Baltic PagRock

Music Conference for all!!!!

All music writers, no matter what stage of your career you’re in, to apply to the Grunge Included Conference. Whether you’re a professional musician, critic, an emerging journalist, or someone who explores music as a passionate hobby, your voice and perspective are welcome and important!

The conference brings together diverse thinkers and creators to discuss music as a powerful social, political, and economic force shaping our world today. This is a unique opportunity to showcase your work, share your insights, and connect with a vibrant network of fellow writers, artists, and industry professionals. It will be a completely open and supportive environment: free of judgment!

COACHELLA 2026 AND ‘‘OBLIVIOUS’’

Julian Casablancas is the musician which current and future musicologist, music historians and protest music fans will write about. After a few decades have passed or 100 years, his musical influence and political ideas will be evaluated in the same seriousness as those of Joe Hill, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan or Kurt Cobain.

I’m revisiting this article because The Strokes have reunited for their new album Reality Awaits (26 June, 2026), marking their first performance together in 15 years. And how do they celebrate this ? By headlining Coachella and closing their set on weekend two with powerful political messages.

The band performed ‘‘Oblivious’’ for the first time in 10 years and throughout the visuals showcased photos of influential political figures: Mohammad Mosaddeg (former Prime Minister of Iran), Patrice Lumumba (Former Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Juan José Torres (Former President of Bolivia) and Martin Luther King Jr. (American civil rights activist). After each photo with text stating that the CIA and U.S government was involved in their death and the overthrow of their governments. All whilst singing and asking the crowd ‘‘What side you standing on?’’

Music Conference for all!!!!

I am inviting all music writers, no matter what stage of your career you’re in, to apply to the Grunge Included Conference. Whether you’re a professional musician, critic, an emerging journalist, or someone who explores music as a passionate hobby, your voice and perspective are welcome and important!

The conference brings together diverse thinkers and creators to discuss music as a powerful social, political, and economic force shaping our world today. This is a unique opportunity to showcase your work, share your insights, and connect with a vibrant network of fellow writers, artists, and industry professionals. It will be a completely open and supportive environment: free of judgment!

You can also present your work through a recorded video or zoom call, if you can’t make it to York, UK! Worldwide applicants welcome!☀️

‘‘Looks like Kurt Cobain’’ in relief the band expressed when they saw their new singer (Mazvērsīte, 2018, p 50). Not only did Freimanis look like Cobain at the time, with his bleached hair but their debut album ‘‘Putni’’ (1998) [transl. ‘‘Birds’’] was influenced by Nirvana and Whitesnake. Whilst grunge was mainstream in the United States in the 1990s, it`s influence also extends to Latvia.

In 2004, Freimanis wrote the song ''The War Is Not Over'' and gave it to Latvian beloved musicians Valters Frīdenbergs and Kārlis Būmeisters, known as Valters & Kaža (members of Putnu Balle). The song won the Latvian National selection and represented Latvia in the international Eurovision contest in 2005, held in Kyiv, Ukraine, fisnishing in the 5th position.

An interview/podcast with the front man & guitarist of Skyforger - Pēteris Kvetkovskis. The folk, pagan and black metal band originates from Northern Europe, specifically Latvia where they have been playing since 1995. In these two-part podcast episodes you can learn more about the importance of pagan music for Skyforger; their influence in music and the nature of the environment the band originates from.

''Politicians have shown interest in our music. We have been asked to participate in concerts during the voting period of the political parties, when they tried to gain votes. But we have not participated in such things. That's not our thing. We don't want to be used as clowns or be used as idiots, for them to get some kind of benefit from our music. The Latvian Government has supported us. ''

''Our motto would be to do what you like. Live as you want, as long as it you don’t disturb other people. I have often wondered to myself and thought that young people never listen to the old ones. The youth lives in their own world. If I can give any advice, for those who want to play- Find your own path. Try as best as possible to not copy your idols or popular music which is listened to by thousands of people. I know that it is pleasant, to play like your idols, because you feel like your equal to them. But another Metallica is not needed, make your own music.'' - Pēteris Kvetkovskis.