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Morrissey Announces 40-Year Career Anniversary Tour

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Charming Man of Indie Rock, Morrissey , has just revealed a thrilling news for his fans worldwide. The renowned singer-songwriter has officially announced the “ 40 Years of Morrissey ” Anniversary Tour. As the title suggests, this much-awaited tour will celebrate a breathtaking four-decade-long musical journey of the former Smiths frontman. Grab seats via Ticketmaster

Morrissey’s legacy has been nothing short of extraordinary. From his early days with The Smiths to a successful solo career, his music has touched the hearts of countless fans around the globe. The upcoming tour is set to be a celebration of this illustrious career, promising a setlist loaded with classic hits, deep cuts, and perhaps a few surprises.

Fans can expect the tour to include classics from his Smiths days, alongside beloved solo career hits. “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” , “Everyday Is Like Sunday” , and “Suedehead” are all likely to make an appearance. Furthermore, his personal tribute to his former Smiths bandmate, Andy Rourke, is anticipated to be a moving highlight of the shows. This heartfelt dedication comes after Rourke’s recent tragic demise, as reported on stereo-saints.com .

Morrissey , whose real name is Steven Patrick Morrissey, has been a mainstay in the music industry since the 80s. He has released numerous solo albums, all under the prestigious Sire Records . Morrissey is renowned for his soulful and poignant lyrics, which have resonated with fans of all ages.

The charismatic figure that is Morrissey has had a profound impact on the music world. His rich discography continues to be a source of inspiration for many artists. This celebratory tour, honoring his 40 years of musical brilliance, is expected to be an emotionally charged journey down memory lane.

Morrissey 2023 Tour Dates: 09/10 — Mexico City, MX @ Palacio de los Deportes 09/14 — Lima, PE @ Anfiteatro del Parque 09/17 — Bogotá, CO @ Teatro Municipal Jorge Eliécer Gaitán 09/21 — Santiago, CL @ Movistar Arena 09/23 — Buenos Aires, AR @ Movistar Arena 09/27 — Sāo Paolo, BR @ Espaço Unimed 09/30 — Brasília, BR @ Opera Hall 10/07 — Orlando, FL @ Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts 10/08 — Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live 10/10 — St. Petersburg, FL @ Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater 10/12 — Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre 10/14 — Memphis, TN @ Graceland Soundstage 10/15 — Nashville, TN @ The Fisher Center at Belmont University 10/18 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem 10/21 — New York, NY @ United Palace 10/22 — New York, NY @ United Palace 10/24 — New York, NY @ United Palace 10/25 — New York, NY @ United Palace

About Morrissey

Morrissey is an influential singer and songwriter, renowned for his tenure as the frontman of the iconic 80s indie rock band, The Smiths . Post the band’s breakup in 1987, Morrissey embarked on a successful solo career. Known for his emotive and poetic lyrics, his music often explores themes of love, mortality, and social critique. He has remained a significant figure in alternative rock, influencing many artists over the past 40 years.

Find more information about Morrissey’s tour dates on Songkick , or keep up with his latest updates on Twitter . You can also stream his music on Spotify . Connect, follow, and listen to the legendary Morrissey.

Who is Morrissey? Morrissey, born Steven Patrick Morrissey, is an influential English singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence as the lead vocalist of the indie rock band The Smiths and later embarked on a successful solo career.
What is the “40 Years of Morrissey” Anniversary Tour? It is a concert tour announced by Morrissey to celebrate his 40-year long career in music. The tour will feature songs from his tenure with The Smiths as well as his solo career.
Will Morrissey perform songs from his time with The Smiths? Yes, the tour is expected to feature a mix of classics from his Smiths days and beloved hits from his solo career.

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Morrissey announces US tour for November 2022

Commencing after his forthcoming UK and Ireland stretch

Morrissey has shared details of a forthcoming US tour, taking place across this November and December – tickets available here .

READ MORE: Morrissey at Riot Fest review: pop’s problematic uncle wisely shuts up and plays the hits

The ‘Live In Concert’ tour – in support of Morrissey’s latest album, ‘Bonfire Of The Teenagers’ , featuring the single ‘I Am Veronica’ – kicks off in Ontario, California on Friday November 11. Morrissey is then set to undertake an additional ten shows across America, including two nights at The Magnolia in El Cajon, CA.

The stretch runs into December, wrapping up in Boston, MA at MGM music Hall on Sunday 4. Find all tour dates below.

Pre-sale tickets for the US tour are available now, with general sales commencing at 10pm PDT on Friday September 16 (6am BST, Saturday September 17). Both tickets are available here .

Morrissey ‘Live In Concert’ 2022 US tour dates are:

NOVEMBER 11 – Ontario, CA, Toyota Arena 12 – Los Angeles, CA, Greek Theatre 14 – El Cajon, CA, The Magnolia 15 – El Cajon, CA, The Magnolia 18 – Oakland, CA, Fox Theater 22 – Salt Lake City, UT, The Union Event Center 23 – Denver, CO, Paramount Theatre 25 – Minneapolis, MN, The Fillmore 26 – Milwaukee, WI, The Riverside Theater 28 – Washington, DC, The Anthem 30 – Brooklyn, NY, Kings Theatre

DECEMBER 1 – Newark, NJ, Prudental Hall at New Jersey Performing Arts Center 4 – Boston, MA, MGM Music Hall at Fenway

The US run will follow Morrissey’s upcoming UK and Ireland tour , kicking off in Killarney on Saturday September 24 and running into October. That follows Morrissey’s Las Vegas residency which went down back in July.

Earlier this year in an open letter, Morrissey asked his former Smiths bandmate, Johnny Marr , to stop mentioning him in interviews . “Would you please, instead, discuss your own career, your own unstoppable solo achievements and your own music? If you can, would you please just leave me out of it,” Morrissey said at the time.

In response, Marr took to Twitter , addressing Morrissey as he said: “An ‘open letter’ hasn’t really been a thing since 1953. It’s all ‘social media’ now. Even Donald J Trump had that one down.”

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'The Smiths' At 40: How The Self-Titled Debut Fired An Opening Shot For Indie Rock

Released in 1984, the Smiths' self-titled debut showed that morose-yet-melodic Mancunians arrived fully formed — and laid the blueprint for decades of jangly, left-of-center visionaries.

In the annals of rock history, how many artists seem to foreshadow all of indie, in some way? One was Buddy Holly ; from the glasses to the Strat to the attitude, his short career was like a split atom that produced nuclear fission. And, arguably, there was one other: the Smiths.

Their fey, idiosyncratic and devastatingly witty frontman, Morrissey — born Steven Patrick Morrissey — was fully himself right out of the box. From his baritone voice to his ambiguous sexuality, Moz set the prototype of unconventional, underdog frontmen for good.

His foil, Johnny Marr , played resplendent jangle guitar, with harmonic shades of light and shadow that played off Morrissey's sweet-and-sour musings. Their perennially underrated bassist, Andy Rourke , was supple and tensile. And rock-solid drummer Mike Joyce provided the tasteful foundation, with anthemic flourishes in his fills that made the tunes pop.

The world was introduced to the Smiths via, well, The Smiths — their debut album, released on Feb. 20, 1984 via Rough Trade Records.

Across their four-album discography — plus some must-have compilations, like Hatful of Hollow and Louder Than Bombs — the Manchester-based group would develop in a very short time — and split apart in short order, in 1987. But if, on Feb. 21, 1984, a double-decker bus crashed into the foursome, their role in rock history would still be ironclad.

From the gorgeous, sprawling "Reel Around the Fountain" to the sexually palpitating "This Charming Man" to the stony-yet-sparkling "What Difference Does It Make?", The Smiths paved the way for the Stone Roses, Radiohead , Oasis , and so many more Brits with a way with melody and a screw loose.

And their literary inspirations, melancholia and navel gazing also inspired a generation of emo and goth groups — including acts on the other side of the pond, like the National , Ryan Adams , Billie Eilish , and Low.

How did they accomplish this? Partly due to their visual aesthetic — simple, striking typography, against grayscale photography of anonymous figures, typically men. (Take a spin through Belle and Sebastian 's discography, and you tell us whether they were influenced.)

The cover of The Smiths depicts gay sex symbol Joe Dallesandro; he's topless and a curtain of hair obscuring his face; his extremities are cut off by the camera, Venus de Milo-style. The image speaks to both the play with sex and gender in the lyrics, and the band's quotidian personae.

Despite its subject, the cover of The Smiths doesn't scream starpower; it looks ripped out of a moldering magazine. Which completely jibes with the music — glimmering yet murky, seemingly anti-produced in places. That vibe was the point from the beginning — hence their band name.

"It was the most ordinary name," Morrissey once said, "and I thought it was time that the ordinary folk of the world showed their faces." And throughout The Smiths , Moz sings about those ordinary folk — their traumas, their abuses, their sexual hangups.

The Smiths being the Smiths, well, it got dark. The gently unspooling opener "Reel Around the Fountain" is about a sexual experience with an older partner; tabloids wondered aloud if it was about pedophilia. "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" connotes child murder. To say nothing of the knife-twisting closer "Suffer Little Children."

But despite their critical reputation as "miserablists," it's not all pitch-black. "Still Ill" addresses the decriminalization of gay sex in the United Kingdom — an early glimmer of political consciousness for the band that would go on to make Meat is Murder . And the gorgeous "Hand in Glove" — with haunting harmonica blowing through it — is about love slipping away, with a queer tint .

What also makes The Smiths resonate? Partly what they didn't do. In the most synth-choked era of pop/rock, at the tail end of the UK's new romantic movement, The Smiths ' guitar-bass-drums starkness was like bare brick against gaudy wallpaper.

Unincumbered by overwrought sonic trappings, the Smiths' hilarious, harrowing vignettes stick with you from the first listen. Clearly, that unadorned aural aesthetic stuck for decades, with numberless acts — and to a great degree, you can thank Moz and company.

So many terrific artists take a few records to become themselves, but not the Smiths. No, with their classic debut, you get everything now — including the ocean of indie in its wake.

Remembering Andy Rourke With 11 Amazing Smiths Basslines, From "You've Got Everything Now" To "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish"

Photo: Andrew Cotterill

Six Strings & Feeling: Inside Johnny Marr’s Famous Riffs & Guitar Legacy

Guitar legend and Smiths co-founder Johnny Marr has a new book, 'Marr's Guitars,' and greatest hits album out — but the ink is far from dry on his storied career.

Every great guitarist has their musical signature. Something that lets the listener know, beyond a reasonable doubt, who is working the strings and frets. Eddie Van Halen had his rapid-fire tapping; Jack White has his stuttering squeal. Succinct and unforgettable, Johnny Marr's distinctive guitar riffs have colored rock and pop for the last four decades.

"As a musician, I'm definitely searching for something," Marr tells GRAMMY.com over Zoom from a hotel room in Los Angeles. "There are riffs I want to find. And then those riffs lead to songs. And then those songs need decent lyrics and decent vocal. Just working at my craft, it makes me happy just thinking about it."

Many of Marr’s famous riffs were heard in the music of the Smiths, for which Marr was the co-founder and guitarist, with his bright and lively fretwork appearing on classics including "This Charming Man," "Back to the Old House," and "Bigmouth Strikes Again."

Marr's guitar-driven legacy is also driven by his time with Modest Mouse , Electronic, the Pretenders , The The and the Cribs, as well as session work for Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music, Pet Shop Boys , and Talking Heads . The go-to guitarist for Hans Zimmer , Marr has contributed to soundtracks for Inception , Freeheld , The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and the 2021 James Bond entry, No Time To Die where Marr’s guitar work was featured on Billie Eilish ’s GRAMMY-winning theme of the same name.

All of this comes on top of leading his own solo project, with which he released four albums between 2013 and 2022. The most recent was Fever Dreams Pts 1-4 , wherein Marr matches his electric prowess with other soundscapes like big synthesizer effects like on "Receiver" and adept acoustic picking on "Lightning People."

Marr’s legacy even has a physical form: a signature Fender Jaguar guitar. "Every single [Jaguar] is exactly the same as mine. Right down to the last screw," Marr says. "The idea was that I then give them what I think is the perfect instrument, and they duplicate it. So every one that anyone buys is the one that I play."

Marr has recently added two new additions to his long list of accomplishments. The first is Marr’s Guitars , a photography anthology of various guitars that have played a role in his career — from his first-ever guitar (a Gibson Les Paul), to guitars he purchased from the late bass player of the Who — alongside insights from the titular narrator.

The second is Spirit Power , a greatest hits compilation featuring 21 tracks from Marr’s solo project. The album includes hits "Easy Money" and "Spirit Power and Soul," as well as covers, outtakes, and even two brand new songs: "Somewhere" and "The Answer."

Yet Marr is no "greatest hits" artist. After 40 years, his story is nowhere near complete. "I think I'm 60 percent of the way through my journey. I certainly don't feel like I'm 100 percent of the way there," Marr says. "Hopefully, when I croak I will have got up to 95 percent."

On the eve of the compilation’s release, Marr shared stories from his legendary career — from the guitars he loaned Radiohead to write In Rainbows , to recording "Easy Money" on a tour bus, and how guitars communicate with him (and vice versa).

Two of the most well known songs on the new compilation are "Easy Money," and "Spirit Power and Soul," both of which have the strong, upbeat feel of many of your records. Does the guitar have a unique ability to enhance these kinds of danceable songs?

Well, first off, it's a challenge of source to be able to put a lot of guitars on electro music.

When I formed Electronic with Bernard Sumner in the late '80s, early '90s, I learned that it's much more difficult to not mess with the integrity of the machines and the direction of the music by putting too many guitars on it.

With rock music, I'm able to find spaces for acoustic guitars and slides, and all these different kinds of textures. It's a bit more straightforward with electro music. But I think over the years I've found a place for it.

"Spirit Power and Soul" is built on the [bassline] and that was a concept that I had months before I actually wrote the song. When we were on tour with the Call The Comet album, I got the idea that the next album, if I can pull it off, the first single should be an electro pop song.

The idea was that it would be a good thing for the band to surprise the audiences and to really write an electro banger. When it came out I had quite a few musicians contact me. To say how much they like it, which is for me is the highest compliment.

"Easy Money" was one that I came up with when I was on tour in the United States. I heard the whole tune in my head, and it was one of those songs where I thought, This song is either the most annoying thing I've ever heard or it's brilliant .

The record was actually made on the tour bus. When we got back to Manchester we put a real drum kit on it. But I wrote the vocal at the back of the bus. I would write a verse, we'd have to stop the bus, and then I’d record it with James, my co-producer, who's in the band.

I've been around so long now, and a couple of the bands I’ve been in, especially the Smiths, are so revered over the years. But there are quite a lot of people who come to see me now, who got into me because of "Easy Money."

The comp has one cover on it: "I Feel You," by Depeche Mode . This song's opening riff has a swing-blues feel, which is outside of the dancier style across the comp. How did you make that riff your own?

I was playing that riff in the dressing room in Philadelphia in 2015-16, and Ewan, who's the bass player in my band, said to me, "Oh, cool riff. Is that a new one?" and for a split second I considered lying to him, or stealing the riff and writing a song from it. [ Laughs ]

I started singing "I Feel You," and he's like, "Wow! Really suits your voice," So we worked it up and we sang it that night. The audience liked it. It was a bit of a moment. Conceptually I liked the idea of doing a cover version of one of my contemporaries. I think Martin Gore is a really class musician.

But the thing about the riff and the bluesy aspect to it is that the band I was in from '89-'92, The The, they're coming from the same place as Depeche Mode. Like a techno blues kind of thing.

** A couple stories in Marr’s Guitars are about your loaning and/or giving away guitars. You lent two to Noel Gallagher and eventually let him keep them, and you lended three to Radiohead for when they were recording In Rainbows . How do you know which guitar is right for a certain person or band when you’re loaning them out? **

Well with Radiohead it was a no-brainer. They didn't have a Les Paul; they didn't have an SG. I knew Ed had a Rickenbacker and obviously Johnny's got his Telecaster. I can't remember what Thom was playing at the time, but I knew what they didn't have.

I've given guitars to people who aren’t in the book. People like PJ Harvey , Alex Turner. This is just because I could do it. It's a sign of respect, and it might seem extra extravagant, but it's not. I've been very, very fortunate and over the years and it's come back to me. Nile Rodgers gave me one of his Stratocasters. The Edge gave me a Stratocaster.

With Noel, that story's been told in all these different ways, but I can honestly say as soon as I saw a picture of him with it, I thought, Oh, it's his! He just looked right with it.

No one had any idea at that point that Oasis were going to be even playing to more than 100 people, or even 100 people. They were only playing literally to 14. He was just a kid that I liked.

In the book there is a strong theme about how these guitars communicate with you. You write that you took the Gibson ES355 out of the case, and "Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now" arrived under your fingers complete. How would you describe that communication that happens between you and these instruments?

In some ways it's not esoteric or cosmic, and in some ways it is. The ways that it isn't esoteric or cosmic is that it felt quite like a jazz guitar under my left hand the way the neck is shaped. And it's from 1960, so it's essentially a 1950’s kind of instrument, and it feels expensive because it is expensive. It's beautifully made.

All of these things are quite tactile under your fingers. It doesn't make you want to shred. It feels sophisticated. So the chords in "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" are very sophisticated, particularly for a 20-year-old boy from Manchester. So maybe subconsciously the idea of this expensive, sophisticated, well made, beautiful luxury instrument made me play those expensive, sophisticated chord changes.

On a more esoteric and cosmic take, it may be just as simple as that the guitar had been used to be playing those kind of chords. Whichever musician had it from all the way through the 1960s, someone else in the 1970s, had maybe put a lot of good feeling into that guitar.

On the rare occasions when I've loaned my guitars to people who don't take care of them, they definitely come back with the wrong feeling. Now that might be flipped back again away from the cosmic. That might be because the guitar’s a machine.

When it's been loved and cared for, and nice music's been played on it, it gets used to it. I should say it's a machine that vibrates and resonates. That's the nature of it. It's wood and wire.

There's many musicians who will tell you that if they're lucky enough to own a few different instruments, they inspire you to find that moment and come up with a song or they just, as I say, they deliver it to you right under your fingers.

In this same regard, with the Fender Jaguar that has your name on it, what sort of energy do you want to pass on?

Well, when that guitar was developed I was doing a lot of running. I was like Forrest Gump with a Jaguar [laughs]. So it's a real daytime, healthy, awake, high tempo energy.

It's there in "Easy Money." That's a real riff that came out of that. It's pretty much there in the whole compilation album. All the songs started being written in 2011 when I was getting that guitar released, and that was what I was using all the time.

Although I gave one to Nile Rodgers and he thinks it's a really good jazz guitar, which it is. That's got to do with the sound of it. It is very, very versatile. I know one of the first known musicians to get one was Al Jardine from the Beach Boys , which was amazing. Taylor Swift has got one.

So it's right across the board pretty versatile. But the energy from it is a real kind of positive, wide-awake energy.

What was it like in the studio with Billie Eilish and Finneas for "No Time To Die"?

There was a hell of a lot at stake because it's the Bond theme. Hans [Zimmer] is orchestrating it, trying to make it sound like a Bond movie. But then Billie, quite rightly, is keeping her eye on it because her prerogative is that it keeps the same feeling that she intended when she wrote it. And that's very smart.

I know that environment really well. That's my world. Hans knows that environment. That's his world. Billie knows it. It's her world. So you get a feeling for someone real quick because I know that environment. That's my oxygen.

Billie Eilish is young and yes, she's a pop star, but she's not like some kid who just won a lottery ticket to go in and try and sing. It's very obvious she is a very accomplished and gifted artist, and the vibe I got from Billie and Finneas was they’re musicians that could have been around in the '50s, '60s, could've been around in the eighties.

She was kind of the boss, really, without having to say very much. She didn't need to impose on anybody. She reminds me of Pharrell , although her personality is different. Pharrell buzzes around quite a lot, but he's still pretty zen. These are people who have a vision. They let you express yourself. They let you make constructive changes, but ultimately you know that they've got this vision for how it should be.

In the case of the Bond theme, Billie wrote a really dead cool song, but she also knew that what was going to keep it powerful was making it sound like a Billie Eilish song.

You mentioned this idea of different worlds in the studio. Your world. Hans Zimmer’s world. Billie Eilish’s world. When writing a film score that’s not in a pop structure like "No Time To Die," what is it like for these multiple worlds to come together?

Inception is the best example because before we did Inception , guitars in movies were a complete no-no. They'd been overused in the '80s in a way that had really dated quite badly.

At a point when composers brought ideas to a director, they could suggest Himalayan flutes, they could suggest Aeolian harps, they could suggest synthesizers. But one thing they couldn't suggest on a movie soundtrack was the electric guitar. The electric guitars were out and because of what we did on Inception , guitars are now back in.

I like synthesizers and I like electronics. Over the last 10,15 years, getting to work on movies with Hans, I'm involved with the top sound designers and synthesizer players in the world. Hans being one of them. But sonically, there are things that you could do on the guitar that you just simply cannot do on keyboards. No matter how clever you are.

There's a whole world that you can live in with the guitar, and I'm very, very, very pleased and privileged to be in it.

Remembering Andy Rourke With 11 Amazing Smiths Basslines, From "You’ve Got Everything Now" To "I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish"

Photo: Andy Kropa/WireImage for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Here’s a rundown of 11 superb Smiths basslines by Andy Rourke, who died May 19 at age 58.

Arguably, in the rock pantheon, the Smiths sit most snugly next to the Byrds and R.E.M. with jangling guitars, a downcast vocalist, profound mystery, thick melancholy. But there's another key element: Despite being overshadowed in public by their bandmates, all three had bassists that were crucial to their operations.

Enter Andy Rourke, the only bassist the Smiths ever had in their five-year, three-album run. (Like both the Byrds and R.E.M., they never reunited.) Yes, feuding singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr have sucked up the majority of the oxygen.

But a Smiths without Rourke's supple, tensile playing — where he acts as the central pillar between Marr and drummer Mike Joyce, and still manages to play with Morrissey — would be no Smiths at all. Perhaps Morrissey said it best: "Nothing that he played had been played by someone else." That Morrissey message arrived today due to heartbreaking news: Rourke died on May 19 in New York after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 59.

"Watching him play those dazzling baselines [sic] was an absolute privilege and genuinely something to behold," Marr wrote on social media. Stated Joyce: "Not only the most talented bass player I've ever had the privilege to play with but the sweetest, funniest lad I've ever met."

"I suppose, at the end of it all, we hope to feel that we were valued," Morrissey continued in his heartfelt note. "Andy need not worry about that." That sentiment has been echoed by Smiths fans, and the music community, the world over — whose loss of Rourke comes as a blow.

Read on for a lightning round of 11 great basslines by Rourke — a tough list to narrow down, as every track Rourke ever laid down for the band benefited from his touch.

"You've Got Everything Now" ( The Smiths , 1984)

On this cut from their now-classic self-titled debut, Rourke demonstrates how he can both anchor the groove and percolate along with Marr — all while studiously avoiding bass clichés.

"What Difference Does It Make?" ( The Smiths , 1984)

In this key Smiths track, hear Rourke walk the bass while animating the music with a dark, roiling energy. (The Peel Session version of "What Difference Does It Make?" from that year's Hatful of Hollow compilation is essential too.)

"Hand in Glove" ( The Smiths , 1984)

Few bassists can play four strings as a lead instrument and pull it off. Rourke was one of them, and on "Hand in Glove," he inhabits the rhythmic, melodic and harmonic spheres with equal facility.

"This Charming Man" ( Hatful of Hollow , 1984)

Few Smiths songs commensurately occupy the sunshine and shadows like "This Charming Man" — and there's certainly competition by the dozens.

Dig Rourke on "This Charming Man," right in the pocket, laying down that bum-bum-bum , bum-bum-ba-bum rhythm also heard in Iggy Pop 's "Lust for Life."

"Handsome Devil" ( Hatful of Hollow , 1984)

Another great one from the aforementioned Peel Sessiont features a bass-walking Rourke pushing the rhythm forward with authority while never stepping on any of his bandmates' toes.

"Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" ( Hatful of Hollow , 1984)

Another Smiths desert-island cut, with Rourke at his most effervescent and pointillistic; his bassline not only adds rhythmic and melodic shape, but texture.

"Well I Wonder" ( Meat is Murder , 1985)

The Smiths' second album, Meat is Murder , boils over with indignation. On "Well I Wonder," Rourke plays roiling chords on the bass and provides a great deal of the song's emotional tension.

"Frankly, Mr. Shankly" ( The Queen is Dead , 1986)

Arguably the Smiths' zenith, The Queen is Dead captures the band at their most majestic and downcast, as well as lighthearted and satirical. Rourke's stuffed-shirt bassline to the finger-wagging "Frankly, Mr. Shankly" recalls the Kinks, but also slouches toward reggae.

"Cemetry Gates" ( The Queen is Dead , 1986)

It's difficult to imagine "Cemetry Gates" without Rourke's burbling bassline; his part practically captures the song in totality, and certainly helps define it.

"There is a Light That Never Goes Out" ( The Queen is Dead , 1986)

Everything great about Rourke as a bassist is on full display on drop-dead Smiths classic "There is a Light That Never Goes Out." He supplies a massive part of the song's emotional architecture, and his fills on the verse practically put him in question-and-answer dialogue with Morrissey.

"I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" ( Strangeways, Here We Come , 1987)

By keeping it simple when he needed to, Rourke also elevated the Smiths. The hard-rocking "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" benefits from his wit and terseness on the bass.

While Strangeways, Here We Come ended up being the last-ever Smiths album, the title of this song belies that the album was, indeed, the most logical and satisfying finish anyone could hope for. And Rourke played a crucial role in taking their sound and vision to the finish line.

As Marr put it in his goodbye note to Rourke: "Well done Andy."

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A girl looks at a photograph of Ewan McGregor who played Renton in the film 'Trainspotting' before the Private view for ?Look At Me - A Retrospective?

Photo of Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting

Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

How The 'Trainspotting' Soundtrack Turned A Dispatch From The Fringes Into A Cult Classic

Twenty-five years after 'Trainspotting' first thrilled and scandalized moviegoers, the film's soundtrack remains an iconic collision of Britpop, rock and dance music

From its opening shot, Trainspotting is a movie in motion. As sneakers hit the sidewalk of Princes Street in Edinburgh, Scotland, we hear the raucous drumbeat of Iggy Pop 's 1977 barnstormer " Lust For Life ." Renton—played by Ewan McGregor—and Spud—by Ewen Bremner—sprint away from two security guards, their shoplifting spoils flying out of their pockets.

"Choose life," Renton's narration begins, introducing an instantly classic monologue about the emptiness of middle-class aspirations. The action then zips to a soccer match that introduces Renton's ragtag mates: Spud, Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert Carlyle) and Tommy (Kevin McKidd). The scene is all propulsion and attitude, with Iggy Pop dropping the match on the trail of fuel. In just 60 exhilarating seconds, Trainspotting tells us precisely what it's going to be.

Trainspotting burst into U.K. cinemas in February 1996, followed immediately by a debate on whether its fizzing depiction of junkie life glorified drug use. Audiences staggered out, scandalized and delighted in equal measure by "The Worst Toilet In Scotland," Spud's soiled sheets and a ceiling-crawling baby. By the time it opened in the US in May, the movie was already a critical and box office hit at home. Its credentials were undeniable, including a compelling young cast led by newcomer McGregor, a visually daring director in Danny Boyle and a script adapted from Irvine Welsh's cult book of the same name.

In a year dominated by slick Hollywood blockbusters like Independence Day , Twister and Mission: Impossible , Trainspotting was the scrappy, no-kids-allowed outsider that could. One of the movie's most significant talking points, and a key reason for its enduring legacy, was its use of "needle drops" in lieu of a traditional composerly film score. The soundtrack reaches back to the '70s and '80s, while also showcasing of-the-moment Britpop and dance music. The music of Trainspotting endures because it's intrinsic to the movie, with each song meant to elevate a particular scene or moment.

Read: How 1995 Became The Year Dance Music Albums Came Of Age

Welsh's 1993 novel frames Renton's misadventures as a heroin addict against the dismal backdrop of Leith, just north of Edinburgh's city center. Trainspotting was first adapted as a stage play, with Ewen Bremner (perfectly cast as Spud in the movie) playing Renton. Before long, the movie offers rolled in. "There was loads of interest," Welsh told Vice in 2016 . "Everybody seemed to want to make a film of Trainspotting ."

Most directors wanted to ground the adaptation in social realism, but Welsh knew Trainspotting needed a wilder take. In 1994, a promising young director called Danny Boyle had made his feature debut with the pitch-black comedy Shallow Grave , starring Ewan McGregor. Impressed by the movie's visual flair, Welsh gave Boyle the keys to Trainspotting .

The making of the movie was a thrill for all involved. Fresh from writing Shallow Grave , screenwriter John Hodge relished the opportunity to adapt Welsh's book for the screen. (Hodge was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 1997 Academy Awards - the movie's only Oscar nod.) Before filming, Boyle sent his actors to spend time with Calton Athletic, a real-life recovery group for addicts. The shoot began in June 1995 and lasted 35 days (a step up from the 30 allocated for Shallow Grave ), with Glasgow mostly standing in for Edinburgh.

Alongside cinematographer Brian Tufano, Boyle brought a bold, kinetic style to every shot. "We'd set out to make as pleasurable a film as possible about subject matter that is almost unwatchable," Boyle told HiBrow in 2018.

While Shallow Grave gave an early glimpse of Boyle's tastes, including his fondness for electronic duo Leftfield, the music in Trainspotting demanded a bigger role. Welsh's book is peppered with references to The Smiths, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and David Bowie , so the call went out to a select list of musical icons. Bowie was a no, but others who'd loved the novel happily offered up their music to the project.

Welsh and Boyle were both clued-in to acid house and rave culture (represented on the soundtrack by the likes of Underworld , Leftfield and John Digweed and Nick Muir's Bedrock project), but it was the director's idea to bring in the likes of Blur and Pulp. That decision was a "masterstroke", Welsh told Vice , because "Britpop was kind of the last strand of British youth culture, and it helped position the film as being the last movie of British youth culture."

Several of the best scenes in Trainspotting are soundtracked by songs made before 1990. Following "Lust For Life", the sleazy strut of Iggy Pop's 1977 track "Nightclubbing" lurks behind a sequence of Renton's relapse into heroin. (Both songs were co-written by David Bowie, giving him an honorary spot on the soundtrack.) New Order 's 1981 song "Temptation" is a motif for Renton's taboo relationship with high schooler Diane (Kelly Macdonald in her first film role), while Heaven 17's 1983 pop hit "Temptation" plays at the club where they first meet.

Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" lands the hardest punch. In a dazzling sequence, Renton visits his dealer Mother Superior (Peter Mullan) for a hit of heroin. As Renton's body sinks almost romantically into the floor, we hear Lou Reed softly singing about a perfect day drinking sangria in the park. The romance ends there. Knowing an overdose on sight, Mother Superior drags his sort-of friend to the street, then heaves him into a taxi, tucking the fare in his shirt pocket. (In a brilliant small detail, we see an ambulance rush past, headed for someone else.)

"Perfect Day" keeps on at its languid pace as Renton is ejected at the hospital, hauled onto a stretcher and revived by a nurse with a needle to his arm. "You're going to reap just what you sow," Lou Reed sings as Renton gasps wildly for air.

Boyle pushed for Britpop on the soundtrack, but he didn't want obvious hits. Britpop, a genre coined in the '90s to describe a new wave of British bands influenced by everything from the Beatles to the late '80s "Madchester" scene, was at its peak during the Trainspotting shoot in the summer of 1995. Pulp had just released the Britpop anthem "Common People," Elastica and Supergrass were flying high from their debut albums, and genre superstars Oasis and Blur were locked in a media-fueled battle for chart supremacy.

In the heat of all that hype, Boyle reached back to 1991 and took "Sing" from Blur's debut album, Leisure . The song's stirring piano melody picks up after the "Nightclubbing" sequence, as Renton and his fellow addicts hit a harrowing rock bottom. Later, when Begbie busts in on Renton's new life in London, Pulp's "Mile End" underlines the mood of big city ennui. Along with contributions from Elastica and Blur frontman Damon Albarn, Trainspotting draws on just enough Britpop to keep its cool.

If Trainspotting has a signature song, it's Underworld's "Born Slippy .NUXX" . The duo of Rick Smith and Karl Hyde already had three albums behind them when Boyle reached out to use their 1995 B-side in his movie's climax. The duo was wary—as Smith later put it to Noisey , their music was often sought out to accompany "a scene of mayhem"—but Boyle convinced them with a snippet of the film. Underworld also contributed the propulsive "Dark & Long" to the indelible scene of Renton detoxing inside his childhood bedroom. After Trainspotting , "Born Slippy .NUXX" became the defining song of Underworld's career and a constant euphoric peak in their live sets.

Just as Trainspotting caught the Britpop zeitgeist, it also immortalized a high point for dance music. A rush of trailblazing dance albums came out in 1995, including Leftfield's Leftism , The Chemical Brothers ' Exit Planet Dust and Goldie's Timeless . In a time of rave culture colliding with chart hits, the movie finds room for both the dark electronics of Leftfield's "A Final Hit" and the goofy Eurodance of Ice MC's "Think About The Way" .

In one scene, Renton sits grinning between the speakers at a London nightclub that's going off to Bedrock and KYO's 1993 classic "For What You Dream Of." "Diane was right," he narrates, recalling a conversation from before he left Edinburgh. "The world is changing, music is changing, drugs are changing, even men and women are changing." For the briefest moment, we see the thrill of '90s dance music as it really was.

The Trainspotting soundtrack album hit shelves in July of 1996. The cover played on the movie's iconic poster design, framing the characters in vivid orange. The soundtrack sold so well that a second volume followed in 1997, featuring other songs from the movie and a few that missed the cut. (The same year, the hugely popular Romeo + Juliet soundtrack also inspired a "Vol. 2.")

Boyle continued to use music as a key character in his movies, following up Trainspotting with the madcap Americana of A Life Less Ordinary and the pop-meets-electronica of The Beach . After 20 years, Boyle got the gang back together for 2017's T2 Trainspotting . In contrast to the original's wall-to-wall needle drops, the sequel weaved a score by Underworld's Rick Smith around songs by High Contrast, Wolf Alice and Young Fathers.

Many impressive, star-studded soundtracks followed in the wake of Trainspotting . What makes this one rare, though, is how deeply its unholy union of rock, Britpop and dance music belongs to the movie. Remove any needle drop from a scene in Trainspotting , however fleeting, and it'd lose something vital—that's how you know it's built to last.

How 1995 Became A Blockbuster Year For Movie Soundtracks

Photo: Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Morrissey, Bauhaus, Blondie, Devo & More To Play Cruel World Fest

The new Los Angeles music festival will also feature Echo & The Bunnymen, the Violent Femmes, The Psychedelic Furs and Gary Newman

A new Los Angeles festival has been announced and the lineup is an '80s music lover's dream. The Cruel World Festival will feature Morrissey , Blondie , Bauhaus, Devo and others.

The one-day fest will take place at the Grounds at Dignity Health Sports Park on May 2.

Other acts include Echo & The Bunnymen, the Violent Femmes, the newly reunited Psychedelic Furs and Gary Newman.

Presale starts Thursday, Feb. 13. For more information, visit the Cruel World Fest website .

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Hatful of hollow at hard rock live with morrissey, sunday, oct. 8.

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Hollywood, FLA – Smiths devotees were mingling with Miami Dolphins fans celebrating the team’s thumping of the New York Giants at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood on Sunday, Oct. 8.

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Morrissey tour dates 2024: Ready for “You Are the Quarry”?

Morrissey is back on tour in 2024. The tour dates for “You Are the Quarry” have been announced.

Morrissey (Steven Patrick Morrissey) started his career as the lead singer and lyricist of the influential British indie rock band, The Smiths . The band was formed in 1982. Morrissey joined forces with guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce to create a distinctive sound that blended Morrissey’s poignant and often introspective lyrics with Marr’s jangly guitar work.

The Smiths gained widespread acclaim for their unique musical style and Morrissey’s distinctive voice and lyrics, often touching on themes of alienation, social issues, and the human condition. The band released several critically acclaimed albums, including “The Smiths” (1984), “Meat Is Murder” (1985), and “The Queen Is Dead” (1986).

Morrissey’s career continued after The Smiths disbanded in 1987. He embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut album, “Viva Hate,” in 1988. Throughout his solo career, Morrissey has maintained a distinctive musical and lyrical style, often exploring themes similar to those he addressed with The Smiths.

The artist, who has continued his journey successfully until today, will continue his tour in America in 2024, which he started in 2023.

Morrissey tour dates: 2024

Morrissey announced the tour dates for the US in 2024. The frontman of the Smiths, who has been subjected to criticism from time to time for his worldview, will continue his tour in 2024. Here are the tour dates for the US in 2024:

Friday, January 26, 2024, Location: Anaheim Honda Center, Anaheim, California, USA
Saturday, January 27, 2024, Location: Los Angeles Kia Forum, Los Angeles, California, USA

Unfortunately, the singer had to cancel his concert in Perth , Australia, eight hours before it started. Hopefully, the concerts in the USA will take place without any problems.

Morrissey’s favorite songs

Hi everyone, I'm Rob Miller – an editor and writer deeply immersed in the world of rock and metal. I grew up in a city pulsating with energy, and my love for the raw power of music led me into journalism. Join our community with your comments.

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Morrissey at Eventim Apollo: How to get tickets, setlist and bag policy

Morrissey is coming to London as part of his international tour

12:46, 11 JAN 2023

Morrissey has announced a new London headline show at Eventim Apollo on Sunday, March 19. It's part of a European tour travelling through France and Belgium.

Singer-songwriter Morrissey, whose full name is Steven Patrick Morrissey, rose to fame as the frontman of The Smiths. When The Smiths broke up in 1987, Morrissey launched a solo career.

He gradually changed his image as he released several successful albums , and at the turn of the century he moved to Los Angeles. In November 2022, He released his first single in three year, Rebels Without Applause.

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It features on his upcoming album Bonfire of Teenagers, which was recorded in 2020 and 2021 but is yet to be released. Morrissey also recently announced another album.

Without Music The World Dies is being recorded in early 2023, and may be released later this year. It will be the singer's fifteenth studio album.

Now, Morrissey has announced he's embarking on a new tour. After travelling to Belgium and France, he'll be performing at the Eventim Apollo on March 19.

How to get tickets

Tickets for Morrissey's London show go on sale on January 13 at 10am. They'll be available on Ticketmaster . Prices are not yet available for the gig, but there will be six categories: standing, circle seating, accessible seating, restricted view, circle standing with restricted view and stall standing with restricted view.

There's no setlist available for Morrissey's gig yet, but setlist.fm have compiled several setlists from his previous concerts. At his most recent concert in Boston, the following songs were played:

Alma Matters

We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful

Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

I Am Veronica

Jim Jim Falls

The Bullfighter Dies

Girlfriend in a Coma

Rebels Without Applause

Sure Enough, the Telephone Rings

Knockabout World

Everyday Is Like Sunday

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Wan

Saint in a Stained Glass Window

Irish Blood, English Heart

Let Me Kiss You

Jack the Ripper

Sweet and Tender Hooligan (encore)

The Eventim Apollo have increased their security measures, which affects which bags can be brought in. All bags will be searched upon entry, and large bags and suitcases won't be admitted.

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‘The Smiths’ at 30: Classic Track-By-Track Review

As of Feb. 20, 2014, 54-year old Steven Patrick Morrissey is about to embark on a tour in support of an upcoming solo album , and remains one of the most iconic figures in modern rock music…

By Chris Payne

Chris Payne

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As of Feb. 20, 2014, 54-year old Steven Patrick Morrissey is about to embark on a tour in support of an upcoming solo album , and remains one of the most iconic figures in modern rock music. Thrity years ago today, the idiosyncratic Mancunian took a major first step into the public eye when the Smiths, the post-punk band he so famously fronted, released their first full-length album. Released via pioneering British indie Rough Trade (and Sire in America), “The Smiths” introduced the quartet as one ready to turn rock music on its head. Morrissey’s lyrics defied the traditional machismo roles of rock vocalists and probed into scandalous territory that often offended the more conservative media in Margaret Thatcher-era England.

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And of course there’s Johnny Marr, Morrissey’s legendary songwriting partner, who introduced the world to the blissful jangle of his guitar work on this first album. These days, Morrissey would probably prefer the Smiths’ other two members get nary a mention, though bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce undoubtedly do a dashing job of leading the Smiths’ rhythm section, both into danceable and dark, cavernous territory.

College rock and indie rock already existed (albeit in their early stages) when the Smiths hit in 1984. But after their John Porter-produced debut made its mark, those entire scenes would never be the same. Thirty years after the day of its release, Billboard takes a track-by-track look back at its influence.

1. Reel Around the Fountain

The Smiths make the bold choice to lead off their first album with its longest song, a sprawling, six-minute episode where Morrissey reflects on an early sexual experience with someone presumably much older. Singing from the lower registers of his vocal range, Morrissey gives the song a mostly melancholy feel, though the higher piano flourishes in the refrains give the song flickers of hope. On this album, though, these flickers will be few and far between.

2. You’ve Got Everything Now

The pace picks up here, with this jaunty send off written towards a rival whom Morrissey compares himself to. Moz laments the “terrible mess he’s made of (his) life,” though suggests he’s still of purer spirit than his counterpart. It ends on another upsetting note, with Morrissey shifting into dramatic falsetto and repeating, “I just want to be tied to the back of your car.”

3. Miserable Lie

“Miserable Lie” starts off as a tepid post-punk song before Joyce and Rourke double the tempo about a minute in, leading an unhinged Morrissey down a dizzying path of maniacal falsetto. The last two minutes of this breakup song are among the most unexpected on this album — or in any Smiths song, for that matter.

4. Pretty Girls Make Graves

Musically, this is a fairly standard Smiths song, with Andy Rourke’s strutting bass line high in the mix, leading the jangle melody. Morrissey tells the story of being intimidated by an attractive, sexually promiscuous girl whom he loses to another man. The song title (originally taken from Jack Kerouac’s “The Dharma Bums”) also inspired the name of a memorable early 2000s indie rock band.

5. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

“The Smiths” isn’t too big on choruses, and this song — essentially a winding, four-plus minute Morrissey narrative over a gleaming guitar line from Marr — is evidence of that. But listen closely, and you’ll hear Morrissey juxtaposing the soothing arrangement with chilling first person lyrics that involve perhaps murdering a child.

6. This Charming Man

The Smiths’ effortlessly catchy second single finds Morrissey getting a tempting proposition from an older, suaver “charming man” with a fancy car and smooth leather seats. Moreso than any other riff on the album, Marr’s glistening guitarwork encourages the listener to get up and dance, with Rourke’s walking bass line injecting an even deeper groove.

On a side note, “This Charming Man” was (unfortunately) not included on Rough Trade’s original UK issue vinyl issue of the album, though it was featured on Sire’s U.S. counterpart, and in most subsequent releases.

7. Still Ill

In this poignant midtempo cut, Morrissey addresses new laws that decriminalized gay sex in the United Kingdom. He takes jabs at the old guard’s vision of homosexuality as some kind of illness (“Oh am I still ill?”) and ponders the root of his desires (“Does the body rule the mind or does the mind rule the body? I don’t know.”) “Still Ill” still resonates today quite similarly to the way Morrissey intended in 1984.

8. Hand In Glove

The band’s first single is still a truly beautiful song. Marr and Rourke weave their instruments in and out to create and ominous new wave soundscape, while Morrissey gives a dire vocal performance that’s classic Smiths. He sings words of devotion, almost sure he’s found love, but has a nagging feeling he’ll soon lose it. The piercing wail of harmonica adds the perfect amount of torture to the mix.

9. What Difference Does It Make?

As the album’s most direct “rock song” kicks into gear, it’s clear that side B has outdone “The Smiths'” side A. With its prominent new wave guitars and strong hooks, this single is less challenging than much of the album’s other cuts (perhaps that’s why both Morrissey and Marr have since criticized it), though it’s still one of the Smiths’ most enduring songs. Morrissey’s wailing falsetto in the outro remains deeply glamorous.

10. I Don’t Owe You Anything

After an onslaught of several essential Smiths songs, the album slips to one of its less memorable tracks, which meanders around the territory of “Reel Around the Fountain” without sounding as poignant or desperate. Morrissey is turned down by a potential lover, and he spends the song moping about how he or she will soon move onto someone else.

11. Suffer Little Children

Of all the tortured lyrics Morrissey wrote for the Smiths’ first album, those of its final track may be the most harrowing. “Suffer Little Children” is written from the perspective of five children who were sexually assaulted and murdered near Morrissey’s home in Manchester in 1965, when he was just years old. In this dirge of a closer, Morrissey laments this tragedy that shook him as a youth, giving a most gripping ending to an album full of gut-wrenching vignettes.

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MORRISSEY cancels rest of his tour!

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California and Latin American dates affected.

What started with only 2 shows canceled in California for Morrissey’s album “You Are The Quarry” 20th anniversary, is now the rest of the tour that the singer had to cancel.

English singer Steven Patrick Morrissey , professionally known as Morrissey, was performing today in Anaheim and tomorrow in Los Angeles to celebrate the 20 years of the album that includes “First Of The Gang To Die”, “Let Me Kiss You”, “Come Back To Camden” and Irish Blood, English Heart” but it was the 2 venues that informed “Due to unforeseen circumstances” the show was canceled.

Hopes for shows in Latin America

Without any official announcement from Morrissey, the rest of the countries where he was scheduled to perform were hoping it wouldn’t happen to them… sadly it did!

The first one to announce this was OCESA in Mexico explaining that due to health issues, the show was being canceled.

Then followed by Perú, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. All shows scheduled for January and February were canceled.

Nothing has been mentioned for

It is Official!

Hours later, his social media accounts posted what everyone was afraid of. “ Morrissey is receiving medical supervision for physical exhaustion. ” the post mentioned. And added that “He has been ordered to rest for two weeks, and he will remain in Zurich.” signed by Donnie Knutson, his Tour Manager.

We hope Moz gets better soon and reschedule the shows so many were anxious and excited to see, us included!

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these images of the last show we were able to cover in Pasadena, CA during Cruel World Fest 2022 .

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The Kyiv City Ballet to Tour the US in an American Premiere

The US tour will include a full-length Swan Lake (choreography by Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov and Ivan Kozlov), and a second mixed repertory program of three ballets.

The Kyiv City Ballet, under the artistic direction of Ivan Kozlov, announced today a U.S tour from September 16 to October 24, 2022. The Fall tour is a US premiere and marks the Kyiv City Ballet's first United States performances ever. The day before Ukraine was invaded in February, The Kyiv City Ballet unknowingly took one of the last flights out of Kyiv. The company flew to Paris to begin a long planned tour. They have not returned home. The country of France sheltered them and the company has been performing throughout France, and now Europe, since the invasion began. The US tour will include a full-length Swan Lake (choreography by Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov and Ivan Kozlov), and a second mixed repertory program of three ballets: Thoughts (choreography by Vladyslav Dobshynskyi) a contemporary ballet, Tribute to Peace (choreography by Ekaterina and Ivan Kozlov) a neo-classical work, and Men of Kyiv (choreography by Pavlo Virsky) a Ukranian folk dance. "We are honored to share the beauty of ballet with US audiences, through Ukranian artists" said Ivan Kozlov, Artistic Director. "Touring the States for the first time with a range of ballets makes an important global statement. It demonstrates the resilience of the Ukrainian people." The Kyiv City Ballet's mission is to bring joy to audiences through ballet by bringing exemplary artists to theatres around the world. In the past decade, the company has successfully toured throughout dozens of countries on four continents. Two of Ukraine's prima ballerinas: Krystina Kadashevych and Oksana Bondarenko will perform with the company on their US tour. The company's principal dancer is Vsevolod Maevskiy, a former soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet and Kozlov's former student. "We are humbled that Rhizome has been asked to produce and strategically support the Kyiv City Ballet on their very first tour to the United States," said producer Kristopher McDowell . "That major cultural arts centers across the country are coming together to open their doors and their hearts is extraordinary. It is very clear this company and their artistry will have great appeal to non-dance and dance audiences alike." Additional tour dates will be announced over the summer. The Kyiv City Ballet's confirmed 2022 US tour schedule is as follows:

The Kyiv City Ballet to Tour the US in an American Premiere

To donate directly to The Kyiv City Ballet click the PayPal link HERE

All donations go directly to the Kyiv City Ballet to help support the company

Kyiv City Ballet

The Kyiv City Ballet was founded in 2012 by the current Artistic Director Ivan Kozlov. Their mission is to bring joy to audiences through ballet. They strive to bring exemplary artists to theatres around the World. In the past decade, they have successfully worked together with various partners and toured throughout dozens of countries and 4 continents. Their classical ballets include: "Swan Lake", "Sleeping Beauty", "The Nutcracker", "Scheherazade", "Giselle", "Chopiniana", "Romeo and Juliet", "Don Quixote", "Gala Tchaikovsky", "Funny Concert" "Strauss Evening", "Carmen Suite". Ballets for young spectators and their families: "Cinderella", "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", "Aibolit and Barmalei","Coppelia" as well as "Thoughts," "Men of Kyiv," and "Tribute to Peace."

Ivan Kozlov (Artistic Director)

Ex-Premier of the National Opera of Ukraine, The St. Petersburg Eifman Ballet, IBT (Internationale Ballet Theater), and the Mariinsky Theater; the choreographer and teacher Ivan Anatolievich Kozlov was born on 13 December 1982. In 2000, after graduating from the KGHU (Kiyv State Choreographic School), under the tutelage of the Honored Artist of Ukraine, Vladimir Denisenko, Ivan Kozlov was invited to join the ballet troupe of the National Opera of Ukraine, and simultaneously to the world- famous troupe of Boris Eifman in St. Petersburg. He worked as an artist in both troupes. During his work in the theater of B. Eifman, Ivan performed the leading parts in the following repertoire: "Red Giselle", "Don Quixote", "Russian Hamlet", "Anna Karenina", and "The Brothers Karamazov". In the troupe of the National Opera of Ukraine, he performed the leading parts in the ballets Swan Lake, Giselle, Spartacus, Don Quixote, Viennese Waltz, and many others. Ivan Kozlov worked under contract as a leading soloist of the "Internationale Ballet Theater" in the United States. From 2007 to 2010, he was the premier of the ballet troupe of the Mariinsky Theater, where he performed the leading parts in nearly the entire repertoire of the theater, as well as in numerous concert numbers. Ivan is a laureate of many ballet competitions, including the Serge Lifar International Competition (2002, silver medal) and the X Moscow International Competition (2005, silver medal). Among the teachers of Ivan Kozlov are some of the most outstanding dancers of the 20th century: People's Artist of the USSR, Irina Kolpakova, People's Artist of the USSR Vladlilen Semenov, People's Artist of the RSFSR, Sergei Berezhnoi, Premier of the Mariinsky Theater, Eldar Aliyev, and Honored Artist of Ukraine, Anatoly Kozlov. Since 2014, Ivan Kozlov has been the executive of the theater, "Kiev City Ballet" with which he has successfully toured Europe and the world.

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Kiev old town: free walking tour around andriivska street.

18 Stops on One of the Most Picturesque Kiev Old Town Routes

Any of the professional guides in Kiev will tell you – a walking tour around the old town around the Andriivska street area is the second most popular route in the city, after Khreschatik. Any of the city’s residents will most probably place this street first, or at least among the top 3 of their favorite Kiev places to visit. It has a special and controversial, a bit demonic, but also an extremely charming atmosphere…

…So, Let’s Dive Into This Kiev Old Town Route

Today’s Kiev is split between the left and right banks of the river Dnipro. In the olden days, however, it was divided into the upper and lower towns. The upper one was home to the elite, and still has remains of the luxurious residences. The lower town was where the poor ones and workers lived.

The only bridge between these two worlds was the Andriivsky descent. During your stay in the city, we highly recommend you to take one of the guided walking tours around this area.

Kiev Old Town is famous for its artistic stalls

It is filled with mysteries, stories, and noteworthy landmarks. While we did our best to pack this virtual Kiev free walking tour around the old town with as many details as possible, there is no such thing as too much of Andriivsky descent. This is something any local will tell you.

We will begin our journey the most logical way, from the top, at Mykhailivska square. The path will lead us down, and we will be stopping to explore the monuments and landmarks. We will have a bite to eat at a local Ukraine-themed cafe and will maybe even wander off to the nearby smaller streets.

Note: Before we proceed, please give it up for our mom. She was the one to write this post. She is currently in Donetsk, and missing her Kiev life.

Table of Contents

1. Mykhaylivska Square and the Monastery – Welcome to the Historic Heart of Kiev Old Town!

We offer to start a walk at Mykhaylivska square. A charming beauty is located in the city center, on the historical Knyazha mountain. Though overcrowded at times (on weekends and holidays), the square manages to remain a very cozy place.

Kiev Old Town route and the golden domes of Mykhailivsky cathedral

Its main attraction is, of course, the St.Michael’s Golden-Domed Church and Monastery. This sky-blue cathedral is famous worldwide for its unique frescoes and shimmering mosaic.

Though being a rather touristic site, it is still working as a monastery. We recommend you not only take a picture next to the cathedral’s entrance decorated with unique frescoes but to also go inside.

The famous St. Michael's Cathedral's frescoes

Hiding behind the walls is a lush garden, which is particularly lovely during spring and the cherry and apricot blossom seasons. The insides of the church are decorated to the Orthodox canon. A tall bell tower opens fantastic views on the capital.

If you are a female, be sure to cover your head.

2. Walk by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Located in close proximity to the church is a grandiose building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You can spot it from where you are standing near the St.Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery. Originally the headquarters to the Soviet Ukraine’s Communist Party, it is an example of the monumental and ambitious architecture of the Soviet Era.

Tip: The building is also located next to the cozy park Volodymyrsky Hill, with its gazebos overlooking the Dnipro river and the left bank of Kyiv.

From here, you can not only enjoy the fantastic views of the city, but you can also ride the Kiev funicular down to the Podol area and the Dnipro river. It will be a detour from this route, but it is a ride worth taking. We are currently working on a detailed Kiev walking tour of Podol.

The funicular provides a nice, comfortable and rather cheap ride downhill. By the way, you can pay on the turnstile by your PayPass card, which will be even cheaper, and not many visitors to the city know about it!

3. Try to Spot the Monument to Gogol’s Nose on One of the Buildings

Kiev old town has a fair share of strange monuments, and the nose of Nikolai Gogol, the legendary writer, is exactly one of them.

This peculiar bronze nose framed with ornate mustache adorns the facade of the house №34 on the famous Andriyivsky Descent.

The monument is a tribute to the writer’s famous work «The Nose». There is an opinion that one day Gogol was walking around Kiev in search of inspiration for the next novel, but unfortunately, he had a bad cold, so all his thoughts were only about one thing – about his running nose. The idea to create “The Nose” came to the sculptors after they learned about that episode in the writer’s life.

This is a cute city legend. It is not the only one for such a tiny monument! Another tale of the city says that touching the Nose helps to cure minor colds and runny noses.

4. Discover the Local Goods – Shop at the Vsi.Svoi Market

Sightseeing in Kiev old town is great, but there is another great thing to do in this city, and it is to shop. I do not mean mass-market or brands that you can find at the malls pretty much anywhere around the world, so we’re offering to maybe combine these two experiences during the walk. Why?

One of the positive impacts of the Revolution of 2014 was the rise of the local production. It started out modestly, with a few of the young brands launching social media pages and offering shoes, bags, clothes and other goods produced here, in the small productions.

Today, many of those pioneer startups have turned into the thriving local brands, at the same time showing an example and giving motivation to more Ukrainians to venture into this business, as well.

Why This Particular Place?

What’s notable about the Vsi.Svoi Market is that it first started as a small initiative, too, a fair and a platform for those first brands, and has now evolved into a chain of shopping malls with all-Ukrainian products. The name of the shop means «Our People», by the way.

This is now a place to buy different, often exclusive clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. from the Ukrainian designers. Besides, while the prices are usually the same as in the world-famous branded stores like Zara and whatnot, the level of style, diversity, and quality at Vsi.Svoi is usually higher.

To quote my good friend, the owner of Nine (the local clothing brand): “Unlike some major brands, I can not screw up and sell something of poor quality. The customers usually don’t come knocking on the door of a major brand to complain. But they will come knocking on mine because they know where I live. They know I am local. So, I must deliver”.

What’s really good about this market – three floors of all sorts of products, including some locally produced furniture – is that it also features street food market stalls located on the two terraces. Stop by, if not for the sake of shopping, then at least for a glass of lemonade and a snack.

5. Get Inspired by the Oldest Tree in Town – The Kiev Linden

This Linden (Lipa is what the locals call it) is a definite Kiev old town must-see. It is one of the most legendary old trees in the city, with its own glorious history.

Some sources say that it was the Metropolitan Peter Mogila who planted the tree near the Desyatynna Church at the beginning of the Andriivskiy descent back in 1635. According to this story, the tree is more than 400 years old! There is, however, a version that the linden is close to 1000 years old as it was planted even earlier than 1635.

It is almost impossible to miss this beauty. Its trunk and the crone make it as high as 15 meters. Each summer, in June, the linden blossoms with small yellow flowers, filling the air around with a beautiful aroma. A few years ago, the trunk of the tree was sealed – a move that will help the tree to stay alive for at least 2 more hundred years, the experts say.

Some believe that the tree fulfills desires. The recipe is simple and somewhat entertaining: make a wish and walk around the Lipa 7 times counter-clockwise.

6. Wander Off to Peyzahna Alley

This tiny street is the pride and joy for many locals. Also known as the Landscape Alle due to the panorama of the Vozdvyzhenska street, all the hills and even the left bank opening from it, it is also famous for its colorful, Alice-In-Wonderland-like sculptures.

Wander off to Peyzazhna Alley on your walk around the old town of Kiev

In 2009, an old street turned into an unusual playground with statues of fairies, cats, zebras, and elephants, as well as with a fountain and benches, all decorated with tiny and colorful mosaic tiles.

Once part of an old fortification that surrounded the city, and from which our ancestors looked outside the borders of Kievan Rus, it is now a cozy place to come to have some tea or coffee and to rest. Because it is also a mini-park, many locals come here with their kids.

The alley also gradually keeps extending, with more and more objects appearing on it.

7. Take a Shortcut from the New Stairs to Vozdvyzhenska Street

A stylish and modern bridge uniting two very popular areas – the Andriivsky Descent and the Vozdvyzhenska street, these stairs are in fact rather old. They were designed in 1695 and got renovated fairly recently.

You can walk past them on your way down the Andriivsky Descent, and come back later to maybe even go up. The stairs have comfortable handrails and many benches to rest.

We especially recommend walking here in the evening. All 247 steps and rails are nicely illuminated, which creates the illusion of a fairy tale. At daytime, the main benefit of this location is, of course, breathtaking panoramic views over the Dnipro river.

It is absolutely safe to walk here in the evening because the stairs are equipped with surveillance cameras. There is also free access to wi-fi.

8. Rub the Ring of the Pronia Prokopovna’s Monument

Returning back from the Peyzazhna Alley detour, you will spot a peculiar monument hidden under a tree not far from the Andriivska Church.

A statue to the popular movie characters on one of the streets of Kiev old town

Pronia Prokopovna and Svirid Golokhvosty are the legendary characters from the 60’s comedy «Running After the Two Hares». In the story, a bankrupt business owner decides to marry a rich but a not-so-pretty lady Pronia, while at the same time falling for a prettier but poorer girl and offering his heart to her, too. On the day of his wedding to Pronia, the liar gets exposed. The family then chases him away from the church.

These personages became so popular that people decided to immortalize them. The monument was built in 1999 on Andriiskiy descent and since then gathers lots of fans of the story around it.

The monument shows Svirid Golokhvasty kneeling to kiss the hand of Pronia Prokopovna. Many local couples come here to have their pictures taken in the exact same poses. Also, rumor has it that if you rub Pronia’s engagement ring, you will be successfully married in the nearest future. This is, however, not the only legend about this monument (as you might have already noticed, we, the Ukrainians, loooove assigning many legends per each of the monuments).

Attached to the back of Svirid’s costume is a small bug – a symbol of wealth and prosperity, and also a desirable object for many visitors. For at least 6 times, the mischievous locals managed to steal the bug, and for that exact amount of times, its copy was reattached back.

If you want to fully immerse into the atmosphere of this famous Kiev story, we recommend you to have lunch at a restaurant «Running After Two Hares» near the Andriivska church.

9. Explore the Andriivska Church of Kiev Old Town

St. Andrew’s Church is one of the most famous Orthodox temples in the Ukrainian capital. It is currently one of the four architectural landmarks of Ukraine accepted into the List of Mankind Treasures of Five Continents by the world society.

This graceful church has five green domes – a color not that typical for Orthodox architecture in this town. Its designer is the famous architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Many think that the church is the swang song of the master. The church has no bells, which is another thing atypical to the Orthodox canon.

A true gem of Kiev old town - St. Andrew's Cathedral

Legend says it that the hill, on which the church stands, was once washed by the sea from all of its sides and it is due to St. Andrew who erected a cross on this hill that the waters retrieved. They are now hidden under the hill. However, the ringing church bells can awaken the sea and cause the flood, which is why St. Andrew’s cathedral does not have any of those.

Even more impressive than its Baroque exterior is the church’s interior with its notable bright-red wooden iconostasis and golden highlights. Today this church is a working temple and services are being held here regularly.

The church’s terrace is a place to admire the panoramic views of the city. The holy territory starts right behind the gates. Women must cover their heads and to wear skirts below the knee.

10. Hunt for Treasures Amidst the Souvenir Stalls

“A picturesque street with diverse souvenir stalls”, “a major tourist attraction in Kyiv old town”, “Ukrainian open-air market” – these opinions about the Andriivskiy descent are the most common among the guests.

This place is famous for its numerous street vendors, big and little gift shops and small art-galleries for every taste. It is a perfect hunting ground for ones who love collecting trinkets during the travel. Among those are old fur hats with stars from the Soviet era, hand-made pipes and our traditional clothes – vyshyvankas. Bad news, though: the place can be a bit pricey, especially for a foreigner. Haggling may work, though.

Despite the fact that it is very tourist-oriented, this is also a very authentic place where you can feel the real atmosphere of Kiev. It is also a convenient area for a snack or for a lunch stop. Those of you looking for a fancier meal can stop by Kanapa (Andriicky descent, 19). This is a fine-dining place offering a mix of traditional Ukrainian cuisine with a modern serving. A salad, main course, and a drink will cost you around 20 USD.

Kanapa’s closest neighbor and a budget swap is a casual cafe Gnezdo (Andriivsky descent, 21), where on average you will spend under 10 USD for a lunch.

Speaking of lunch at Kanapa…

11. …Dine at the Last Wooden House of the City

…the restaurant shares a wall with a peculiar building.

Located at Andriivsky descent 19a is a true wooden beauty. It is the last wooden house of the Kyiv old town. It dates back to the 19th century. The house once belonged to a merchant woman. Today it is an art gallery and, well, a fine-dining place.

12. Ascend Richard the Lionheart’s Castle Stairs

Oh what an odd place this castle is! To be honest, Richard the Lionheart has never lived here. If the king were alive, he would’ve been very surprised to learn he owns such a peculiar residence. In reality, this is a poetized name of the building №15 on the Adriivskiy Descent.

This castle has many myths and legends surrounding it

The castle dates back to 1902-1904 and once finished, it became notoriously known for the howling sounds its walls made. It also had a reputation for chasing away its inhabitants. Some were killed, others mysteriously disappeared. Neither of the owners stayed here for long.

Years passed by until one of the castle’s tenants finally cleared the reputation of the building. Intrigued by the devilish noises, he inspected the walls of the building to discover that some of them contained the bottoms of the glass bottles and these were producing noises whenever the wind was blowing. Some believe it was the way that the builders avenged the first owner after he underpaid them.

The castle on Andriivsky descent is believed to kill its masters

But even with its reputation cleared, the building remains empty. Which is something we won’t say about its terrace. Located to the left of the main gates, there are the steep metal stairs leading to the upper level of the castle. From there, you can enjoy…

…you guessed right – the panoramic views of the Podol area. In the early mornings in spring and summer, this terrace is also a place where the Kiev yogis gather for the early practices.

13. Wander Off to Vozdvyzhenska Street

Just across from the castle, there is a turn to the Vozdvyzhenska street. This street has an interesting story to it.

One of the most popular streets in Kiev is Vozdvyzhenska

Due to its colorful and unusual buildings, this was one of the most popular projects in the city. All of us were waiting impatiently for the construction to be over, and for the street to start living its life. But time passed by. The buildings were completed. And they just stood there empty, for quite a few years.

At first, the entire street reminded more of a colorful decoration in the Hollywood studio. As the years went by, it then became known as the Dead City for the Millionaires. Back in 2012, the price for the apartments here reached around 4 million UAH (approximately 500,000 USD back then). Only wealthy people could afford to live on this street.

In reality, however, behind the luxurious facades of the stylish buildings, there were lots of problems. These included sewerage malfunction, excess dampness, mold…. The houses were pretty. But they were also impossible to live in.

Colorful houses on Vozdvyzhenska street in Kiev old town

Gradually, all of these problems got fixed. Today Vozdvyzhenka is the go-to place to shop local clothing brands, to wine and dine in some of the best restaurants, and to stay in one of the best Kiev boutique hotels. It is also a street popular among wedding and fashion photographers.

14. Visit the Most Mysterious House of Andryyvsky Descent

The house at Andryyvsky descent 13 is the most mysterious building in the area. It is a place where the legendary writer Mykhail Bulgakov lived. He was the person to write the legendary Master and Margarita novel.

One of the most mysterious houses is Kiev os located on Andriivsky descent 13, and belonged to a famous writer

In this house, Mykhail lived with his family. This is where he also wrote The Days of the Turbins – a novel where fiction intertwined with his real life. Today the house at Andryyvska 13a is the museum, where each room tells an episode from the writer’s life. Very much in Bulgakov’s style, each room also hides a mystery. This is a museum well worth a visit.

This is the part of the street that has a mystery number 13 repeated 4 times! The museum stands at 13a, with 13b the restaurant and 13 the house attached to it. The writer lived here for 13 years.

15. Admire the Renaissance Mural

Kiev is known for its murals, and not only in the old town. Artists from all corners of the world come to Ukraine’s capital to paint the walls and metro stations.

The Renaissance mural is located almost at the bottom of the Andriivsky descent. It appeared on the wall in 2014. Its author is the artist from Sevastopol, Oleksiy Kislov. He painted a girl dressed in traditional Ukrainian clothes. This girl symbolizes the rebirth of the Ukrainian culture.

16. Treat Yourself with Some Delicious Chocolate…

Shall we wrap up the walk with a nice cup oh hot chocolate with red pepper? Or with some tea and handmade candies?

Andriivsky descent 2b hosts the famous cafe that came to Kiev from Lviv. It is the Lviv Chocolate Workshop, a cozy place with lots of visitors. You might probably need to wait in line for a table.

But the sweets and the atmosphere is well worth the wait!

17. …Or Maybe, Mingle with The Locals Over a Glass of Cherry Cordial

Adjacent to the Lviv Chocolate Workshop cafe is the no-less famous Drunken Cherry cafe. It serves its signature cherry cordial by glasses or by bottles. As a side dish, it offers chocolate candies with the cherry inside or cherry paste.

In the evening, this is one of the most crowded places in Podol. Many locals come here to have a drink and to mingle. As the place does not offer tables to sit at, the visitors stand by the cafe. This is a very dynamic and fun place to explore.

18. Observe Kiev Old Town from the Podol Ferris Wheel

Technically, this is not Andryyvsky descent anymore, but it is such a nice way to wrap up the walk! A round of the Ferriss Wheel costs around 3 USD and shows nice panoramas of the Podol area.

That’s it for the walk around the Kiev Old Town. Hope you enjoyed it!

About the author of Through a Travel Lens: Inessa

Written by Inessa Rezanova

I am a Kyiv-based screenwriter with 10+ years of experience in producing scripts. I love my job, and no, I did not quit it to travel the world. I see different countries in my spare time. As a storyteller, I believe that it is the emotional journey that matters the most. This is why together with my sister I started this blog to encourage everyone to travel and to do so with a heart and mind opened to adventures.

About Natalie, the author of Through a Travel Lens

Images by Natalie Rezanova

I am a photographer based in Kyiv, Ukraine. I am lucky to be able to do what I love the most for a living. Photography is an endless source of inspiration for me. My mission on this blog is to inspire by sharing some of the favorite captions from my journeys. I also provide professional photography tips to help the readers bring home some beautiful photo memories.

Inessa Rezanova

I live in Kyiv, Ukraine. I am a screenwriter with 10+ years of experience in producing scripts. I love my job, and no, I did not quit it to travel the world. I see different countries in my spare time. As a storyteller, I believe that it is the emotional journey that matters the most. This is why together with my sister I started this blog to encourage everyone to travel and to do so with a heart and mind opened to adventures.

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A Walking tour of the Pechersk District of Kiev

Ancient city of Kiev with its numerous interesting sights, varied historic monuments, makes for a fantastic holiday destination. There are several districts in Kiev which are best explored on foot and this guide will introduce you to Pechersky district or simply Pechersk. The walking tour also covers the interesting and prestigious Lipki area of the city. The whole route takes about 3 hours follow and is a pleasant introduction to Kiev.

Introduction to Pechersk

Pechersky district occupies the hills of the right bank of the river Dnieper. Its name derives from Ukrainian "pechera", i.e., a cave. The history of the district dates back to the ancient times and is closely connected with the world famous Kiev-Pechersk Lavra representing a unique Monastery complex including about 20 different in age and style temples and churches as well as the Near and the Far Caves. The Pechersk Lavra Monastery is a must for visitors to Kiev, however, to explore it more or less you will have to spend a whole day, at least.

The stunning Pechersk Lavra complex

In the 19th century Pechersk became one of the most prestigious districts of Kiev. Well-to-do Kievans and nobilities began to build luxurious private residences and fascinating palaces in the most prestigious and aristocratic area of Pechersk called Lipki. The name Lipki (i.e., small lime trees) is associated with the lime tree grove that was planted in this area in the middle of the 18th century. It is just this area that we recommend you to visit.

How to get to Lipki

The walking tour begins at the Maidan Nezalezhniosti (Independence Square) metro station which is located in central Kiev in Khreshchatik Street. We will walk up the Gorodetskogo Street passing by the grand building of the Musical Academy of Ukraine and admiring the highly decorated facades of several buildings, which line the street. The street runs to a square in which the building of Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre is standing that was built in 1898. In front of the theatre there is a small park with sculpture to famous Ukrainian comedian M.Yakovchenko who had been working in the theatre for many years. We will turn to the left and walk along Olginskaya Street heading for our first destination – Institutskaya (Institute) Street. The whole walk takes no more than 10-15 minutes.

Attractions of Institutskaya Street

There you will see a beautiful building of the former "Privileged Boarding School for Daughters of the Aristocracy" erected in 1838. It was constructed in the late classical style according to the design of V.Beretti. Now it is the International Centre of Culture and Art.

Institutskaya Street hosts one of the Kiev best Byzantine style buildings – that of the National Bank of Ukraine erected in 1905. This imposing building has rich decorated exterior preserved unchanged to our days. The façade is adorned with marble columns, elegant ornamental designs, while the decorative turrets at the building corners are supported by the sculptures of giant gryphons.

What to see in Bankovaya Street

From Institutskaya Street we will go to the nearby Bankovaya Street. Its stand out attraction is the so-called "Dom s Khimerami" (House with Chimaeras), which was built by V.Gorodetsky in 1901-1903. It stands in a few minute walk from the National Bank. This house became the main tourist attraction since its appearance. It represents an extraordinary Art Nouveau construction of unusual shape highly decorated with various mystical and real creatures such as eagles, frogs, mermaids, etc. The figures of exotic or mythical animals are sitting on the roof, crawling on the walls or hanging over the entrances.

Kiev is full of stunning monuments

There is another interesting attraction in this street – the so-called "Pryanichny Domik" (Gingerbread House), a nice four-storeyed Gothic style building. The façade of this fabulous building is highly decorated. Its main feature was the sliding bamboo ceiling. It was made by its owner in order to keep up Judaic tradition to live in the open air during the Feast of Booths. Nowadays it belongs to the Writers’ Union. There is an expensive the “Sad” (Garden) restaurant in the house yard famous for gourmet foods of European cuisine.

Lyuteranskaya Street and its attractions

A short walk will lead to Lyuteranskaya (Lutheran) Street in which one of the most amazing villas in the capital is located. The house was built in 1907 in Art Nouveau style and is known as "Dom Plachushchey Vdovy" (The House of Weeping Widow). On its façade you may notice a stylized face of a woman with the leaves of horse-chestnut above it. When it rains it seems that the tears are running down her stone cheeks. This house is considered as one of the best examples of Art Nouveau style in Ukrainian capital.

The street also features the St. Catherine’s Church erected in 1857. It is the only Lutheran temple in Kiev that was built in simplified Gothic style, which was famous for its excellent internal acoustics. The Church is functioning now and open from 8:00 to 21:00.

Things to see in Shelkovichnaya Street

Another short walk leads to Shelkovichnaya (American mulberry) Street, where you will admire the pretty two-storeyed "Shokoladny Domik" (Chocolate House). This strange but "sweet" name is connected with intense brown color of building’s façade, which due to its numerous sculptural decorations resembles the stick of an exquisite chocolate. It is highly recommended to visit this house from 11:00 to 17:00 every day, except for Monday and Thursday as it boast an amazing interior. There are several very different in their interior halls: “Japanese Cabinet”, “Mauritanian Hall”, "Gothic Dining Room", etc. Now it is the branch of the Kiev Museum of Russian Art. Adjoining the “Chocolate House” is a wonderful house built in 1901 and resembling a Gothic palace. It is much better to admire its beautiful façade from the opposite side of the street.

The Dnieper River of Kiev

There are many other interesting attractions and places in this area and in Pechersk on the whole. You will appreciate strolling about Lipskaya Street, which is lined with several deserving attention houses and buildings. There is an expensive "Lipsky Osobnyak" restaurant in this street, which is recommended to visit if you want to taste the best cooked traditional Ukrainian "borshch". The restaurant is also famous for cooking dishes according to the recipes of the 18-19 century.

Kiev Ukraine Travel Guide

Getting Started

2 Days in Kiev Airport to Kiev Kiev’s finest Hotels

Things to see in Kiev St. Vladimir’s Cathedral Podil district walking tour Pechersk walking tour

Day trip to Mezhyhirya Day trip to Chernihiv Kiev Taxi Guide Kiev Metro Guide Boat Tours along the Dnieper River

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2WeekBackPack.com, with over 250 pages of travel ideas, if it's not here it's probably not in Kiev

What to See in Kyiv in One Day – Ultimate Guide

Key Takeaways

Table of Contents:

❗️Important to Know for Traveling to Kyiv

Kyiv in a day itinerary, main attractions of the kyiv old town:, afternoon itinerary: spiritual reflections, main attractions of the upper town kyiv:, how to get around kyiv – transportation, add kyiv to your bucket list right now.

Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, is a city of rich cultural and historical diversity. Whether interested in museums, parks, beaches, nightlife, or food, you will find something to suit your taste in this vibrant metropolis.

However, Kyiv is also a large city, covering an area of 839 km2. This means you must plan your trip carefully to ensure you see the places of interest in Kyiv. To help you with that, you can consult a Kyiv travel guide or use online resources to discover the most amazing sights and experiences that Kyiv has to offer.

Private tour guide in Kyiv – Victoria gives insider tips on what to do in Kyiv if you’re visiting for a short period. If you are visiting Kyiv quickly and want to see the most essential sights and local attractions, this article will certainly help you.

Kyiv city has three important historical areas :

Old Town: This is the spiritual heart of Kyiv, where you can find ancient temples, monuments, and museums. It is also the downtown area where you can enjoy shopping, dining, and entertainment, perfect for those wondering what to do in Kyiv. Old Town Kyiv Tour with a private guide .
Upper Town: This is Kyiv’s administrative and political centre, where you can see government buildings, the parliament, and the presidential palace. It is also home to some of the city’s most beautiful parks and gardens and the sacred Lavra monastery, a must-add to your things to do in Kyiv list.
Lower Town: This is the oldest district of Kyiv , where you can experience the charm of the past. It is also known as Podil , famous for its cultural and artistic life and vibrant nightlife.

Start with the Old Town, which is full of ancient temples, if you want to experience the spiritual essence of Kyiv. These magnificent religious buildings are not only the city’s main attractions but also the whole country’s historical pride.

Golden Gate
Castle of Baron Steingel
St.Sophia Cathedral
National Opera House
St.Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral
St.Andrew’s Church
Andriyivskyy Descent
Kyiv Old Hill

Golden Gate (Volodymyrska St, 40A)

Standing as a majestic testament to the ancient city of Kyiv, the Golden Gate is a triumphal stone archway that once served as the main entrance to the city. Erected in the 11th century by Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise , this remarkable structure is a testament to the architectural prowess of Kyivan Rus and its admiration for Byzantine traditions, as exemplified by the Golden Gate of Constantinople.

Bearing witness to centuries of history, the Golden Gate endured the ravages of time, including a devastating attack by the Mongols in 1240. Despite its partial destruction, it remained in use as a vital passageway into Kyiv until the mid-16th century.

In the early 1980s, meticulous archaeological excavations brought the Golden Gate back to life, revealing its grandeur and historical significance. Today, it stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a museum that houses artefacts and exhibits that chronicle the rich history of Kyiv and its iconic landmark.

Just a few meters away, you may see a red, gothic-style building in the form of a medieval castle.

Castle of Baron Steingel (Yaroslaviv Val St, 1)

Castle of Baron Steingel, Kyiv

One of Kyiv’s most intriguing and mysterious buildings is the Castle of Baron, a neo-Gothic mansion resembling a medieval fortress.

Locals are captivated by the Golden Gate’s romantic allure, particularly the pair of sculptures adorning its façade. With their clawed hands and feet, these winged devils possess a bestial visage that casts a menacing gaze upon passersby. A baron never owned the castle, but a famous winemaker, Maxim Steingel, lived in a simpler house beside it. Why is it called the Castle of Baron, then? You may learn on a private tour with a local expert guide!

As you approach the Golden Gate, you will be greeted by a majestic Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise statue. In his hands, he holds a replica of St.Sophia Cathedral. The cathedral is a Byzantine and Ukrainian architectural masterpiece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can walk to the cathedral from the Golden Gate in just 7 minutes and admire its stunning frescoes, mosaics, and domes.

Saint Sophia Cathedral (Volodymyrska St, 24)

St.Sophia Cathedral is a must-see attraction in Kyiv, as it is the oldest surviving Christian church in the East Slavic region. It dates back to the 11th century and boasts an impressive collection of original mosaics and frescoes covering over 3000 square meters.

These artworks are considered masterpieces of world art and reflect the Byzantine and Ukrainian styles and traditions. St.Sophia is a UNESCO World Heritage site , operating as a museum, not as a church.

You will be amazed by the beauty and spirituality of this place.

⭐️ Here is a tip from me: if you stand on the spot where you can see both the Mother of God – Oranta mosaic in the main altar and the Jesus Almighty image in the dome above you, you can make a wish, and it will come true.

Across Sofiyska Square, about 500 meters away, you will find another important and magnificent temple of Kyiv and Ukraine: St.Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.

St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery (Triokhsviatytelska St, 8)

The sky-blue cathedral with its golden domes is a replica of the 12th-century cathedral demolished by the Soviet regime. It is now a working monastery and the seat of the Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

To the right of St.Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, you will see a massive grey building – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is where the diplomatic relations of Ukraine are conducted.

A short walk from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take you to St.Andrew’s Church , one of Kyiv’s most stunning and distinctive churches. This church is a masterpiece of Ukrainian baroque art created by the renowned Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli.

St.Andrew’s Church (Andriivs’kyi descent, 23)

The church was built in the mid-18th century by the order of Empress Elizabeth, who planned to have a summer residence in Kyiv. The church stands on a hill overlooking the Dnipro River and the Podil district, the oldest part of the city. St.Andrew’s church has a fascinating history and legend. It survived wars, fires, and earthquakes and was never consecrated.

⭐️ You can enjoy a breathtaking view of the river, the city, and the sky from the observation deck around St.Andrew’s Church.

Andriyivsky Descent

At the bottom of the church sprawls a paradise for tourists – a souvenir and craftsmen market. The street, often called “Montmartre of Kyiv”, is a site of museums, galleries, art workshops, antique and souvenir shops.

This is where tourists can always buy Ukrainian souvenirs – figurines, pottery, embroidery, wooden caskets, and other things made by Ukrainian artisans and craftsmen.

At Andriyivskyy Descent, you can stop for lunch in a Ukrainian cuisine restaurant, a cafe, a beer pub, or a wine bar. In the afternoon, I suggest you move to the Upper Town area of Kyiv.

After a morning of exploring Kyiv’s historical and cultural attractions, you can spend the afternoon more contemplatively and peacefully. Visit the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most sacred places in Eastern Orthodoxy.

The Lavra, which means monastery, was founded in the 11th century by monks who dug caves and lived in them as hermits. You can enter these caves and see the mummified bodies of the saints, who are revered for their miracles and wisdom.

The Lavra is not only a place of solitude but also a place of beauty and glory. The complex includes several stunning churches, such as the Dormition Cathedral, the Trinity Gate Church, and the Refectory Church.

You can also see the Motherland Monument , a colossal statue commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazism in World War II. The view from the tower is breathtaking and serene, and it will make you appreciate the harmony between nature and human creation.

Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Monastery and Caves
National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War

If you want to get from the Old Town to the Upper Town in a fast and fun way, you can take the metro. Just walk to the main street of Khreschatyk from any street in the Old Town and hop on the metro for one stop to Arsenalna station .

You will have the chance to experience the world’s deepest metro station, which is 105.5 meters (346 ft) below the ground.

This is because Kyiv is located on the high bank of the Dnipro River, which rises above the rest of the city. The metro ride is an adventure in itself, and it will take you to the historical and spiritual centre of Kyiv.

Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Monastery and Caves (Lavrska St, 15)

The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is a unique monastery complex that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list and one of the seven wonders of Ukraine. It is the only sacred place in the Eastern Orthodox world that you can only find in Ukraine.

The first monks were true ascetics; they lived and died in the caves, dedicating their lives to praying for humanity. You can visit these caves and see the relics of the saints, who are believed to have miraculous powers.

If you want to see the whole complex, with all the cathedrals, monastery buildings, and the Grand Bell Tower, you must buy an entrance ticket for 80 UAH. For a better experience, book a private Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Tour .

You will be amazed by the beauty and splendour of these structures, which reflect the Eastern Orthodox faith and Ukrainian history.

If you only want to see the caves, you can do it for free. Just walk about 400 meters past the main entrance to the Lavra complex and look for the striped fence barrier on the left.

This is the way down to the caves. You will need a candle to light your way, as the caves are dark and narrow. You must also dress modestly and cover your head as a sign of respect.

Near the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, you will see a striking contrast between Kyiv’s religious and military aspects. There is a memorial complex of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War.

National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the WWII (Lavrska St, 24)

If you are fascinated by WWII history on the Eastern Front, you should not miss the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War. This museum will give you a comprehensive and chronological overview of the war, from its causes to its consequences.

You will see the main battles on the Soviet-German front line, the heroism and suffering of the Ukrainian people, and the victory and liberation of the country.

The museum has 16 halls with various exhibits, such as documents, photos, weapons, uniforms, medals, and personal belongings of the soldiers and civilians.

The museum also has an impressive outdoor exhibition, where you can see different types of military equipment, such as tanks, helicopters, artillery guns, and rocket launchers.

You can also admire the sculptures that depict the spirit and courage of the Ukrainian people who fought against the Nazi invaders.

The most prominent feature of the museum is the Motherland Monument , a 102-meter statue of a female warrior holding a sword and a shield. This statue is a symbol of the motherland and its defenders.

⭐️ If you are adventurous, climb to the observation deck in the statue’s shield. You will have a stunning view of the city from above. Doing it is not very difficult if you wear comfortable sports clothes and shoes.

You will be accompanied by a guide, who will instruct you and lead you up to the deck. You must take two small elevators and two ladders to reach the top. It is a thrilling and rewarding experience.

Kyiv is an easy city to get around. For much of this itinerary, you can travel on foot, and then use Kyiv public transport to get to the Upper Town.

I would suggest a metro. The metro network is easy to use. It consists of red, green, and blue lines, 52 stations, and three interchange nodes. Kyiv subway is contactless. Your metro travel can be paid for with contactless payment bank cards.

You can also buy a Kyiv Smart Card, put in as much money as you need, and pay for travel on any public transport. In the cabin of land transport, you need to bring a card or ticket to the validator and pay for trip.

Kyiv is big, diverse, and unspoiled by the tourist masses. Without a doubt, it can satisfy the most demanding travellers. Ancient history, authentic various architecture, vibrant food culture, friendly and hospitable citizens.

On top of that, Kyiv is a fabulously green city in spring and summer. You can’t walk far without passing through a park.

When peace returns to Ukraine, and it is safe to travel to Kyiv, prepare for an unforgettable trip. Whether you want to discover it with a private tour guide or alone, I guarantee you will not regret it!

Travelling to the capital of Ukraine can be a real offbeat European adventure like nowhere else.

About the Author:

Dear Reader! My name is Victoria, and I’m a private tour guide in Kyiv and fingers and lens behind this blog. If you feel for that, do not hesitate to contact me via email at [email protected]. You can also check out the blog on my website, www.bestkievguide.com, for more interesting posts.

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