Station Narva presents music from near and far, invites to discover the hidden gems of the border town and to explore the lifestyle, culture and business scenarios of post-industrial Ida-Viru County. From ultra-modern alternative RnB to the 21st Century takes on ska and grunge, and a melange of hip-hop, techno and Arabic pop – the line-up at Vaba Lava Narva Blackbox on the 8th and 9th of September unites the heritage and future fusions of dance music from around the world. Afterparties and special performances will reach also the beloved riverside hub Art Club Ro-Ro on both nights. 

“Station Narva is about bold decisions and new music – something you might not have heard or tried yet, but what will linger in your playlist and memories for a long time,” says Station Narva’s community manager Valeria Lavrova. She adds: “It’s about new places, formats, approaches, openness to the world, tomorrow’s trends and exciting experiments. But besides opening up to new tastes, rhythms, melodies and feelings, it really involves our city’s habitats, captures our traditions and shows our locations from new angles. This festival, which was once launched with the idea that Narva should become the culture capital of Europe, is constantly evolving. Narva is next!”

Mighty Parisian crew Acid Arab have been putting European festival grounds and club floors under their spell for over a decade with the blend of techno, acid house and oriental rhythm patterns. By handling the dramatic power of the East with analogue devices of the West, they create a unique and trance-inducing cross-cultural fusion. Their third LP Trois (2023) is a collection of serious dancefloor bangers with sophisticated production and eight guest vocalists from North Africa, Syria and Turkey.

Deki Alem is a raw and gritty outfit full of analogue charm and punkish verve – sweaty, gooey and irresistible. With a boundless drive, the twin duo from Sweden have created new paths for alternative music where their colour palette feels infinite. There is an uncomfortable honesty and emotional masculinity in the way they mix drum & bass and grunge with rap. After supporting Gorillaz and touring across Europe, Deki Alem have recently released their sophomore EP Fluent Stutter.

Ukrainian pop star Ivan Dorn’s fusion of house, nu-disco, funk and jazz with a distinctive 90s feel, spiced with brave dance steps, have won him accolades like “a bridge between Kavinsky and Pharrell Williams”. Based in France since the outbreak of war, Dorn offers audiences across Europe and his compatriots both escapist joy and relentless fighting spirit.

The Dutch ska-rock squad Bazzookas cause chemical reactions and sparkling joy wherever they go. With 400+ gigs under their belt, they can still ignite every audience and have recently released the anti-war single ‘Fight the Monster’, featuring Estonian-Ukrainian musician Ruslan Trochynskyi.

The line-up also includes a potent blend of airy vocals and bass-heavy sounds by Estonian alternative RnB artist manna. Diving into a deep pond of off-kilter, genre-bending sounds, she is poised to appeal to both underground and broader audiences near and far. The Estonian-Dominican artist YASMYN will treat Narva with her very own mix of modern R&B and sweetly nostalgic neo-soul off her upcoming LP, including the recent viral hit ‘Only For You’. The line-up will be complete with a future-nostalgic 80s-style performance by Narva’s own singer-songwriter IVI, loaded with hooky choruses and slick beats.

The festival programme includes also free city stage gigs, public debates, Business Day in cooperation with the creative incubator OBJEKT, art exhibitions, tours, communal gatherings and a traditional Narva-style breakfast.

Station Narva 2023 programme overview 

Additional info:
Station Narva homepage | Artists | Facebook | Instagram

Playlists:
YouTube | Spotify