The five ladies of IVA NOVA were inspired by the Slavic folk music, but they gave it a personal touch. A rather wild touch, we might add. Don't expect traditional Russian folk, these ladies rock a little too hard for that. But when the two lead singers do some harmonies, they make one think of Vartinna. Their sonic expression is girlish and playful, yet feminine and proud. And if the accordeon player picks up accordeon, she can make you dream of the Russian countryside. But when one of the singers picks up her guitar, she brings you right back to the big city.

The band was formed in 2002 in St. Petersburg, and traveled to Western Europe for the first time in 2004, after the release of their debut album. Ever since, they've been touring extensively, playing numerous clubs and festivals in eleven countries (even Iceland). In the meantime, they've released a second album Chemodan, an energizing and passionate recording.

Besides lyrics on Russian IVA NOVA have songs on Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Georgian and Tatar languages. Along with exploiting endless folklore resources they creatively experiment with other styles. Their live show is a mix of lyrical songs and punky-energetic dances.

“Iva Nova is the coolest Russian female band”, writes Russian Rolling Stone Magazine.

Read the article in the Froots December issue 2008 about Iva Nova

IVA NOVA performed on festivals: Oerol (the Netherlands 2004), Fusion (Germany 2004), Faces (2004 Finland), Doun By The Laituri (Finland 2004), Open Ohr (Germany 2005) , Progress Festival in Vooruit (Ghent) Belgium 2005), Eurofolkfestival Ingelheim (Germany 2006), Intercultural women's music festival (Hunsruck/Germany 2006), Pflasterspektakel Street Festival (Linz Austria 2006), Sommerfest in Wetzlar (Germany 2006), Le LeTre Festival (Germany 2006), Wilwarin festival (Germany 2007), International accordion festival Vienna (Austria 2007), Festival Wazemmes l’Accordeon (Lille France 2007), Mundial festival (Tilburg the Netherlands 2007), Amsterdam Roots festival (the Netherlands 2007), Donauinselfest Festival (Vienna Austria 2007), Folkwoods (the Netherlands 2007), Winter Lights (Reykjavik Iceland 2008), Festival du Gibloux (Switzerland 2008), Summer Openair Burg Reichenstein - Frauen_Stimmen (Austria 2008), Zomer van Antwerpen (Belgium 2008), Pohoda Festival (Slovakia 2008), Ethnoambient Salona (Croatia 2008) and many venues in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland.

 

Natalia Potapenko - accordion
Ksenia Vasilyeva – bass
Nastya Postnikova – vocal, Korg , percussion
Inna Lishenkevich – guitar, vocals
Katherina Fyodorova –drums