Music Saves the World

The unique Music Saves the World musical marathon is returning to London!

For the second time in London, the Music Saves the World marathon will take place at The Steel Yard on the 1st and 8th of December 2024, showcasing talented musicians from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine who were forced to leave their homelands.

Music Saves the World supports musicians for whom music is a way to express their desire for peace and their rejection of violence. The marathon unites artists through their universal language: music. We create a space where artists are united not through their nationality or country, but through the spirit of co-creation.

This year’s artists performing on stage:

Palina – a Belarusian singer whose transparent and pulsating electronic ballads with deep vocals in several languages touch the soul with their poignancy and sincere emotions.

SBP4 – energetic electronic music from Russia, combining funk, hip-hop and disco with psychedelic transitions. No simple rhythms or formulaic sounds – it’s a real festival of disobedience.

Vintskevich Kershaw Trio is a jazz band that combines jazz, folk and classical music. Beautiful and dynamic compositions of the three talented world-famous musicians, participants of the Usadba Jazz festival series and many others. The trio consists of pianist Leonid Vintskevich, saxophonist Nikolay Vintskevich and bassist Steve Kershaw.

Vasily Zorkiy is a singer-songwriter from Russia, known for his auteur approach, with a dynamic blend of rock, blues and experimental sounds.

Vadik Korolev (OQJAV) and Yaroslav Oliinyk – a unique creative collaboration between a vocalist from Russia and a virtuoso pianist from Ukraine. This sincere dialogue between the two artists transcends genres, a pure creative experiment created especially for Music Saves the World. Vadik Korolev is also a participant of the Usadba Jazz festivals.

Yegor Zabelov – one of the most interesting and original bayanists in contemporary Belarusian music, composer, author of music for plays and films. Egor Zabelov’s music is an experimental fusion of accordion rock, avant-garde jazz and neo-classics.

Alexey Aigui is one of the most colourful and versatile Russian composers, a participant of the Usadba Jazz festivals. Alexey masterfully combines piercing sensuality with austere form, reverent beauty of sound with experimentation, minimalism with avant-garde. Alexey will perform with the London quartet conducted by Yuri Zhizlin.

United by Sadness – a project born under the guidance of Maria Semushkina at her house parties, a group of Russian musicians: Daniel Knyazev, Dima Vincent, Alexey Mazurov and Sasha Gefen (Vinogradova). They play psychedelic rock, trip-hop and weave Eastern European folk motifs into a colourful soundscape.

About the project

The Music Saves the World project was founded in 2023 by Maria Semushkina, cultural producer, president of the Usadba Jazz international festival, founder of London-based CultLab the production company.

Over 150 nomadic musicians have performed on stages in Georgia, Armenia, Montenegro and the UK during last year’s marathons. Music Saves the World has supported music schools affected by military conflicts.

“My mission is to help gifted musicians to express their talent, to connect them in unique international collaborations, to create a special atmosphere where music heals people’s souls, thus saving the world and creating vibrations of happiness,” says Maria. “We recognise the difficulties that nomadic musicians face and we create conditions to support them: spreading their creativity, giving them the opportunities for unique collaborations and performing on prestigious London stages.

Join us for this unforgettable musical event.

1st of December performers:
Palina
Vasily Zorkiy
Alexey Aigui feat. Yuri Zhizlin
United by Sadness

8th of December performers:
Vintskevich Kershaw Trio
SBP4
Vadik Korolev (OQJAV) and Yaroslav Oliinyk
Yegor Zabelov

1st and 8th of December 2024, 17.00
The Steel Yard
13-16 Allhallows Lane, London, EC4R 3UE