromptu that they’ve ran out of songs so play “Bear Trap” again in front of an ecstatic audience.

Fellow UK and Nottingham outfit Eyre Llew also wow a jam packed room on the Contakts Black Stage for Sofar Sounds Riga that closes the festival on Thursday evening. Somewhat veterans of Latvia having played here six times previously, tonight’s set sees them play a mix of songs from 2017’s debut Atelo and 2019’s Carrier EP as well as showcasing material from long-awaited second album Bloom, which is set to drop next year. Having initially started out as a three-piece, the addition of new members Russ Clark (bass) and Laurie Illingworth (piano/drums) has enabled them to broaden their sound even further which makes for a spellbinding live show. While the likes of “Atelo” and “Edca” draw comparisons with Sigur Ros, instrumental numbers “Silo” and “Nova” reach the same dizzying heights as Explosions In The Sky at their skyscraping best while future single “Oban” might just be the 6Music bothering, pop song Eyre Llew have been threatening to make for years.

Earlier that evening, Riga’s own Elizabete Balčus will play a set on the Tallinn Music Week curated Ezitis Migla Stage that is both theatrical and playful. Elizabete’s set is drawn from new and unreleased material in addition to songs from her most recent album Hotel Universe, which came out in 2022 on Mothland Records. Elements of techno, traditional folk and even psychedelia fuse their way into Elizabete’s world which makes her one of the most engaging acts we see this week. The following night (Friday 7th), Elizabete and the aforementioned Eyre Llew will do it all again, playing a joint headline show at the Kurte venue in Talsi approximately 115 km from Riga. Both capable of delivering the unpredictable which they comfortably achieve to the juxtaposition of one another.

Staying with Latvia, singer/songwriter Emilija Bērziņa won the Latvian equivalent of X Factor 2 years ago and has been a rising star ever since. Her set on the festival’s biggest stage (Angārs) drew a sizable crowd on the first day. Better still were Purple Negative, a four-piece from Riga whose potent mix of alt-rock, grunge and shoegaze drew comparisons with early Wolf Alice and The Breeders. Playing a set mainly consisting of songs taken from last year’s excellent debut LP Megabee, they’re a revelation opening Wednesday night’s Contakts White Stage for I Love You Records which sets the scene impeccably for everything that follows.

One of the acts signed to I Love You are Riga-based trio Bēdu Brāļi, who’ve already started to branch out to other territories having wowed delegates and punters alike at last year’s Viva Sounds festival in Gothenburg. Their second album Lauskas came out in April of this year and unsurprisingly, 3/4 of tonight’s set was lifted off that record. Singing exclusively in Latvian and one of only a handful artists we saw doing so, Bēdu Brāļi also pulled one of the largest crowds of the festival. Led by the formidable presence of Oskars Tu on vocals and guitar, their music drifts between the calm waters of The Mars Volta to the chaotic reverence of King Gizzard with consummate ease and in closing number “Kādēļ tik daudz par tevi domāju?” Bēdu Brāļi possess one of the festival’s most dynamic pieces of music.

Riga Music Week isn’t just about loud guitars as demonstrated by Zeltrači un Katrīna Dimanta’s performance on the Outdoor Folk Stage. Playing a variant of traditional Latvian folk that relies as much on the performance as it does the music, Dimanta and band are a joyful and entertaining watch.

Estonia’s mariin k. Are another revelation. Although initially started as a solo project by songwriter, singer and guitarist Mariin Kallikorm, they’ve since become a fully fledged, four-piece band and their breezy take on indiepop features hints of melancholic shoegaze along the way. Playing a set mostly consisting of material from this year’s debut LP Rose Skin, they’re another of this year’s acts whose music could easily translate to wider audiences far beyond their homeland. “Free Alice” displays hints of Soccer Mommy or Wednesday while the heaviest song in the set “Easy” takes us back to the heady days of 1994 when bands like Veruca Salt were all the rage.

Across the border into Lithuania, Vilnius-based combo Nika Ganga are a pleasant surprise. Taking inspiration from all aspects of RnB, jazz and soul then placing them all together into one exquisite melting pot, their set has the entire room on its feet at Contakts Black. Fronted by the captivating Monika Juškevičiūtė, they’re another of Riga Music Week’s hidden gems that will surely be making their presence felt in other territories before long.

As will fellow Lithuanian artist Ingaja, whose soothing blend of acoustic folk and electronica made for a welcome introduction to Thursday’s proceedings at Tallinas Ielas Kvartāls.

With such a dazzling array of talent on display and positive feedback from everyone we spoke to - whether they be artists, delegates or punters - it’s probably fair to say the very first Riga Music Week was a resounding success.

Here’s to many, many more!