90's Disco Stars Banned from Performing in Latvia: Who Made the Blacklist

It has been revealed that all three were added to the list of undesirable persons for the country back in May. The reason for the increased attention to the artists was their connections to the Russian concert market and performances in Russia. ### Concert in Riga Without Three Stars According to bb.lv, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, foreign performers Haddaway, Dr. Alban, and LayZee are banned from performing in the country. A musical event titled "90's Disco Show," dedicated to popular dance hits of the 1990s, was scheduled for November 20 at the Xiaomi Arena in Riga. Among the announced participants were three well-known artists: - Haddaway — Alexander Haddaway, performer of the famous hit *What Is Love*. - Dr. Alban — Alban Nwapa, known for the songs *It's My Life* and *Sing Hallelujah!*. - LayZee — Delroy Rennolls, a member of the group Mr. President, famous for the hit *Coco Jamboo*. However, the performance of all three in Latvia is now excluded. Representatives of the Xiaomi Arena stated that at the time of signing the contract, they were not aware of the performers' connections to Russia. At the same time, the administration emphasized that they usually check artists before possible performances in Riga — within the limits of available opportunities and resources. Representatives of Xiaomi Arena reported that the mentioned performers will not perform at the venue. ### Artists Found on the List of Undesirable Persons The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia confirmed that Haddaway, LayZee, and Dr. Alban have been included in the list of persons undesirable for staying in the country. As explained by the ministry's spokesperson Liga Ermačāne, the corresponding decision was made back in May 2026. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the inclusion of the artists in the list was preceded by a wide public resonance and conclusions from competent institutions. Thus, this is not a new ban imposed specifically before the November concert, but rather restrictions that have been in effect for several months. As a result, the performances of the three musicians in Latvia are impossible. ### What Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Recommend? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia urges concert organizers to carefully check publicly available information about the artists they intend to collaborate with. In the ministry's opinion, when concluding contracts, it is necessary to assess not only the creative activities of the performers but also potential reputational, sanction, and other risks. Particular attention is recommended to be paid to public statements and actions of artists that may indicate support for Russian aggression against Ukraine. The ministry emphasizes that under the current geopolitical conditions, it does not support the entry and activities in Latvia of performers who directly or indirectly demonstrate hostile attitudes towards the country, support Russian aggression, the Kremlin's policy towards Ukraine, or undermine the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine through their actions. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not specify which particular statements or actions of each of the three musicians were the basis for their inclusion in the list of undesirable persons. ### Will the 90's Disco Take Place? From the statement of Xiaomi Arena, it follows that Haddaway, Dr. Alban, and LayZee will not perform at the scheduled concert on November 20. It is also not yet specified whether the organizers will look for replacements for the performers and whether the show program will change. The story of the "90's Disco Show" concert has shown that previous performances of the artists and their connections to the Russian concert market can become the subject of close attention from Latvian authorities and the public. Three popular performers, whose songs have echoed in European discos for decades, will now be unable to perform in Riga due to the existing entry ban. And if the organizers still intend to hold the November show, they will have to do without the three stars whose names were initially used in the poster.