Pohoda 2019 will also host Afghanistan’s firstall-female orchestra – Zohra. The ensemble closed the 2017 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. It was not only their first performance outside their native country, but also the first time stage fright was the only fear they had to brave. Back home, they often have to deal with various threats, from personal invectives to bomb attack threats (which has already occurred, for example, against the founder of the school under which the ensemble falls). The members of the ensemble are one of the first women in their families and throughout the country to study music in the past 30 years. In a very short time, these brave musicians earned the recognition of the media as BBC, NPR, CNBC, The New Your Times, Le Figaro, La Repubblica and many others. Young orchestra members dressed in colourful embroidered costumes are ready to share their culture and their message of hope with the world. → read more

Pohoda 2019 will also feature the American producer and Los Angeles DJ, TOKiMONSTA. She has worked with artists such as Anderson Paak, Selah Sue and Jessie Ware. TOKiMONSTA is the first artist to release an album via Brainfeeder Flying Lotus label. It was her debut Midnight Menu from November 2010. In 2011, she released the album Boom together with Suzi Analogue. In 2013, she released her second album Half Shadows, and a year later she released Desiderium through her own label, Young Art Records. At that time she also appeared as a lecturer at the Red Bull Music Academy. After releasing Fovere, she underwent a cerebral surgery due to a rare disease called Moyamoya, which deprived her of hearing and the ability to speak for a while. Despite everything, she soon returned with a successful album Lune Rouge, which many media described as her best record so far. It was also praised by Billboard who put her on the cover of the March issue of the magazine. She was the first woman to be nominated for a Grammy in the Best Dance / Electronic Album category.  → read more

Little Big is a rave/hip-hop phenomenon from Russia that has dominated the European dance scene with their contagious hits such as “Skibidi”, “Faradenza”, “LollyBomb”, and “Big Dick”. Their funny videos have almost 700 million views on YouTube. Little Big refer to themselves as a satirical-artistic collaboration that uses hyperboles and parodies of a variety of stereotypes about Russia and about Eastern Europe. They are currently on tour that brought them to Bratislava, where they performed yesterday. Sabrina Faramarzi of the Medium.com portal described their Friday concert in Berlin as one of the most bizarre and the most impressive concerts she has ever seen. She also said they have the potential to become Russiaʼs most interesting music export. Less than two months after the Slovak premiere, Little Big will also perform at Pohoda 2019. → read more

Little Big, the rave/hip-hop phenomenon from St. Petersburg will also perform at Pohoda 2019. They took over the European dance scene with their contagious hits such as "Skibidi", "Faradenza" or "LollyBomb". The American DJ TOKiMONSTA, who was nominated for this year's Grammy in the Best Dance / Electronic Album category, will make the festival-goers dance, too. The main stage events will be opened up exceptional projects. On Friday, you can look forward to natural energy combined with academic virtuosity thanks to a concert by Ida Kellarová with the choir Čhavorenge in a unique union with the Czech Philharmonic. The next day will be opened by Zohra – the first Afghan women's orchestra. Their concert closed the 2017 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, and they immediately earned the recognition from media such as the BBC, NPR, The New York Times and many others. Pohoda 2019 will be opened by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra in the biggest festival tent. The concert will commemorate the tragedy of 2009, will be dedicated to the memory of Martin Kašák and Nikola Kapková, as well as the memory of David Horní, who died during the festival disassembling in 2006. Three works by young Slovak composers – Lucia Chuťková, Michal Paľko and Miroslav Tóth – will be symbolically premiered at the festival. Along with three new works, the First symphony of Ilja Zeljenka will be performed as well. It will be conducted by Marián Lejava. → read more

Bolo nás jedenásť, Ventolin, the British bands Life and Penelope Isles, Austrian Cari Cari, Israeli producer Noga Erez, Gleb, Čavalenky and Raptor Koch will perform at Pohoda Day_FM on Tuesday, May 14. A rich, all-day programme will be offered in the two concert studios, the foyer, and the corridors of the Slovak Radio. We will premiere the film 22 – a documentary about Pohoda 2018, literature lovers will enjoy the popular programme Čau o piatej, you will be able play table football in the foyer for a chance to win festival tickets, and also learn new names and other novelties of the 23rd edition of Pohoda during the official press conference. → read more

The European Festival Association YOUROPE launched a campaign called #WeVoteForEurope. Over 100 European festivals and music organizations encourage the attenders to use their rights and vote in the upcoming European Elections. Pohoda is also the campaign partner, as well as other festivals in our region such as Sziget, Rock for People, Colours of Ostrava, FM4 Frequency Festival, Exit, Open'er, Off and many more. → read more

If you have not been able to send us your proposals in hard copy, you can still do so electronically by e-mailing them to contest@pohodafestival.sk by noon tomorrow. A quick reminder: the 5th edition of Pohoda Visual Art Contest will offer space also for more demanding realizations, as the selected design will receive up to €3,500. Together with the jury, we look forward to your submissions; the final choice will be made tomorrow in the afternoon. We will announce the selected proposal on Tuesday 14 May at the Pohoda deň_FM. Further information and the registration form can be found here: www.pohodafestival.sk/en/contest → read more

Only until the end of this week you can send your proposals for Pohoda Visual Art Contest. The fifth edition will offer space also for more demanding installations, as the winning design will receive €3,500. Individuals and collectives of authors can design an artistic installation for the festival venue. We will announce the selected proposal next Tuesday at Pohoda Day_FM. You can find more information and application form here:  www.pohodafestival.sk/en/contest → read more

Ventolin – Live electronic music project, one-man-box band with an extremely entertaining live show will perform at Pohoda 2019 too. Throughout the day David Doubek, aka Ventolin, lectures on cultural anthropology at Charles University, at night he entertains people at gigs. During the decade on the scene, he’s become one of the most sought-after electronic producers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He uses old samplers, analogue synthesizers, and archaic drum machines in his performances. He is a lover of the primitive sound of the Detroit techno and the Italian and Indian 80s disco. In 2009, he released the EP mihanie, in 2012 the album Totem, in 2015 he returned with the EP Playboura and two years ago he released the album Vitajte. That is, according to Hudba.sk, a meticulous musical retro full of electronic toys with topical texts, which also contain quite a bit of philosophy. At the same time, it’s undoubtedly an extraordinarily entertaining record, which is being played in the Pohoda office more and more often. → read more

Guitarist and singer Denis Bango is a genius, a guitar destroyer, a phenomental pianist and a great curator who has been picking bands for our Garage for the second year in a row. Just recently, they released their first video for the song "Čo s tým hnevom" (also created at Pohoda 2018 with a guest from Pussy Riot), which Hudba.sk described as the Video of the Year. At the beginning of the year, they played in one of the biggest venues in the centre of Groningen, De Drie Gezusters, at the alternative Eurosonic event, becoming the most discussed band of the Slovak expedition to ESNS. In two months they’ll perform at Pohoda again, this time at Budiš stage after midnight. → read more