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Assuming summer ever arrives, and you want to chill out in the wilderness, feel free to get stuck in traffic driving out to the USADBA JAZZ festival (June 13-14, Arkhangelskoe, 16:00). Day one features Z-STAR, KARL DENSON, RED ELVIES and many more, while day two gravitates around THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES and BILLY COBHAM.

What a sad childhood Israeli via South Africa singer YOAV (June 13, B2, 23:00) must have had: he had to sneak into neighbours’ houses in order to listen to fucking WHAM records. Now he’s kind of a light pop singer. His parents must be proud.

Those of you that enjoy seeing dudes press play on CD players will be happy to know that famous DJ CARL COX (June 13, Gaudi Arena, 23:00) is returning to town. This time he brings with him NIGEL DAWSON and DANIELE DAVOLI. A host of Russian DJs will also be spinning. Fun?

Although Radio Maximum tries to present itself at the forefront of cutting-edge modern rock, it’s annual MAXIDROM festival (June 14, Olimpisky, 19:00) tells a different story. This year’s headliner is lame-o American "rocker" LENNY KRAVITZ, with support coming form Latvians BRAINSTORM and locals DELFIN and BI-2. Yawn.

Back at the auto show on the outskirts of town, super-DJ PAUL VAN DYK (June 14, Tushino, 20:00) and a host of others whose names don’t ring any bells with me will be spinning records. I guess it could be fun if the weather is ok.

However, I think that weird minimal techno guy MATZAK (June 14, 16 Tons, 23:00) will be much more interesting. Plus, it’s indoors in case the weather blows.

Also, apparently in advance of her stadium show a couple days later, KYLIE MINOGUE (June 14, Rai, 23:00) will be making a "secret" appearance at Moscow’s elitny-est club.

Top Picks

Nephew

While most Moscow promoters are content with bringing you what they already know you’ll eat up, Ikra tends to be the one club that is willing to take the occasional risk. The thing is, the club has such a cult following at this point, that all they need to do is say, basically, "look, we know more about music than you do, and have an idea of what you’ll like before you even know yourself." Fair enough, then, that their next experiment is Denmark’s Nephew, who are apparently huge in their homeland. They play melodic rock with a bit of a synth here and there, for a very pleasant indie rock sound that Ikra tries to describe as somewhere between Depeche Mode, Interpol and Muse. Give it a chance. Like, it may just become the most talked about gig of the summer. Seriously, dude.

PJ Harvey

Sometime in the mid-90s, chick singers seemed inescapable. Tori Amos. Liz Phair. Alanis fucking Morisette. Some of them had a decent song, but rarely anything to keep us caring ten years later. Britain’s PJ Harvey has managed to create compelling music for over a decade, though, perhaps by making sure to continue associating with musicians and producers who are forward-thinking: Steve Albini, Flood, Nick Cave, and others. In any case, Polly Jane’s latest record tons down the alt-rock fuzz that graced some of her earlier work and goes for an all-piano basis. One of Moscow’s smallest and most intimate venues should certainly be the right place to see her, if you can get a ticket. Los Angeles shoegazers Autolux open.

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