YMCA Europe Festival 2008
3-9 August 2008, Prague, Czech Republic
Already booked...
These artists have confirmed to play at the Festival:
Ira Losco
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Ira Losco seems unable to only watch the world go by without doing something creative. It's her personal experiences that she expresses in her powerful music, thoughts and feelings that people can relate to. And with her unique voice she easily catches the audience and makes it moving. Ira Losco and her band have been performing to sold out audiences for the past two years. She has played support to international stars like Katie Melua, Elton John, Akon, Enrique Iglesias, Maroon 5, Ronan Keating, Bob Geldof, and Mel C and also sung duets with Italian sensations Gigi D'Alessio and Claudio Baglioni. |
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What makes you enthusiastic about the YMCA Europe Festival?
Playing at the YMCA Festival will take me back to my roots when I was only 15 years old and performed in the City main square in aid of this cause I very fervently believe in.
I have never played a concert in Prague and have heard of its beauty it is always exciting to share my music with other cultures and countries and I believe that music unites and also sends out a message. Hopefully people will address the homelessness issue the louder we play our instruments!
What was the favourite place you visited on a tour and why?
Probably Berlin as it has a great history, is an inspiration to many artists and is multi cultural! It was also the place where we played to the biggest audience - 80,000 people.
Mark Hill
- a Christian DJ from England, who runs his own radio show.
He will have some shows on the Festival and will also offer workshops.
More information coming soon
We are PULZ
And we play rock'n'roll.
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There were no plans at all when the gentlemen of PULZ met for the first time in Zurich, Switzerland, back in 1998. However, they performed several songs at a music event, they were hooked and could not stop.The release of the «Exit To A Spotless Sky» EP in the Summer of 2004 is a highlight in the band's career. More success followed when they won the Swiss national band contest «Abart Battle Of The Bands2005/06» after more than 100 public performances. |
Currently, the gentlemen are working with Switzerland's most in-demand producers on their debut longplayer (scheduled for release in May 2008).
What makes you enthusiastic about the YMCA Europe Festival?
Three of us were - and as a matter of fact still are - YMCA members. Since our early boyhood days, we were active on various stages and in various programmes of the local Y's of the greater Zurich area, Switzerland. Today, we have strong bonds to the YMCA in Belarus - and to the Lida YMCA in particular. To run, to manage, to nurse and to take care of this local to local YMCA-partnership is a wonderful task - because it is about friendship.
This said, it becomes clear that to play at the YMCA-Festival in Prague is about giving something back to an organisation that has given so much to us in all those years. It is about performing at a great event that means something to us. It is about playing in a country we have not performed in so far.
And it is about making a dream come true: To perform full scale for our YMCA-friends from Belarus and from Switzerland in the very same location.
What was the favourite place you visited on a tour and why?
Probably that's the "Mascotte" in Zurich. First of all, because it is located in our home town, and without our fans from home, we never would have been able to come this long long way. Second, because it is one of the oldest concert clubs in Switzerland. Legends such as Mötley Crue, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis Jr. Falco and many more played there. It is one of those "one of a kind" places with this special aura of uniqueness.
Kugel
This dance group from Ukraine performs acrobatic Rock-n-Roll and modern show dance. They took part already in the YMC Europe Festival in 2003 on different stages. Since then they have participated in various international Festivals and competitions. They have participated three times in the Dance World Cup, winning gold 2005 in Poland and silver several times. In 2007 they took part in the European Dance Championship in Serbia.
Kugel worked together with the YMCA for many years, and now they are happy to be again part of the Festival, since they really enjoyed their participation at the YMCA Europe Festival in 2003.
MENSCHENSOHN
poetic German-speaking Pop/Rock from Austria.
A unique voice. A powerful sound. Downright surrounding.
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The poetic lyrics reflect deep personal emotions and experiences - love and pain, struggle and joy, disappointment and hope, and the longing for a God, who is trustworthy. The massive sound of their authentic live-performances grabs the audience in an intense way. MENSCHENSOHN released their debut album "so nah" in 2001. This was followed by various remarkable new releases on the DoubleCD-Sampler "Crossover", and the EP "Mein Sinn". Live, MENSCHENSOHN do not only perform in Austria, but also at European festivals, in such countries as Germany, Holland, Poland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. |
What makes you enthusiastic about the YMCA Europe Festival?
As some of us work with the YMCA in Vienna, we are looking forward to meeting YMCA people from all over Europe. We are currently testing our new material in front of different audiences and we like the challenge of a German-speaking act playing to a mainly English-speaking audience. Praha is a beautiful city, and a great location for an international Festival like this. We've been praying for international performances for our group and see God's hand in this invitation. See you in August!
What was the favourite place you visited on a tour and why?
This March we played at a festival in Germany, Bavaria - Spring08. They called us at the last minute because a band dropped out. "Can you come tomorrow?"!!! We all could. So we filled our cars with equipment, and at the border we had a police control, illegal drugs, weapons and stuff ... we had nothing illegal with us, but we all forgot our passports ... but the police was friendly and merciful and let us go. The location was an adapted shooting hall from the local hobby shooters, which was kind of bizarre ... remember the police control. The audience at the festival was very young, warm and welcoming. We connected. It was one of our best gigs.
Four Kornerz
With their infectious Gospel mix of Funk, Soul, R&B and traditional Nigerian rhythms the band will take you on a journey to the four corners of the world.
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Four Kornerz, made up of four brothers, was officially launched in 2004. Since then they have toured the UK and Ireland, as well as countries throughout Europe (France, The Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia). They have performed at big festivals such as "Greenbelt"(UK), and appeared with other famous artists such as Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary (at the "Gospel Gathering UK" 2007). Four Kornerz have been nominated for various awards, and recently won the "Best Gospel Album" prize at the 2007 Christian Broadcast Council Awards. |
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Four Kornerz - official homepage
Power Team
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THE POWER TEAM is a group of world class athletes who have been performing the world's greatest exhibitions of power, strength, speed, inspiration, and motivation throughout the USA and in over 40 countries for more than 30 years. These giant men are among America's most sought-after speakers, utilizing visually explosive feats of strength to catch the attention of their audience, while encouraging people to live a life of excellence, and challenging them with life-changing messages of hope and inspiration.
What makes us enthusiastic about the YMCA Europe Festival?
This festival is one of the few what we call "missions" trips for this year, in addition to the 100+ shows in cities across the USA. This festival fascinates us because of the diversity and target of the audience, being able to reach a lot of different countries and cultures in one big gathering. We believe that our unique performance and the encouraging ministry that we do, will draw in crowds and you will be touched by it. Our ministry is about serving the body of Christ and bringing people from all social and religious backgrounds together. |
What was the favorite place you visited on a tour and why?
Every country and city is special. We don't mean to sound trite, but it's true. The last place we've been to is the most special. Each ministry opportunity has its own unique people and places and hearts are touched in different ways every day. We have a special connection with the opportunity the Lord has given us to perform for different troops around the world.