Kīns and Mednis to perform on Latvijas Radio 2

Andris Straumanis | 2007. gada 16. March

The song getting the most airplay last year on Latvijas Radio 2 was “Putni” by Ēriks Kīns and Edmunds Mednis, a couple of Latvian singer-songwriters based in Chicago and Milwaukee. The pair will perform a live concert on LR2 from 17:00-18:00 hours Latvian time (15:00-16:00 GMT) March 19.

Kīns is well-known among Chicago area Latvians as a member of the now-defunct Minnow Buckets and as one of four members of the Latvian-American band Adam Zahl. Mednis also is a member of Adam Zahl, but before moving to Milwaukee was known in Latvia as a member of the schlager bands Kaimiņi (now known as the country band Sestā Jūdze) and Bumerangs.

More information about the Kīns and Mednis partnership may be found on draugiem.lv, where several of their songs may be heard. Their biography also mentions they have worked on some songs with Artūrs Rūsis of Los Angeles.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

ALA plans second Heritage Latvia tour

Andris Straumanis | 2007. gada 15. March

Teenagers ages 13-15 are invited to participate in the second “Heritage Latvia” English-language tour sponsored by the American Latvian Association. The trip is scheduled July 12-27.

The tour is designed to introduce youth to the homeland of their ancestors. It will concentrate on what is “unique about Latvia, including its history, culture, environment and geography,” the ALA said in announcing the tour.

The trip will begin and end in Rīga, and will include visits to a number of landmarks and cities around the country. Youth also will visit two schools in Latvia.

The first “Heritage Latvia” tour was in July 2006.

For further information, contact trip organizer Anita Juberts, American Latvian Association, 400 Hurley Ave., Rockville, MD 20850. Juberts also may be reached by telephone at +1 (301) 340-8719 or by e-mail at projekti@alausa.org. An application form in Microsoft Word format may downloaded from the ALA’s Web site.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

Dzelzs Vilks releases new album

Andris Straumanis | 2007. gada 15. March

After a three-year break, rock group Dzelzs Vilks has released a new album, Sārtā rītausma, featuring nine new songs. The group now begins a tour around Latvia to promote the record.

The release coincides with the group’s 16th anniversary. Dzelzs Vilks includes lead singer Juris Kaukulis, Armands Butkevičs on bass, Mārcis Judzis on drums and Kaspars Tobis on programming.

The group plays in the industrial metal style, but also has branched out into other genres, doing work for the theater and, in 2005, releasing an album of modern folk songs, Kur vakara zvaigzne lec.

Sārtā rītausma was released by Upe Tuviem un Tāliem, which has released several other of Dzelzs Vilks’ six albums.

Dzelzs Vilks’ new album is titled Sārtā rītausma.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.