Pohoda will be one day longer and feature several unique art projects
We have been announcing the names of the music programme for some time, with top artists such as Central Cee, Caroline Polachek, Suzanne Vega, Jamie xx, slowthai, AMELIE LENS and Wet Leg. Every year we also bring many projects that you can not experience anywhere else. This year we have the first Slovak version of the legendary Plantasia, new compositions from Ukraine and a visual work by András Cséfalvay created specifically for Pohoda. Read more about the news we announced at the press conference during the Pohoda Day_FM.
12. May 2023
The commissioning of new compositions has become a tradition at Pohoda. This year, we focus on the neighbouring country of Ukraine. Three new compositions by Ukrainian composers will be premiered by the Orchestra of the Slovak National Theatre conducted by Marián Lejava. A unique recording should also be made during the concert.
The selection of artists was led by the Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv. New pieces are currently being composed by the trio of Alisa Formaziuk, Emil Borysenko and Yevhen Petrov. The partner of Symphony of Free Ukraine is Music Saves UA that is a non-profit fundraising initiative created by the Ukrainian Association of Music Events (UAME). This is one of the many joint activities of Pohoda organisers and the initiative Music Saves UA. Pohoda Festival has been supporting this initiative since its creation and one of the results of this cooperation is a greater emphasis on artists from Ukraine directly at the biggest Slovak festival.
"The Ukrainian Institute is very grateful to Pohoda Festival for giving a voice to young Ukrainian composers. In their new works, the composers combine ancient Ukrainian folklore and modern compositional techniques, Eastern European melodic generosity and Western excellence in orchestration. We have endeavoured to present a diversity of styles, regions, and biographies in our selection. Alisa Formaziuk is a student from Lviv, Emil Borysenko is a composer and performer from Kyjiv based in Berlin, and Yevhen Petrov is currently mobilised and active in the Ukrainian Armed Forces Orchestra. These are three unique young people who, despite the war, continue to create and strengthen the voice of Ukraine in the world," says Liubov Morozova of the Ukrainian Institute.
PLANTASIA – A MAGNIFICENT WORK BY MORT GARSON WITH A NEW SECTION DEDICATED TO SUNFLOWERS
Another project, that you can see and hear at Pohoda is a special performance of the legendary album Mother Earth's Plantasia by Mort Garson from 1976. It is a Slovak premiere and the timing of the concert is also exceptional – it will be played at 5 am on the main stage during Sun Salutation.
The album became popular under the name Plantasia and its official subtitle says it all: "Music for plants and for all who love them.” The original work will be expanded with a piece written by Kristína Smetanová. Symbolically, it will be dedicated to the sunflowers that are usually in the centre of the venue, but could not be planted this year.
The album was available in very limited quantities when it was first released, as it was only given away to those who bought a plant from the plant shop and received the album with it. Plantasia is now a cult classic and will be reissued in 2019.
The album will be performed live at Pohoda by Kristína Smetanová, Haimoni Balgavá, Peter Kunzo and Martin Majlo Štefánik. They will play the songs on four synthesizers.
Kristína Smetanová is excited about Plantasia and says of the project, "As someone who lives in the noise of the city with the incessant presence of music, I often escape to nature to hide and find inspiration. Plantasia is music for the plants, and I am happy to be able to pick up a piece with such a beautiful idea and touch the essence of creation and maybe give something back."
Kristína is responsible for the entire performance of this piece, and she and Haimoni are remaking it for a set created for Sun Salutation. You may know Kristína from bands like Quatro Emocione, the trio Chick2Chick, and her solo project Kriss Krimm. She has performed with the Košice Philharmonic Orchestra and the Academy of Performing Arts Orchestra.
ANDRÁS CSÉFALVAY CREATES A MAJOR WORK FOR THE POHODA VISUAL STAGE
Last year, Pohoda's Visual Stage was enveloped by Juraj Gábor's Sphere. This year, several installations and concepts will be presented, with the main work commissioned from András Cséfalvay, who says of his Last Generation project,
"The impact of the asteroid on Earth caused the extinction of many animals. It came out of the blue; many were planning their future, their families, and careers. The dinosaurs left behind several fossil nests with intact eggs buried in mounds of earth. The fragility of the shells may remind us of the fragility of life, of the extinction that humanity has brought upon itself. But when we look up, we can see birds flying overhead, and we realise that flying is one of the adaptations of dinosaurs that enabled them to survive. Birds are the dinosaurs that learned to fly. So is there hope for humanity? The installation of eight three-metre high eggs, protected by a sandbag mound, becomes a place for reflection and discussion on the current (sixth) mass extinction."
CLOSE FRIEND OF JURAJ KUŠNIERIK, BJÖRK’S BANDMATE AND SOUL OF ICELANDIC MUSIC SIGTRYGGUR BALDURSSON TO PERFORM AT POHODA THREE TIMES
Symbolically, three slots at Café Kušnierik will belong to one of the most important personalities of the Icelandic music scene – Sigtryggur Baldursson. Siggi was a close friend of our dear Juraj Kušnierik, the journalist, activist and great man after whom the stage is named. Siggi was a co-founder of the legendary bands The Sugarcubes or Kukl, in which Björk sang. Now, in addition to playing music, he also dedicates himself to exporting Icelandic music – and with success, as the small island's reputation in the world music scene proves.
Siggi is obviously a man of many faces, which he shows under the name Bogomil Font.
Bogomil Font will perform latino, swing and mambo in the style of Sinatra and Nat King Cole, all in an Icelandic style and with an amazing comedic twist. This year's Pohoda concert will also commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the release of his debut album.
In the Paddan project he plays with Birgir Mogensen, with whom he also played in the band Kukl. At Pohoda, Paddan will premiere their new stuff, which will be officially released this autumn, so you'll get to hear exclusive songs that no one has heard before. Paddan play instrumental post-rock at its core, but with various other influences.
Before the concerts, Siggi will talk about how the Icelandic musical miracle came about and whether it is possible for Slovakia to do the same.
WHEN WILL THE MOST FAMOUS NAMES PERFORM?
The musical programme of the 26th Pohoda will be opened on the main stage by Ukrainian singer Alina Pash, followed by last year's favourite slowthai, who will come with a full band this year. Thursday's main stage programme will be closed by one of the headliners, Jamie xx.
On the first official day, the Orange Stage will belong to Slovak singer-songwriter ERØ, followed by Perfume Genius, whom Pohoda has been trying to book for years. A good dose of dance music awaits you in the biggest tent with performances by Mandidextrous and B-Complex, but also Mezerg.
On Friday, the main stage will belong to strong female voices with Jana Kirschner, the legendary Suzanne Vega and some of today's most sought-after female artists, Wet Leg and Caroline Polachek. The Orange Stage will be headlined by songwriter Ben Howard. Opening the SLSP Arena will be rap artists Dušan Vlk, Hazey from the UK and American rapper Rico Nasty. They will be followed by the great dance duo SOFI TUKKER and techno DJ AMELIE LENS. The EUrópa stage will feature jazz legend Hermeto Pascoal, the unforgettable Dakh Daughters and punk favourites shame.
On Saturday, the most anticipated rapper of this year's edition, Central Cee, will perform on the main stage and musical visionary Arca will close the programme on the main stage. The Orange Stage will be headlined by amazing Australian Music Prize winner, Sampa the Great. On Saturday, one of the best bands of the moment, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, will perform in the SLSP Arena, as well as seventy years old rappers Pete & Bas from the UK, and Berlin techno duo FJAAK and the great Shygirl. The EUrópa Stage will belong to world music, with the 'father of Ethiopian jazz’ Mulatu Astatke and Grammy winner Arooj Aftab.
POHODA 2023 NEWS
This year, Pohoda will be one day longer. On Wednesday, July 5 at 6 pm we will open the festival parking lot, the two tent cities, the Silent Camp and the caravan parking lot. In both camps there will be a special programme in several places; there will be lockers, toilets, food and drink stands as well as health centres. The festival centre will be closed until Thursday 2 pm, so it will not be possible to walk from one tent city to the other. The reason for this is the ongoing reconstruction of the Class 1 road No. 9 between Drietoma and Mníchová Lehota, which is the main access route for cars coming to the festival.
This year, a new stage called Tepláreň will be established at Pohoda. During the day, this stage will host various discussions and theatre performances on LGBTI+ topic, and in the evening there will be musical performances. Performers include singer-songwriter Nina Kohout, hip-house artist Cakes Da Killa, Czech drag queen Miss Petty or DJs TRANSmisia a IAmNøt.
A new name has been added to the Tepláreň programme: Vojtik from Detva, whose song DETVIANSKY SEN (Detva Dream) has rightly gone viral thanks to its daring lyrics.
This year we also announced the Pohoda Visual Art Contest, which is about site-specific art installations on the festival grounds. The winner was Dear Thearlings, an installation by Šimon Chovan. A special prize was also awarded this year, which went to the duo BAHNO 974 for their work Castorin.
Fans of young music, underground, harder music and guitars can look forward to up to two Garages curated by Denis Bango (The Wilderness, FVCK KVLT).
Pohoda festival has already announced 90 musical names from nearly 25 countries around the world, with many more to come. The programme of the Children's Family Park, theatre programme, discussions, dance programme, Visual Stage works and other news will also be announced.
We look forward to seeing you in less than two months at the 26th edition of the festival at Trenčín Airport. In the meantime, you can shorten the waiting time by watching the official aftermovie of last year's edition: