Italian Zucchero to play Kyiv; To GogolFest for art, music and more
One of the most famous European musicians, Italian pop singer Zucchero, known especially for the songs “Senza una Donna” and “Con le Mani,” will make a stop in Kyiv this September, on his 2007 world tour. Kyiv’s audience can look forward to enjoying his best songs and his Italian charm, on Sept. 12 at Arena Entertaiment.
Internationally acclaimed Italian superstar Adelmo Fornaciari, known more commonly to his fans as Zucchero, has thrilled audiences worldwide with his pop and blues-infused style for nearly 25 years. He has sold millions of albums in his native country, throughout Europe and beyond, and has received numerous awards and accolades. By the way, his pseudonym “Zucchero,” meaning “sugar,” has been his nickname from a very young age, and was given to him by an elementary school teacher, who said he was as sweet as sugar, calling him “marmellata e zucchero,” “jam and sugar.”
Adelmo began playing guitar in his home province of Reggio Emilia, focusing on blues and r’n’b styles. After forming the group Sugar and Candies in 1978, Zucchero began composing Italian pop songs for other artists, and more blues-oriented material for himself. He won the 1981 Castrocaro Festival, which led to performances at the 1982 and 1983 Sanremo Festivals. The exposure allowed Zucchero to release his own solo album, 1983’s Un Po’ Di Zucchero. His song, “Donne,” performed with the newly formed Zucchero & the Randy Jackson Band, caused a sensation at the 1985 Sanremo Festival; even though “Donne” didn’t win, it did become a hit. This introduced the Zucchero blend of Italian pop and electric blues to a larger audience. During the late 80s and early 90s, he became one of the best-selling artists in Italy and a favorite all over Europe. Although he performed at the 1994 Woodstock Festival and appeared with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, the Scorpions, and Luciano Pavarotti, Zucchero’s American audience remained limited. In 2002, he released another successful solo album, “Shake.” Three years later “Zucchero & Co.,” a collection of duets with some of his (mainly) non-Italian fans, including Eric Clapton, Macy Gray, and Sheryl Crow, came out, followed in 2006 by another full-length record, “Fly.” It includes the European hit singles “Bacco Perbacco,” “Cuba Libre,” “Occhi,” and “Un Kilo,” and features collaborations with artists such as Ivano Fossati and Jovanotti.
Now Zucchero and his band are currently touring to promote “Fly.” The last time Zucchero visited Kyiv was eight years ago, as one of the headliners of the Rock-Kyiv fest. At that time I, together with many others, enjoyed his performance greatly, and truly anticipate his upcoming gig.
Arena Entertainment (2A Basseyna, 492-0000). Sept. 12, 7 p.m. Tickets Hr 150 to Hr 5,000
To GogolFest for art, music and more
During Sept. 7-14 the first international festival of arts GogolFest, dedicated to the bicentenary of legendary writer Nikolay Gogol will take place at Art Arsenal. The name of Gogol is closely associated with the philosophy of mysticism which is the basis for the biennale of contemporary art in all its volume and spectrum from painting and theater to philosophy and literature. Thus, the project will involve a great advancement in the development of contemporary Ukrainian art. GogolFest project will be realized in several stages and will develop in time till April 2009. The first stage of GogolFest, “Gogol Project,” will include visual a section, “Gogol.Portrait,” the theatrical performance “Gogol’s Death” and concerts.
One of the major events of the musical part of “Gogol Project,” Afisha Ethno Party, will feature folk band DakhaBrakha, folk singer Katya Chillyand DJ Sivash, playing at the Center of Contemporary Art “Dakh” Sept. 9. DakhaBrakha, a band playing contemporary folk music, which musicians dub “ethno-chaos,” was created at The Center of Contemporary Art “Dakh.” This is the fourth ethno-music project of Vladyslav Troitskiy, who has worked as a producer with such well-known Ukrainian folk groups as Drevo and Bozhychi, which took part in performances of “In Search of a Lost Time…,” “Life…,” “The Stone Circle,” and “Time of Troubles,” shown at the international festivals in Munich and Vienna.
Center of Contemporary Art “Dakh” (36 Chervonoarmiyska, 596-4062). GogolFest – Sept. 7-14. Afisha Ethno Party – Sept. 9, 8 p.m. Free admission
For more information go to www.gogolfest.org.ua
