PREMIERING MUSIC PROJECTS AND THE KEXP LEGEND
In addition to the first rays of the sun, spring visitors of Nová Cvernovka will also be delighted by the program of the SHARPE 2024 festival and conference. The festival unveils 12 new musical names from the USA, the United Kingdom, Western and Southern Europe, as well as neighboring countries. It also presents the first conference speakers, including the legendary DJ and KEXP host, a music journalism powerhouse and a familiar face of the IQ magazine, as well as promoters from Spain’s Primavera Sound and the island festival Tremor.
From local radio to a leading music platform, maintaining a strong community of listeners. The independent radio station KEXP from Seattle is well known to many, and if not, they’ve surely seen their “Live on KEXP” videos on YouTube. The legendary director of programming, Kevin Cole, who, among other things, has experience DJing at Prince’s private parties and maintained a personal friendship with the artist, has confirmed his participation for the upcoming year after the previously canceled pandemic edition of SHARPE 2020. In addition to Kevin, the program will also feature known conference guest, music journalist Gordon Masson, as well as first-time attending Ivone Lesan from Primavera Sound and Márcio Laranjeira, promoter of many Portuguese events and the Tremor festival organized in the Azores.
Coming from across the Atlantic, The Drin (US) will showcase their innovative punk approach. The six-member band plays dark post-punk full of sonic textures. Their album “Today My Friend You Drunk the Venom” was reviewed by the renowned Pitchfork. From Glasgow, energetic DOSS (UK) will bring a unique live performance full of powerful drums, bass lines, and witty as well as critical lyrics, reflecting the Scottish cultural identity. Multidisciplinary artist SWARMM (UK) will captivate with an electronic set combining live violin play with 3D projection.
Experimental duo Los Sara Fontan (ES) blends keyboard, violin, and percussion in performances full of polyrhythms and improvisation. From the Berlin, pop band Mink (DE) will present music that evokes feelings of euphoria and melancholy akin to walking home after a long summer night. From neighboring Poland, mainstay of the Warsaw alternative scene, Julek Ploski (PL), will bring a blend of baroque, metal, and hyperpop creating soundtrack-like tracks. Another Polish group is the masked trio T’ien Lai (PL), inspired by club rhythms from Africa and South America, producing industrial techno intertwined with live percussion. Last year’s lineup lacked shoegaze. Therefore, this year the organizers spanned the genre gap with ethereal Manon Meurt (CZ). The young quartet has won listeners over with the absorbing vocals and catchy melodies.
Representing the Slovak music scene, R’n’b pop singer Erika Rein (SK) will premiere her music project. Alongside producer Jonatán Pastirčák, they create music that intertwines pop, experimental music, and alternative without pigeonholing the genres. Talented musician and pianist Kriss Krimm (SK) will perform with the band, premiering her new projects. Genre-fluid sets filled with rhythmic melodies will be played by established DJ TRANSmisia (SK). Trilobeat (SK) will perform original instrumental music that captivates enthusiasts of prog-rock, nu-jazz, classical music and everyone who is curious to hear.