First dark clouds and downpours, then Megan Thee Stallion, one of the main actors at the Positivus Festival in Riga, had to cancel. Dancers and entourage were already there. The Houston, Texas-based explicit hip-hop queen was stranded somewhere along the long road to Europe. Appropriately traveling in a private jet, the indestructible lady let it be known in a first “sorry” tweet that she will catch up on her gig on the second evening. Taking a deep breath from the organizers.
The festival scene in Eastern, Southeastern and Northeastern Europe is also getting back to its old form after the now notorious “Covid break”. In addition to the well-known mega events such as Sziget in Hungary’s capital Budapest or Exit in Novi Sad in northern Serbia, other live concepts are also trying to attract an international audience. The USP usually includes a good price-performance ratio, although not only the prices for beer and other things have increased in the former Eastern Bloc countries, as well as a booking with a knack for a mix of established stars, regional acts and a colorful bouquet of avant-garde discoveries. Another plus are the often exuberant and euphoric locals. The strong domestic hip-hop and indie scene celebrated in Riga.
With around 20,000 visitors on the Megan Thee Stallion “Ersatz” Saturday, it was full, but not TOO full for a second. They only rotated and pushed in the rap mosh pit. Two days with a spectrum from US superstar rap to Jamie XX and Avalanches to the Cambridge folkies Black Country, New Road.
“Riga can offer a green island in the middle of an otherwise very lively and attractive city”
The Positivus festival, which took place on a long stretch of river island in Riga for the first time since last weekend, has even changed locations for a (cautious) expansion. The countryside flavor in the Baltic province with, at best, a charmingly improvised infrastructure is a thing of the past. The new site with four stages and the usual chill-out, gastro and Remmi-Demmi areas can now be reached on foot from the city.
In an interview with ROLLING STONE, Positivus organizer Girts Majors said about the leap onto the international live map: “Riga can offer a green island in the middle of a city that is otherwise very lively and attractive; not many European cities can do that! The summer of 2002 is also very, very challenging for us festival organizers. Despite the expansion, we are keeping the ball flat and are happy that all announced bands and artists were able to be present.”
With the New York rapper Bas, a friend of megastar 50 Cent, a wild round dance began, which reached its almost hysterical climax with the pyro show and the flying panties from the audience at ASAP Rocky. Bass pounding and fireworks, from “Fashion Killa” to the haunting murmur rap “DMB”. Baltic audiences liked being cool and mega trendy. Motto: What Palm Springs, the desert location of the “Coachella” festival, can do – we can do for a long time! Handsome boys and fluffy girls galore, the somewhat rough UK category “boobs-out” festival undoubtedly applies to the Positivus.
The total Positivus package with slopes, looking at the wide river Düna, trying out Baltic snacks or listening to Latvian singer-songwriters like Elizabete Gaill on a rainy afternoon is a sight to behold. It is to be wished for the creators of Positivus that their risk of thinking and acting a little bigger will be rewarded by the fans during the festival years.
Information about 2023 is available here.
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