"Skaņu mežs" returns to Riga with experimental music, masterclasses and lectures

This weekend, the "Hanzas peroni" cultural venue in Riga will become a gathering point for experimental music — on October 9 and 10 it will host the "Skaņu mežs" (Sound Forest) festival, which each year introduces audiences to lesser-known and unconventional musical directions.

The program includes elements of contemporary music, free jazz and free improvisation — genres rarely presented together so concentratedly at Latvian concert events. Attendees will have the chance not only to listen to concerts but also to explore the specifics of these musical directions through masterclasses and lectures.

An established tradition

In recent years, "Skaņu mežs" has become a fixed event on Latvia's cultural calendar, drawing both local music enthusiasts and international connoisseurs of artistic expression. The festival is described as a place where listeners can discover unfamiliar music and broaden their understanding of what is considered "music" today.

Over the two days, several concerts will take place alongside educational events designed to help attendees navigate the world of experimental music — a genre often seen as complex or inaccessible to a wider audience.

The festival takes place at the "Hanzas peroni" cultural space, which in recent years has become one of the main venues for alternative and experimental culture events in the Latvian capital.