Concerts
Russian pop stars are no longer top of the bill in Minsk. More and more international bands and artists are heading to Minsk Arena, the newest venue in town, as it fast becomes an established part of the East European tour circuit. But there is still plenty of cheesy Russian pop to be found and plenty of decent local music too. The latter can usually be found at the Graffiti Club.
Buying tickets
You can buy your tickets from the venue or there are plenty of ticket offices across the city centre. Here are a few locations...
• The subways of the Oktyabrskaya, Yakub Kolas and Institut Kulturi metro stations.
• The second floor of the GUM department store.
• The Theatrical booking offices on Prospekt Nazvisimosti at numbers 13, 19 and 44.
31 July, Saturday
Ruki Vverkh
23:00
Club Africa, Timiyarzeva 9 (Тимиярзева 9)
They’re awful, but so awful that they’re actually rather endearing. Millions of people across the former USSR love them and they must be up there with the most popular Russian bands of the last 20 years. Tickets 50-80,000br.
8 August, Sunday
Anna Shiryaeva
18:00
Graffiti Club, Pereulok Kalinina 16 (пер. Калинина, 16)
Singer songwriter from Novosibirsk in Russia.
11 August, Wednesday
Tanin Jazz
19:00
Graffiti Club, Pereulok Kalinina 16 (пер. Калинина, 16)
Local band with some catchy tunes.
22 August, Sunday
Apple Tea and Sharon Clark
Palace of the Republic (Дворец Республики) on October Square (Площадь Октябрьской)
19:00
Minsk biggest jazz band supported by American Sharon Clark in a concert “in memory of the great Shirley Horn”. Tickets 30-70,000br.
28 August, Saturday
The Road Dogs
18:00
Graffiti Club, Pereulok Kalinina 16 (пер. Калинина, 16)
Belarusian blues band
18 September, Saturday
Sting
20:00
Minsk Arena, Prospekt Pobediteley 111 (Проспект Победителей 111)
Tickets from 180,000br
1 October, Friday
Joe Cocker
20:00
Minsk Arena, Prospekt Pobediteley 111 (Проспект Победителей 111)
Oh, the times I’ve had to explain that Joe Cocker isn’t American. He’s from Sheffield in northern England and for what it’s worth, when I was a student there, I used to drink in one of the pubs where he played gigs in the 1960s. Costs more than the price of a pint to watch him in Minsk though. Tickets from 130-500,000br
16 October, Saturday
José Carreras
Minsk Arena, Prospekt Pobediteley 111 (Проспект Победителей 111)
19:00
Yet another world famous name doing a turn at the biggest venue in town. Tickets from 60-250,000br.
5 October, Tuesday
Limp Bizkit
Minsk Arena, Prospekt Pobediteley 111 (Проспект Победителей 111)
19:00
They’ve been pumping up angry, angst ridden teenagers for years. Tickets from 100-200,000br
20 November, Saturday
Junior Eurovision 2010
Minsk Arena, Prospekt Pobediteley 111 (Проспект Победителей 111)
21:00
Belarus won Junior Eurovision in 2005 and 2007, making it one of countries favourite competitions. Expect lots of hype in the build up to the event and a sold out arena.
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