World Music Festival, Bratislava, Slovakia 2024
World Music Festival Bratislava (WMFB) 2024 was happening on 15.-18. August 2024 at 4 venues in the historical center of Bratislava as a international music festival. As a part of Creative Europe partnership Sounds of Europe, WMFB has presented the concerts of Dźambo Aguševi Orchestra (MK), Ötödik Évszak (HU), Milánosz (CZ) and Alice in Wonderband (RS). WMFB hosted the duo Alice in Wonderband and vocal ensemble Milánosz at their residencies and a collaboration during the festival, the output was a common performance.
The Artists from the Sounds of Europe project invited on the festival
1) Džambo Aguševi Orchestra (Macedonia)
The band performed on 15.8.2024,at 6:40 pm at Hviezdoslavovo námestie, Bratislava.
Some comments from the international guests:
"In the context of Balkan brass bands, one of the most well-coordinated and technically advanced groups. A generational comparison is appropriate. While during the era of Otis Redding (1965), the measure of quality was the soul brass section Memphis Horns, today Džambo Aguševi deserves the same attention." (Petr Doruzka)
2) Vocal ensemble Milánosz (CZ/SK)
has performed at Opening concert of the World Music Festival Bratislava on 15th August, 2024, later they gave a concert at "Busking stage on 17th August, 2024
3) Ötödik Évszak (Hungary)
The band performed on 17.08.2024, at 8:20 pm at Club Kácečko, Bratislava.
Some comments from the international guests:
"The quintet Ötödik Évszak surprised even by Hungarian standards with their sharp rhythmic interplay, and their violist Sándor Csoóri is, incidentally, the son of the violist from the famous Muzsikás. The French-Hungarian singer Izabella Caussane, with her half-spoken performance, alternating between Hungarian and French, pushed the overall sound into a decadent cabaret style, though unlike the musicians, she didn't sound entirely convincing."
(Petr Doruzka)
4) Alice in Wonderband (Serbia)
The band performed on 17.08.2024, at 7:00 pm at Club Kácečko, Bratislava.
"The duo Alice in Wonderband from northern Serbia represents a unique genre in the category of 'body as a musical instrument.' Singing, theater, body percussion using sensors on their own bodies, didgeridoo as both a musical and circus instrument, all with a generous dose of humor and irony. The first three songs, which were from Ukraine, Serbia, and Bulgaria, were contributed by the guest Prague choir Milánosz, focused on raw polyphonic singing, technically called 'white voice,' colloquially referred to as the 'screams of wild women,' typical for Ukraine and the Balkans. The combination of both ensembles was specially created by the program team for the festival and represents another lever to raise the event's profile on the international stage. If Alice in Wonderband records a new album with guests, Milánosz has a good chance of making it onto it." (Petr Doružka)
"I prefer their live show version without backing tracks, just with vocals and body. It would do better if they leave a part of the circus costumes." (Anna Mašátová)