Three years on from the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s live music scene is flourishing albeit under gruelling circumstances.

Amid curfews, bomb threats, a lack of infrastructure, and a talent drain, the country’s live music industry has been defiant in its continued staging of concerts and festivals.

Last year, major festivals such as Atlas Festival and Faine Misto returned, domestic artists delivered record-breaking concerts, and more international artists visited the country.

Throughout the war, live music has become an increasingly important tool for unity, mental health support and fundraising in Ukraine. Here, Alona Dmukhovska, head of Music Export Ukraine, talks to IQ about the triumphs and tribulations of the war-torn market…

IQ: Last year, Artem Pyvovarov delivered an impressive three sold-out shows at Kyiv Sports Palace. Can you tell us about more recent successes in the domestic live scene?
AD: In this past year, we witnessed a surprising trend: Ukrainian artists selling out arenas in record time. One standout example is Klavdia Petrivna, an online sensation and one of the most-streamed artists in recent years. She performed two sold-out shows last August at the country’s largest arena. At the time, Klavdia was like Ukraine’s equivalent of Gorillaz — a mysterious online project with an enigmatic persona that kept her identity hidden. The promise to finally reveal her face at these concerts only fueled the hype. According to Forbes, 16,000 tickets were sold across the two nights, with prices ranging from €12 to €170.

Other artists also took to this iconic venue, with KOZAK SYSTEM celebrating their 10th anniversary and Max Barskih hosting a Christmas special. But the biggest success was definitely by the rock music. Okean Elzy band, celebrating their 30th anniversary, sold out five (!) consecutive concerts at Kyiv’s Palace of Sports (10,000 capacity each), a historic achievement for Ukrainian rock. Of course, not everything went as planned. Security measures were understandably strict, and on one of the nights, Russia launched another attack. When the air raid sirens sounded, the entire crowd had to be evacuated to a nearby underground subway station. Remarkably, the artists joined the audience there and continued the concert under those conditions.

To be honest, I doubt that a foreign act coming to play here now would achieve the same level of success. These Ukrainian artists deeply resonate with the audience — they are at the centre of attention, close to the people, and many of their songs have become anthems for the events we’re living through. It’s a unique connection that’s hard to replicate if you’re not “part of the gang.” These success stories undoubtedly give Ukrainian artists the confidence to take on larger venues and dream even bigger.

“Ukrainian promoters are eager and determined to host international acts”

Tiger Lillies were one of the first international acts to tour Ukraine after the war began. Have many other overseas acts followed in their footsteps?
This year, Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) presented a special orchestral program at the major music festival Atlas United. The Japanese psychedelic rock duo Heavenphetamine played in Kyiv, while the Bendik Hofseth Quartet (NO-PL-UA) performed at JazzBez 2024 Festial in the regional city of Ternopil. Belgium’s Ivan Paduart, both solo and with the Patrick Deltenre Quartet, has become a frequent visitor, performing not only in the capital but also in smaller cities like Rivne and Uman. Additionally, Nemo (Eurovision sensation from Switzerland) is planning to visit Kyiv this March.

Kyiv, a hub for electronic music, continues to attract DJs and experimental artists from around the world. In 2024 alone, cult venues like Closer hosted 60 international artists, along with other formations like K41 and Labotatorium drawing thousands of fans for their legendary raves. Meanwhile, Lviv offers a unique appeal. Jazz musicians are drawn to the city’s rich jazz history and intimate venues like Dzyga, while partygoers flock to events organized by Chard Zoratly, Lviv’s Night Ambassador and the visionary behind People Place Bar and Zorepad Festival, which regularly features international acts. While the country’s current economic situation makes competing with other markets difficult, Ukrainian promoters are eager and determined to host international acts.

“Interactive shelter maps are now available for promoters, security protocols are in place and events are adjusted to curfews with earlier start times”

How viable is touring in Ukraine, both for domestic and international acts?
Touring in central and western Ukraine is possible, particularly where the security situation is more stable. However, it’s often more practical for smaller or acoustic acts due to logistical and backline challenges. Proper venues with adequate technical support remain concentrated in major cities, while smaller cities often have outdated infrastructure, making it less economically viable to bring everything needed. Lviv also has practical advantages for touring artists. Located in western Ukraine, it’s much safer and only 325 km from Kraków, Poland, which provides easy access via the nearest major airport.

What are the main challenges with staging live music now and how is the industry navigating them?
Curfews, bomb threats and a lack of infrastructure have undoubtedly had a significant negative impact on the industry. However, Ukrainians have learned to adapt: interactive shelter maps are now available for promoters, security protocols are in place, events are adjusted to curfews with earlier start times, and promotion strategies align with the current news and societal mood. Still, the most critical challenge is the loss of people. Every day, individuals from production companies, security teams, technical crews, and even artists are being mobilised. As of 2025, the majority of male artists and performers we’ve worked with over the years are now in the Army, no longer pursuing their artistic careers but instead serving in communications, logistics, or combat roles. Others could be called up at any moment. This makes it clear: to safeguard the future of our live music industry, we urgently need the world’s support to protect Ukraine effectively. Infrastructure can be rebuilt, but if we lose our talent, the live music industry may not recover.

“Infrastructure can be rebuilt, but if we lose our talent, the live music industry may not recover”

In what capacity are festivals taking place during the war?
Events across electronic, jazz, and classical scenes are taking place regularly, typically drawing audiences ranging from a few hundred to a couple of thousand attendees. The largest festival outside Kyiv was Faine Misto in Lviv, which brought together 20,000 visitors over three days. Known for its focus on hard and heavy music, the festival visually and thematically appeals to fans of events like Wacken Open Air. However, it’s also highly family-friendly, featuring a diverse lineup that includes pop and rap acts on the main stage. The chosen venue, Fest Republic, is a sprawling cultural hub specifically designed for such events. It offers comprehensive security measures, including underground shelters that can accommodate thousands of people, ensuring both safety and comfort for attendees.

What are some of the main goals for Music Export Ukraine in 2025?
With travel restrictions still affecting many, we’ve focused on educational and networking activities within Ukraine. Our goal is to strengthen the foundation for growth from within, while preserving talent and fostering mutual support and collaboration. Still, whenever possible, we ensure a Ukrainian presence at every event abroad — be it a showcase, festival, research initiative, or project. The past few years have been particularly challenging for our organisation as well due to our unique structure. Unlike many export offices, we operate without government support and have relied heavily on project-based funding. To continue our work, we’re exploring ways to make our efforts more sustainable, aiming to build a dynamic and effective organisation. This year, we’re actively seeking long-term partners to support us in capacity building and the professionalisation of Ukraine’s music industry.

It’s almost three years since the war began, do you have a message for the international live music business?
First: talk to your government to support Ukraine’s protection opportunity as much as possible. It will keep you and me much safer in this world. Secondly, let’s attend some events in Ukraine together – I will show you around. Both Atlas Festival in Kyiv and Faine Misto in Lviv are planning to go ahead this summer, their efforts and great Ukrainian music in a variety of states are worth enjoying and supporting!

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Music Export Ukraine’s Alona Dmukhovska spoke to Beeyhype about how festivals and events have taken place in Ukraine amid curfews, bomb threats and a lack of infrastructure due to Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Was there any kind of ‘festival summer’ in Ukraine this year?
Alona Dmukhovska: The majority of events we have now are small-scale. Small, because when you have an event for 200 people, you have to have a bomb shelter right next to it for 200 people, so when the alarm siren starts, over the course of a couple of minutes you can evacuate all of them.

We heard you have rave parties during the day now?
The electronic community in Ukraine found a way to continue their activities – the world-known Kyiv techno club Closer even does music festivals – starting early in the morning and finishing in the evening. The reason for that is the curfew in all cities that we have during the nighttime, so no events are allowed then. So yes, you have got it right – rave parties during the daylight. It’s possible and still entertaining. And now you finally have an excuse to wear those fancy sunglasses while dancing to look cool.

Also, a lot of Ukrainian artists are trying to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and go to play acoustic concerts for our brave people. The frontman of one of the biggest Ukrainian rock bands, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, every couple of months goes to the frontline to make what he can best.

Because all these events are not just for fun?
It’s because of a clear humanitarian need in the first place – every single event happening now in Ukraine and abroad is not for business, but to raise donations to help those in need. Besides, it’s crucially important to keep the economy moving, keep the working places and own teams active. Not to mention such well-forgotten words as ‘mental health’, which does not exist in our reality anymore. It’s rather an important activity to stay sane.

“When you have an event for 200 people, you have to have a bomb shelter right next to it for 200 people”

Coming back to festivals, what about them?
Not that many, but they are still happening. One example is Brudniy Pes Festival, you can read a report by Louder than War. Also, in the heart of Kyiv, a new music initiative appeared at Expo Center of Ukraine – Uyava – that is having open-air concerts and two-day festivals during the weekend.

But the most prominent event was definitely Faine Misto in late July. They had to move from Ternopil, where they were taking place for many years, to Lviv, where the security situation is better, and the city administration provides significant support. The lineup was primarily Ukrainian but still, they have managed to attract more than 15 thousand visitors over three festival days. Besides the music programme, they have had a significant charity component and managed to raise UAH 3.7 million (appr. €100k) for security needs.

Are there any foreign artists coming to Ukraine already?
Luckily for us, international acts are starting to come back to Ukraine: we recently had The Tiger Lillies who dedicated an album to Ukraine and played two sold-out shows in Lviv and Kyiv. UK’s London Elektricity came to play a set in July. Luxembourg-born singer-songwriter Rome played a couple of times here both in Kyiv and Lviv, and continuously supports humanitarian needs at the spot. All of that gives a good sign for the foreign agents, that promoters are in place and the audience is active, so with the proper preparation concerts, in Ukraine are possible. Electronic musician IAMX just announced he will be back in Lviv after many years, in November. All of that brings hope that we’re not alone in the current situation and that true friends of Ukraine are ready to come and support Ukrainians.

What about the audience?
We have the warmest audience you can imagine because people are supper happy to see their favorite artists – as not many people are allowed to go abroad for the concert, because of the military law. And the most flexible promoters, that have learned to do events in the most extreme situations. If any European colleague needs a risk manager, ask a Ukrainian. We know how to find a way out of ANY situation.

“People are trying to live their best life because, unfortunately, every single day may be the last one – so cultural life is blooming”

What has happened to music clubs and venues?
Obviously, economically, the situation is extreme. People would rather donate some extra money for the security needs, rather than spend it on leisure. Therefore, pre-sales of the tickets are extremely low. The horizon of planning is for a couple of days in advance maximum as any time a new missile or drone attack can destroy another energy infrastructure. But we are ready for that as well now.

After the last winter, the best present for the Ukrainian promoter is an electrical generator now. And yes, most of the concerts were played with them. Even if the electricity is switched off because of the numerous Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, the audience will cover the artist anyway, just like at the famous concert of Ukrainian artists Artem Pivovarov. And that’s impressive as the full-scale war came right after Covid restrictions.

Many venues and clubs have not survived the Covid times – like Monteray Live Stage or BINGO, legendary music venues, which were around for 20+ years. And of course, Russian aggressions have not helped to keep the rest going.

But the people are trying to live their best life because, unfortunately, every single day may be the last one – so the cultural life is blooming. People really are paying attention to concerts and social gatherings, therefore many events are happening – mostly open-air but some clubs like Closer or K41 are still active.

Many production companies had to transfer their equipment – stages, sound equipment, lightning – to Europe last year because those are huge investments and it takes a lot of money to pay even for the warehouse and not use it. So many of them are abroad. But the ones that have stayed, are pretty busy at the moment.

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In what has been described as the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II, promoters and agents in Ukraine have been forced to flee their homes or seek shelter underground. And as local artists seek to halt the spread of misinformation online, any thoughts of future business have been replaced by the basic need to survive.

Speaking to IQ today (28 February), on the fifth day of conflict, executives spoke of their current circumstances, early efforts by those in the live music industry, and future relations between Russia and Ukraine.

Sergii Maletskyi, general manager and talent buyer at Kyiv-based promoter H2D, fled the capital city the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion to head west. He joined the migration which, according to the United Nations (UN), has seen more than half a million people flee their homes to escape the war.

“A lot of people were travelling from east to west so there was bad traffic,” he tells IQ. “It took 14 hours to travel 350 kilometres (217 miles).” But while Maletskyi says the region is “pretty stable” in comparison to others, the threat of danger is still very real.

“Yesterday, we had to hide in the basement three times because an air attack was expected,” he says. “It didn’t happen, luckily, but this is the new reality for Ukraine.”

Since the invasion began on Thursday 24 February, the UN has recorded 102 civilian deaths, including seven children – and more than 300 injured. However, UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, said: “The real figures are, I fear, considerably higher”.

“”We are not focused on the business at this moment – we’re focused on saving lives”

Maletskyi says that the majority of staff at H2D also sought refuge in the east, though one employee is still in Kyiv, barricading in a tube station. “We’re in communication with employees and we’ve paid everyone’s salary for February,” he says. “We’re trying to support them as much as we can.”

Dartsya Tarkovska, co-founder of Music Export Ukraine, also fled the capital – the centre of the conflict – to the western city of Lviv.

“I was born and raised in Kyiv – that’s where my whole life is,” she tells IQ. “We were worried that a war was about to begin so we moved to Lviv a few days before the conflict began. So we were lucky we were able to move safely.”

Of the ten people working for Music Export Ukraine, four of them remain in Kyiv. “They spend most of their time in shelters. It’s a matter of keeping alive and safe,” she says.

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s justifications for the war in Ukraine have been widely dismissed as false by western nations, but with social media platforms and free press now all but outlawed in Russia, the conflict is as much about propaganda as it is boots on the ground. And both Maletskyi and Tarkovska have praised Ukrainian artists for the role they have played on both fronts.

Battling the spread of misinformation, popular Ukrainian acts are attempting to change their cover art on streaming platforms to educate Russian citizens and other countries on the situation in Ukraine.

 

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A post shared by H2D (@h2d.concerts)

And it’s not just online efforts that musicians and creative professionals are signing up to. A number of Ukrainian artists, including Andriy Khlyvnyuk from the popular band Boombox, have volunteers for the territorial defence to protect regions against Russian troops.

Meanwhile, this weekend saw hundreds of thousands of protestors take to streets of London, Berlin, Madrid, South Korea and other countries. And according to Maletskyi, colleagues from the international live music business have also been pitching in and doing “everything they can to help”.

However, Maletskyi warns that stakeholders in the domestic live music business will need to remain patient while Ukrainians prioritise their safety.

“I’ve said to all management not to make cancellations public at this stage because it will cause panic and we don’t need it at the moment,” he said. “I’ve asked them to give us a week or two to focus on our safety. After that, we will be ready to manage cancellations, postponements and everything else. Some of them agreed, some of them didn’t.

“We’re doing our best to communicate with all of our partners and everyone is being really understanding that the situation is like nothing we’ve experienced before, so we’re thankful to them.

“We are not focused on the business at this moment – we’re focused on saving lives. All problems with postponements and cancellations will be solved later.”

“The majority of connections with Russia’s industry will be over”

As for future relations with Russia, Maletskyi says he thinks the “bridges have been burned”.

“The percentage of our Russian shows, annually, was about 10-or-15% and all those artists opposed the current government of Russia. I’m not sure about the future shows… I’m not sure I’ll be working with Russian promoters.”

Tarkovska echoes his sentiment, adding: “The majority of connections with Russia’s industry will be over. It started to happen after 2014, when the initial conflict began but there will be more consequences now.”

However, there are some ties to Russia that have proved hard to sever, says Tarkovska. “For the majority of streaming services and distributors, the communication has been happening via Moscow. We have been trying to change that for quite a while.

“We’re saying, if these organisations are not ready to create independent offices in Ukraine, we’re fine going through Poland but we don’t want to go through the Russian offices of these companies.”

For now, however, the Ukrainian live music is focused on more pressing issues: “Right now, it’s a matter of survival and no one cares about the music industry,” says Tarkovska.

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