.abeceda [ensemble for new music] is a Slovenian ensemble dedicated to performing contemporary art music. It operates within the .abeceda Institute and serves as the core performing group of the .abeceda Festival. The ensemble is made up of musicians who perform works by resident and guest composers, as well as new pieces created through various programs. They are known for their experimental approach and international collaborations.

The Maribor-based quartet is a boy band for the new generation. Their strain of emotive, pop-infused trap draws inspiration from Scandinavian emo trap trailblazers, such as the Drain Gang, contemporary boy bands like Brockhampton as well as early 2000s pop punk. A fine example of regional urban creativity addressing both more and less demanding audiences, .travnik is here to stay.

Founded in 2004 by Karmina Šilec, ¡Kebataola! Ensemble is known for its innovative interpretations of contemporary and medieval music. Their music theatre projects, such as Vertical Thoughts, Ursonate, and Spixody, have introduced Slovenian audiences to new contemporary works. In 2009, Spixody won the Special Jury Prize at Teatarfest. The ensemble collaborates internationally, blending music, visual arts, drama, movement, and literature in unique performances.

Producer and sound designer Jure Anžiček, a protégé of the Kamizdat label and Clockwork Voltage collective, invites you on an interstellar journey through an orbit that gravitates on the fringes of modular techno, ambient, noise and drone. Just when you think you’re about to burst through the club door onto the dancefloor, his music makes a U-turn and you soon end up in the arms of a cyborg creature with a synthetic voice that recalls Blawan’s futuristic vocal manipulations. 08080 relies on compositionally daring and sonically gritty electronica laced with unexpected twists and turns.

Two brothers, Gašper and Primož Mihelič, compose the 2B duo, which has already performed at large festival venues of Schengenfest and Urbano Dejanje as well as Cankarjev dom and the Slovene Philharmonic.

3:rma is a singer-songwriter project of guitarist Urška Supej and vocalist Maša But. The project bridges the gap between music and poetry, swims the waters of standard jazz, pop, and folk, and touches upon themes such as feminism, deadlocked relationships, religion … The band members seek inspiration with musicians such as Bob Dylan, Laura Marling, Leonard Cohen, poets, such as Edna Saint Vincent, and in writings such as The Second Sex. The project stands as a juxtaposition between tuneful melodies and hard topics, and so parallels life’s contrast between the ideal and reality. The authors are utilising beautiful light music to provoke thinking about those themes and issues that often go unheard and unnoticed.

3rd Planet, a dynamic band, combines elements of blues, indie rock, and stoner guitar sounds to create a unique musical fusion. Their interpretation results in a captivating blend of genres, forming a powerful fuel that propels their musical voyage through the expansive realms of the universe and its galaxies.

In 2020, during a time of global uncertainty, 3TONE emerged, blending blues, rock, country, and funk with a unique, free-flowing approach that defies genre boundaries. Their sound, featuring blues harp, lap steel guitar, and raspy vocals by Miha Erič, is complemented by Boris Sadar’s dynamic bass and David Slatinek’s powerful drumming. The result is a distinctive, high-energy mix of music that feels like a secret ingredient known only to them. Their upcoming album Influencer promises to be a standout, with a powerful collection of tracks that will leave a mark on the music scene.

In the past year and a half, this tireless trio has played more than 70 shows all over Europe. Their DIY ethos is encapsulated in the motto “to do it, not to wait for it” and manifested through their busy touring schedule. Luckily for us, 7AM is one of those bands that are most striking in a live environment.

The Academic Choir France Prešeren Kranj, founded in 1969, is known for its high ambition and frequent participation in national and international festivals and competitions, where it consistently wins top awards. The choir has performed across Europe, as well as in Israel, Mexico, the USA, Argentina, Chile, and Russia. Its repertoire spans classical, folk, popular, gospel, and musical genres, having performed nearly 1,000 pieces. Notable recent projects include Requiem for the Living (2016) and Misa Tango (2017). Over the years, the choir has collaborated with renowned figures like Uros Lajovic, Fabio Luisi, John Rutter, and Riccardo Muti. Since 2013, it has been conducted by Fernando Pablo Mejias.