La Minor, a Russian folk punk band from St. Petersburg, formed in 2000 and was known for their unique blend of Russian chansons. The band's music was praised for its ability to evoke the atmosphere of Odessa's urban underworld during the 1920s-1940s, blending elements of Russian folk, jazz, and klezmer. Their initial lineup included Slawa Schalygin on vocals, who had previously been part of the Psychobilly band The Navigators. La Minor organized their first concert at the Spirit Club, where Schalygin served as manager. Their debut album, Blatnyak, was released in 2002 and featured a mix of traditional Russian elements with jazz, ska, and lo-fi street polka. Subsequent albums included Lenconcert (2003), ... Chto-to sigareta gasnet (2003) and Oboroty (2009). La Minor toured extensively across Europe from 2004 onwards, performing at notable festivals such as the Eurofolkfestival in Ingelheim am Rhein and the Überlast-Festival in Enschede.
