Summer in Lviv is based on guitarist Peter Solowka and vocalist / fiddle player Len Liggins's experiences in western Ukraine summer 2018, where they discovered the rejuvenated, modern, vibrant and forward-looking city of Lviv, whose official motto is 'Live, work and enjoy yourself'. Inspired by those experiences, and conversations with people in the city, Summer in Lviv deals with themes that reflect the Ukraine of today: conflict, populations on the move, immigration, and a struggle for identity. The album reflects on the benefits and pitfalls of freedom, and the delicate balance between asserting a national or ethnic identity and denying it to others. If this balance is achieved, it can result in diversity and acceptance ? increasingly the case in Lviv; but if not, it can lead to war - as in Ukraine's Donbass region. This is the serious side, but Summer in Lviv also celebrates Ukrainians' natural exuberance and love of life, and the high place that folk song and dance holds in Ukrainian culture. Living in the west but with half the band having a background rooted in the cultures of Ukraine or eastern Europe, The Ukrainians give a unique perspective on these issues. Furthermore, their music is infused with an excitement that draws on both Ukrainian folk music and western rock music, which together create a sound that is fresh and exciting as traditional instruments interweave with pounding drums and zizzy electric guitars.
