SKIF, Sergey Kuryokhin International Festival, is an international festival of modern music and arts, taking place each year since 1998 in St.Petersburg, Russia. Sergey Kuryokhin was internationally known Russian composer, musician, performer, and an extremely influential figure in Russian rock, jazz and experimental music. Since his untimely death in 1996 the foundation and the festival were esta
blished to promote contemporary music and arts in Russia. SKIF-1 and SKIF-2 were held in 1997 and 1998 in New York City, SKIF-3 came to Kuryokhin's home city St.Petertsburg and from now is held here. From 2005 till 2015 SKIF took place in Sergey Kuryokhin Modern Art Center in St.Petersburg, a new residence of the festival and Sergey Kuryokhin Foundation. From 2015 Sergey Kuryokhin Modern Art Center is closed for reconstruction, and SKIF is taking place at The New Stage of Alexandrinsky Theatre, modern theater complex in the heart of St.Petersburg. Previous festivals featured a variety of national and international artists including Terry Riley, SWANS, Tangerine Dream, The Ex, Psychic TV3, Eivind Aarset & The Sonic Codex Orchestra, Chrome Hoof, The Kilimanjaro Dark Jazz Ensemble, Michael Rother & Camera ,The Young Gods, Jozef Van Wissem, Hidden Orchestra, Chealsea Wolfe , Anna von Hausswolff, Motorpsycho , VHK, Trust , Kap Bambino, Andrea Belfi, Keshavan Maslak, Otomo Yoshihide, Lars Hollmer, Faust, Keith & Julie Tippett, Borah Bergman, Frank London, Damo Suzuki, Peter Brotzman, Fred Frith, Chris Cutler, Gary Lukas, Han Bennink, Pat Mastelotto, Je Chun Park, David Moss, Magma, Hans Reichel, John Cale, Coolhaven, Velma, Fu****ad, Valina, Gjallarhorn, Huutajat, PalSecam, Franz Pomassl, Ronin Quartet, Steamboat Switzerland, Maharaja, Dalgoo, Thurston Moore, Kimmo Pohjonen, Kampec Dolores, Shelley Hirsch, Rashied Ali, Pierre Moerlens′s Gong, Alim Kasymov, Klezmatisc, Boo, Sainho Namchylak, Jozef Skrzek Group, Theo Loevendi, William Parker, Hans Reichel, Carl Rudiger, Cecil Taylor, Serhat Koksal, Metamorphosis, Fe-mail, Plan Kruutntoone, Gold Blade, Vartinna, Grencso-Hajnoczy duo, Huun Huur Tu, Paolo Angeli, SBB, Telco Systems, Willem Breuker Collectief, Acoustic Ladyland, Palinckx, Uj Izme Doma, ZU, Felix Kubin, Alog, Alexander Balanescu, De Kift, The Ex, Tenores de Bitti, KK Null, Lithuanian Jazz Trio, Roberto Paci Dalò, Phill Niblock, Charles Gayle, Eugene Chadbourne, Holger Czukay, Stefan Wittwer, Staalplaat Soundsystem, Barbara Buchholz, Drom the Lime, End, Eni-Less, Goodiepal, Kluster, Miss Hawaii, Robotobibok, The First Viennese Vegetable Orchestra, Thieves Ears, Zga & Opus Post, Jean Jacques Perrey& David Chazam, Zeena Parkins/Ikue Mori, Nomeansno, Radian, Heavy Trash, Hells Kitchen, Jazkamer, Solex, Michael Fakesch, Loskot , Mediengruppe Telekommander, Pymathon, Amoc, Kiwanoid, Luarvik Luakvik, Deti Picasso, trio Nils Petter Molvaer/Thomas Stronen/ Eivind Aarset, FM Einheit & Caspar Brotzmann, Pierre Bastien, Harmonia, Polar Bear, DAAU, Ben Frost, Jahcoozi, The Complainer & The Complainers, Trigon, Midi Lidi, Leafcatter John, MoHa!, BJ Nilsen, Fennesz &Lillevan present Malher live remixed, Maarja Nuut, Oum Shatt, Dollkraut band, Chris Imler, Anika, Mitch&Mitch, Funckarma, N.O.M., Dick el Demasiado, Miron Zownir, Pivot, Deerhoof, Zeni Geva, Burnt Friedman & Jaki Liebezeit, Z′EV, Ruins alone, Frode Gjerstad &Ståle Birkeland, 8Rolek, Kania Tieffer, OvO, Baaba, Puseh Pusew, Optical Machines (Shift), Sir Alice, Sh**un Kunitoki, Avaspo, Stella, Mujuice, Zakarya, Watcha Clan, Dat Politics, Gangpol und Mit, Circle, Zu, Filastine, Mia Zabelka, Trio Sonore (Ken Vandermark, Mats Gustaffson, Peter Brozmann), The Thing, Max Tundra, Knalpot, Małe Instrumenty, Ultralyd, Jon Hopkins, Gonjasufi, Father Murphy, James Blackshaw, Alan Howarth & Zombie Zombie, Arnold Dreyblatt Ensemble, K-X-P, KILLL, Paristetris, To Catch a Crab, Väljasoit Rohelisse, Slugabed, Next Life, Vuk, Za!, Napszyklat , Mona De Bo, Kreatiivmootor,Mujuice, Volcano the Bear, Bismuth, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Mungolian Jetset, FELL, Mary Ocher, Broke, The Geordie Approach, Winny Puhh, SchnAAk and the Rundu Choir, GAF, Kadebostany, The Soft Moon, zZz, K-X-P, Daniel Paboeuf Unity, Monsieur Doumani, group A, Bachar Mar-Khalife, T'ien Lai, Holy Motors and many Russian artists. It both draws upon and challenges accepted notions of jazz, electronics, classical, world music, etc. From the outset SKIF, in the true spirit its founder's "Pop-Mechanical" concept, aspired to maintain a truly multi-media nature featuring along with music dance, theatre, visual arts, film, video, performance art, and everything else that does not fit into any category. The festival gives enormous impetus to the cultural life in St.Petersburg, the city world famous not only for its classical heritage but for the traditions of the avant-garde and experimental art. It revives the spirit of St.Petersburg's great citizens: Diaghilev, Malevich, Mayakovsky, Khlebnikov, Kharms – and Kuryokhin. The combination of immensely rich cultural tradition and cutting edge art experimentation makes SKIF one of Europe's most interesting cultural events.
