Latvia is the home of diverse music groups and many now have the chance to showcase their talents outside Latvia’s borders.

Latvian indie group Gaujarts, art-rock band Mona de Bo, ska-punk Mango, guitarist Reinis Jaunais with his experimental jazz-rock fusion, philosopher cum singer Imants Daksis and electro-duo Kodek are all teaming together in the Netherlands on July 12th at Amstelveen’s pop music venue P60 – Podium for Pop & Culture.

The event, called “Out in Riga”, will appeal to Latvians living and travelling in the Netherlands but it is sure to also draw in local Dutch crowds, showing music-lovers in this part of Europe that Latvia can produce a range of unique and high-quality music for the younger crowd. More information on this event can be found at www.p60.nl

For the second year in a row, Latvia has failed to advance to the final of the annual Eurovision Song Contest, which this year takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan.

“Beautiful Song,” a tune performed by singer Anmary, did not impress television viewers and professional juries in the May 22 semi-final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

A total of 18 countries competed in the first of two semi-finals, but just 10 could get into the final. A second semi-final on May 24 will pit 18 more countries—including Estonia and Lithuania—against each other, also for 10 spots in the final. The final contest is slated for May 26 and will include those 20 contestants plus five core countries that automatically are slotted (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the host, Azerbaijan.

Anmary (whose real name is Linda Amantova) won Latvia’s national Eirodziesma competition on Feb. 18. The tune, “Beautiful Song,” is an homage to the Eurovision Song Contest and was composed by Ivars Makstnieks with lyrics by Rolands Ūdris.

Last year’s entry, performed by the duo Musiqq, also did not make it past the Eurovision semi-finals.

Latvia’s Marija Naumova won the contest in 2002 with the song “I Wanna.”

Kāda Latvijas Universitātes komunikācijas studiju studente griežas pie ārzemēs dzīvojošiem latviešiem ar lūgumu izpalīdzēt ar viņas pētijumu par Latvijas sabiedrisko mediju lietojumu ārzemēs dzīvojošo latviešu vidē.

Jana Hmeļņicka ir IV kursa studente LU Sociālo zinātņu fakultātes Komunikācijas studiju nodaļā. Pašreiz viņa gatavo savu bakalaura darba pētījumu par Latvijas Televīziju un Latvijas Radio.

Kā Hmeļņicka e-pastā raksta, “Lai saņemtu atbildes uz pētījumā izvirzītajiem jautājumiem, esmu izveidojusi aptaujas anketu, kuras mērķis ir noskaidrot: Latvijas sabiedrisko mediju satura pieejamību ārpus Latvijas robežas; kāds saturs pietrūkst latviešiem ārzemēs, kuru Latvijas sabiedriskie mediji varētu piedāvāt; kādas atšķirības mediju lietotāji saskata starp Latvijas sabiedriskajiem medijiem (LTV1, LTV7) un komerciālajiem medijiem (TV3, LNT utt.).”

Aptauja, pieejama tikai latviešu valodā un tikai līdz 21. maijam, atrodas portālā visidati.lv.