The third annual Mayor's Popular Concert will kick off this year's Helsinki Festival in August. The performers in the concert will be the Leningrad Cowboys along with the Russian Red Army Choir and the UMO Jazz Orchestra.

   

The concert, to be held on August 23rd at Helsinki's Senate Square, is titled Global Balalaika Show. The last time the Leningrad Cowboys and the Red Army Choir performed together was ten years ago at the Senate Square, attracting over 60,000 people. Some 30,000 - 35,000 people have been at the previous two Mayor's Popular Concerts.

   

Leningrad Cowboys head Sakke Järvenpää promises that this year's show will be completely new, with Cuban and African musicians as well as surprise guest stars.

   

Järvenpää envisions a concert full of surprises, combining Russian and Latin elements. Some 140 performers will take to the stage, playing 20-24 different songs. A documentary on the event will also be filmed, with Aki Kaurismäki a candidate for director.

   

Although the band will play a new set, the general public can vote over the internet for two songs from thirteen that were included in the set played ten years ago. These songs include classics such as Yellow Submarine and Stairway to Heaven.

   

The Leningrad Cowboys have performed quite seldom in Finland, usually only once a year. This summer, a few concerts are in store. The band plans to perform the Global Balalaika Show elsewhere in Europe next year.