UPDATE: Ozen Open has been postponed to the next year. All purchased tickets will be valid for the next concert and can also be refunded.
The week of November 22-28 promises to be a treat for lovers of all music genres. Astana presents Ozen Open, a go-to event if you know your way around the Kazakh pop music scene. Almaty will host a concert by Yalla, a legendary Uzbek folk rock band, and Shymkent will have a concert by XCHO, a young Armenian pop star. Check out the full list of events by QazMonitor below.
Astana
kis-kis concert
If you don’t know who the kis-kis are, you can just look up their logo depicting a wrinkled sphynx face, which pretty much sums up the band. Coming from St. Petersburg, their songs have everything to do with punk rock, mild indecency, and shedding light to the troubles of the youth.
Astana
Date: November 23, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Smart Business Center, Qorghalzhyn Highway 3
Almaty
Date: November 26, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Zhest Club, Rozybakiyev Street 234
Entrance: ₸12,000–₸42,800
“A Profitable Position”
Written by classicist Alexander Ostrovsky, the play follows the life of a young official who refuses to participate in the widespread corruption around him. Unfortunately, his choice of a simple and modest life is threatened by his wealthy and powerful relatives.
NOTE: The play will be performed in Kazakh.
Date: November 25, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Musical Theater of Young Spectators, Zhakyp Omarov Street 47B
Entrance: ₸2,000
Wine Tasting at Arba Wine
French cremant, Spanish cava, Italian prosecco: each type of sparkling wine deserves a separate tasting in order to fully appreciate the subtleties of the flavors. The winery invites you to a blind tasting of eight types of sparkling wines from America, Europe, Asia, and from Arba’s own stock.
Date: November 25, 7:30 p.m.
Address: Arba Wine, Syganak Street 39/1
Entrance: ₸10,000 (registration is required via the WhatsApp number +7 777 107 4672)
Ozen Open
Since the label’s inception in 2019, Ozen has gathered a new wave of young Kazakh artists who are taking our music into exciting directions. Hey Monro, jeltoksan, rauana, Shiza, Yenlik, ARO, Darkhan Juzz, and dudeontheguitar will come through in one big musical extravaganza at the Beeline Arena.
Date: November 26, 7:30 p.m.
Address: Beeline Arena, Turan Avenue 4/2
Entrance: ₸7,000–₸10,000
SHU[LAMA] TSE Electronic Music Event
Grab the chance to hang out with the local electronic music community at SHU [LAMA]’s party with the residents of the Astana-based ploshadka music space. Catch the city’s beatscape with music from over twenty DJs.
Date: November 26, 10:00 p.m.
Address: Currage Bar, Taras Shevchenko Street 4/1
Entrance: ₸6,500
The Photo Ark exhibition
In 2007, photographer Joel Sartore set on a journey around the world with the aim of photographing 12,000 endangered species. The current exhibition features a small part of the collection and is intended to inspire action for wildlife preservation.
Date: until December 4
Address: National Museum, Tauelsizdik Avenue 54
Entrance: ₸700–₸1,700
Almaty
Bereke Enkebayeva concert
A renowned opera singer, Bereke Enkebayeva possesses a colorful voice range enabling her to sing rapid runs, trills, and arpeggios with great vocal dexterity. She is most known for her performance of coloratura soprano showpieces “Solovey” by Alexander Alyabyev and “Bulbul” by Latif Khamidi.
Date: November 22, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Zhambyl Kazakh State Philharmonic, Kaldayakov Street 35
Entrance: ₸3,000–₸4,000
Lecture on the role of women in the Pre-Raphaelites Brotherhood
Founded in mid-19th century England, the Pre-Raphaelites Brotherhood was a loose artistic association that emphasized personal responsibility and individuality through their works. The women in the movement were actively engaged in the artistic pursuit and it was through their iniative that the Pre-Raphaelites became who they are.
NOTE: The lecture will be in Russian.
Date: November 24, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Art Lane gallery, Gogol Street 15
Entrance: ₸3,000 (registration is required via the phone number +77773616923)
“Hong Gil-dong”
To find the perfect hero, writer Ho Kyung turns to the legend of Hong Gil-dong, who is a streetwise, smart-mouthed thief. With each draft of the story, the hero becomes either too arrogant or cruel. What does it take for the writer to find his hero?
NOTE: The play will be performed in Korean.
Date: November 25, 7:00 p.m.
Address: State Korean theater of musical comedy, Bogenbai Batyr Street 158
Entrance: ₸1,000–₸2,500
Yalla concert
A few decades ago, Uzbekistan saw Yalla use a variety of electronic instruments in their covers of traditional Uzbek music. The legendary band was eventually recognized as progenitors of Uzbek folk rock.
Date: November 25, 7:00 p.m.
Address: Republic Palace, Dostyk Avenue 56
Entrance: ₸10,000–₸40,000
Shymkent
QORA Z
Prefaced by Abay's ninth word of wisdom and based on the works by William Shakespeare, the play will explore a person’s struggles with the issues of identity and community.
NOTE: the play will be performed in Kazakh.
Date: November 25, 6:30 p.m.
Address: Zhumat Shanin Academic Kazakh Drama Theater, Nazarbayev Avenue 6
Entrance: ₸1,500
Xcho concert
Xcho, a young singer from Armenia, quickly rose to fame thanks to the calming quality of his songs and the themes reflective of one’s solitude in the world. During his three-day trip to Kazakhstan, he will present a mix of old hits and new singles.
Almaty
Date: November 25, 8:00 p.m.
Address: Baluan Sholak Sports Palace, Abay Avenue 44
Shymkent
Date: November 26, 8:00 p.m.
Address: Muz Sarayi, Zheltoqsan Street 15/2
Astana
Date: November 27, 8:00 p.m.
Address: Martial Arts Palace, Qabanbay Batyr Avenue 43
Entrance: ₸8,000–₸14,980