Passport Picks

Editor’s Choice

Moscow International Air Show 2008

For centuries, a desire to take flight ignited the creativity and ingenuity of humankind. Today, though we now have the ability cover time and space with ease, for many of us the secrets of how these beautiful machines soar remains fascinating, which may explain the continued popularity of air shows. In August, Moscow audiences will be treated to their very own air show, featuring some of the world’s best-known aircraft manufacturers. The first two days will be devoted to those in the industry, but after that the event will be open to members of the public, who just may find themselves in the cockpit of a plane or helicopter. The organizers promise special entertainment for children, but no matter your age, the weekend promises to be wonderful for the whole family.

Tricky

Behind the name Tricky is Bristol musician Adrian Thaws. Although he is credited with the invention of trip hop, Thaws aggressively asserts that he adheres to no genre. Whatever the truth, thousands of fans love his music, and Tricky revolutionized the music of the European club scene in the late 1990s. His solo projects as well as collaborations with DJ Paul Oakenfold turned European hit lists upside-down. This July he released Knowle West Boy, his eighth album and his first in five years. A bit of a self-reinvention following the more mainstreatm style of some of his earlier work, the rugged sound of his latest album does not disappoint.

Tancy Minus — Russian Rock Plus

When talking about Russian rock of the 90s, it is impossible to miss the band Tancy Minus. Led by Vyacheslav Petkun, from their first acoustic concerts in Moscow’s Propaganda Club in 1995, the word among Moscow music critics and fans was that these rockers from St. Pete were real thing. Their album 10 Drops quickly reached the top of Russian hit lists, and by 2000 the band was headlining major Russian rock festivals such as those organized by the Nashe and Maximum radio stations. Petkun has branched out into other areas as well, playing Quasimodo in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris in 2003, which garnered him fame throughout Russia. Nevertheless, he remains the leader of a band that manages to unite the two Russian capitals with a bit of rock and a bit of roll.

NuNote Lounge Festival

To those unfamiliar with lounge music, the name may evoke images of a guy in a stained powder-blue tuxedo doing awful renditions of Sinatra classics. But for Moscow’s NuNote record label, lounge music’s hip and jazzy sounds are perfect for those seeking shelter from the drum-and-bass-dominated club scene. In 2006, the first international lounge music festival under the direction of the then-young NuNote Label was held. Organizers admitted their surprise at the notice the event received in a Moscow that was already overflowing with a myriad of events. Pleased with its success, they decided to make it an annual fixture, inviting musicians from Russia and abroad to participate. This year, you can say bye-bye to summer while relaxing to such bands as: Gus Gus (Iceland), Pauline London (Italy), Mezzoforte (Iceland), Bonobo DJ Set (Great Britain), and Kurt Maloo (Germany).