BYF newsletter no. 5

The festival will be able to welcome twice as many visitors!
Good news - thanks to the strong response from visitors, the Baltic Youth Festival at Arena Riga on June 9 will take place at two times: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.! Of the approximately 10,000 available seats at Arena Riga, about 80% had already been reserved by the end of April. Therefore, so that everyone interested can attend the festival, the festival events will take place both at 2:00 p.m. and at 8:00 p.m., offering an excellent four-hour musical program at both times.
For everyone who reserved seats at Arena Riga by May 1, the reservation remains valid for the first (daytime) festival event at 2:00 p.m. Beginning May 1, seat reservations are also available for the evening event, which will begin at 8:00 p.m. and last until midnight. Seats for the 8:00 p.m. event can be reserved individually (the reservation limit is now three seats), as well as by registering in groups. Riga residents are especially invited to the evening event, while churches from all over Latvia are still invited to register group buses. So we look forward to seeing all of you at the festival - and your friends as well!

FM419 training course - in more than 50 places in Latvia
The FM419 training course, specially adapted for young people, encourages Christians to renew their faith and live according to it, as well as to testify about their faith to others. At the end of April and the beginning of May the course took place in five locations in Riga, while in May the FM419 course continues in more than 50 places in Latvia. Detailed course schedules, as well as information about locations throughout Latvia, are available on the festival website WWW.BYF2012.LV, where these details are updated regularly. Everyone who wants to grow in following Christ is invited to the FM419 course. Course participants will be offered the opportunity to become volunteer counselors, helping the young people who decide to follow Christ during the Baltic Youth Festival.

The next Worship and Prayer Evening - at St. Gertrude's Church
Each month until the festival we are invited to gather for Worship and Prayer Evenings in churches of different denominations. To entrust Latvia's young people and the upcoming festival together to God's guidance, this time we will meet on May 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Riga Old St. Gertrude's Church (Riga, Gertrudes Street 8). We know that only God can give blessing and success to all our efforts in organizing the festival - therefore let us pray for His blessing and guidance both in organizing the festival and during the event itself!
We remind you that every evening at 10:00 p.m. we invite everyone to unite in prayer for the young people of the Baltic countries - your support and prayers are very important for every young person who has not yet come to know God. Let us continue to remain in intercession also for those friends whom we are inviting to the festival!

We invite young people to become festival ambassadors
We are glad that you will be at the festival, and you will probably invite your friends to it as well. But how can you invite young people whom you do not know? We invite church youth to become festival ambassadors by taking part in handing out invitations to young people on the streets of Riga and other Latvian cities! Several Riga churches have already formed teams that will invite Riga's young people to the festival at Arena Riga at the end of May. But we need reinforcements! You too can sign up for this important mission - either by forming a team from your own church or by signing up on your own. Your help will be very useful to us. To register, write to: info@byf2012.lv - thank you in advance!

Last chance to sign up for the flashmob!
Are you a young person ready for challenges and new adventures? Baltic Youth Festival flashmob organizers Dace and Uldis Zvirgzdins invite young people to take part in a joint flashmob that will take place on June 3 near Origo and in Old Riga, and on June 9 near Arena Riga. What will everyone have to do together? Let that remain a secret - we will reveal only that Dace and Uldis Zvirgzdins are dance teachers... They themselves say: “This flashmob gives everyone a chance to move - both those who have danced before and those who still want to do it. Everyone will be able to learn according to their level of preparation.” Registration - by writing to: flashmob@byf2012.lv

PATLIS BAND
Alexander Patlis grew up in Grodno, Belarus. Since childhood Alexander has been captivated by popular music; it sounded everywhere and constantly. At the age of five he was invited to study at the secondary school of the Music Academy, and at the age of 14 Alexander began studies in the accordion class at Grodno Music College.
His passion for popular music was unstoppable - listening to White Snake, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd and Yes, he dreamed of becoming a rock star. At the age of 16 he bought his first drum kit and began playing at various concerts and weddings. When Alexander turned 18, he was called up for compulsory military service, and during his two years in the army he gave 200 concerts.
On May 17, 1997, Alexander founded his own band called Novi Ierusalim. The band released six albums and gave countless concerts in Belarus, Russia, America, the Baltic States and many other places in Europe. In September 2006 Alexander began his solo career. His song “Tev” was included in a collection of Belarus's best songs.
Members: Alex Patlis (vocals, composer, lyricist), Vitaly Vechersky (guitar, arrangement), Alex Hilyuta (drums), Ilia Ivanov (bass guitar), Yury Barbuk (sound engineer).
Albums: Holy God (1993); Come Back Home (1995); What Do You Think About It? (1997); Novi Jerusalem (1999); Nyeba Oskolki (2002), The Best (2002), The Fragments of Heaven (2002), Vremya Blagopriatnoe (2004), Ya Podaryu Tebye (2005), Heart Lines (2007), Chitaj moi misli (2011).
Website

GYVAI
The band GYVAI began its work in the autumn of 2001, and already in the summer of 2003 the band's debut album was released, opening the opportunity to give concerts not only in Lithuania but also abroad. In 2006 the band released its second album “91”, recorded in St. Petersburg in cooperation with American producer Joey Powers, who has worked with Aersomith, White Cross, Cyndi Lauper and other musicians.
Since then GYVAI have experienced notable international success. Their song “Es bez Tevis” (Me Without You) entered the Top 10 on the MTV Baltic and MTV Baltic Rock music channels. In 2008 the band represented Lithuania at the Eurovision contest with their song “Putns” (Paukštis), taking 4th place. The song attracted great interest and was included in several radio program playlists in Europe. The band has also received awards in many other local and international music competitions, including several alternative music competitions.
GYVAI perform wherever they are invited - in underground music clubs, huge stadiums, schools and churches. GYVAI eagerly await every opportunity to play music and are open to various challenges. Even such turns in the band members' lives as weddings, the birth of children or turning toward the opera stage have not been able to keep the musicians from playing together.
Members: Milda Krisciunaite (vocals, keyboards), Justas Kupstys - electric and acoustic guitar, Josh McClung (drums), Dima Skulis (bass guitar).
Albums: GYVAI (2003); 91 (2006); Me Without You (2009); -/+ (2011)
Website

BALTIC YOUTH FESTIVAL: JUNE 9, 2012, ARENA RIGA

NEWSBOYS / MICHAEL W. SMITH / PARACHUTE BAND / REBECCA KONTUS / FLAMMO
PATLIS BAND / GYVAI / VESTNIECIBA / VALDIS INDRISONOKS & BAND / EX ANIMO
WWW.BYF2012.LV

FESTIVAL CALENDAR

MAY:
Worship and Prayer Evening:
May 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Riga Old St. Gertrude's Church
FM419 course in Latvian churches,
schedule: www.byf2012.lv, FM419

JUNE:
BALTIC YOUTH FESTIVAL
June 9, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Arena Riga, Skanstes Street 21

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