ARTISTS 2024 | CMC

top of page

Crossroads 2 den-12.jpg

ARTISTS

In 2026, Czech Music Crossroads will present 13 outstanding projects from around the world. Alongside the traditional representation from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, this year’s edition will highlight the contemporary Japanese scene. The programme will also feature several “wild cards” - discoveries that the curators brought back from their musical journeys across continents.

BAKUROCHO BAND (JAP)

Traditional Japanese songs transformed into a vibrant global folk experiment

Bakurocho Band is a Japanese project exploring new approaches to folk music. Take Tetsutaro and Yosuke Oda as its core members, the group is active in collaboration with a wide range of musicians, incorporating taiko drums, saxophone, piano, and vocals.

BEATA BOCEK (CZ)

Fragile songwriting on the border between folk, improvisation and a distinctive language of emotions

Czech-Polish singer-songwriter Beata Bocek is one of the prominent voices of the contemporary authorial scene at the crossroads of folk, world music and intimate songwriting. In her music, she combines personal expression with subtle poetics and natural musicality that transcends linguistic and genre boundaries.

BILLYRROM (JAP)

A vibrant mix of Japanese city pop, soul and contemporary groove aesthetics

Billyrrom is a band that creates next-generation pop music by fusing diverse influences such as soul, funk, and rock. Their annual one-man live shows consistently sell out.

CIRCUS BROTHERS (CZ)

A spirited fusion of Balkan brass, electric guitars and contemporary groove aesthetics

A six-piece band that effortlessly breaks down the boundaries between Balkan brass band, world music and contemporary club energy. Their original work is based on traditional motifs, which they transform into a dynamic, contemporary sound with a clear signature.

CLARINET FACTORY (CZ)

A clarinet quartet blending classical music, jazz, and experimental soundscapes

For three decades, Clarinet Factory has been one of the most prominent Czech musical projects at the crossroads of contemporary classical music, jazz and experimentation. Since its beginnings at the Prague Academy of Music, the clarinet quartet has systematically built its own musical language, which transcends genre categories and is based on precise work with sound, rhythm and space.

DUALITY (PL)

Polish-Belarusian folklore in a pulsating dialogue of violin, rhythm and electronics

DUALITY is a Polish-Belarusian duo that combines traditional music of the Eastern European borderlands with contemporary electronics and club aesthetics. Their original work is based on folk melodies and chants, which they transform into an intense, contemporary form on the border of world music, experiment and live electronics.

Kanazo‚-Orkestra-Cedrick-Not-WEB (3).png

KANAZOÉ ORKESTRA (FR/BF)

An explosive combination of balafon, African rhythms and modern jazz energy

Kanazoé Orkestra is one of the prominent names in contemporary African music, organically combining deep tradition with current global trends. In their work, the balafon (a wooden percussion instrument rooted in the griot culture of West Africa) meets the genres of Afrobeat, Amapiano, Afro-trap and contemporary electronic production.

PROMO 04 - FOTO_ Marian Vaňáč.jpg

LIDOVĚK (CZ)

An original reinterpretation of Czech folk songs, mixing tradition with a modern sound

Lidověk is an original project by actor and musician Matěj Metoděj Štrunec, which brings a contemporary interpretation of folk songs in dialogue with modern musical production. Traditional melodies and lyrics about love, war and hope acquire a new sound here. Drums, electronics and contemporary production aesthetics naturally appear between the dulcimer, violin and acoustic instruments.

milos bihary cavoros.jpeg

MILOŠ BIHÁRY DJANGO GYPSY JAZZ TRIO (SK)

Jazz virtuosity and gypsy swing in the spirit of the legendary Django Reinhardt

Miloš Bihary "Django" Gypsy Jazz Trio brings an energetic and virtuoso interpretation of gypsy swing, inspired by the legacy of Django Reinhardt, but firmly anchored in a contemporary sound and authorial approach. Piano, violin and drums create a dynamic, rhythmically precise and playful whole that balances tradition and modernity with ease.

Neha! in the Studio by Welin Nagyová (2).jpg

NEHA! (SK)

A haunting female vocal polyphony connecting the traditions of the world with the energy of contemporary world music

Neha! is a Slovak vocal group that builds on the power of the female voice, polyphony and shared energy. In its repertoire, it combines traditional songs from different cultures with an original approach and contemporary interpretation, which is based on precise work with polyphony and a strong emotional charge.

Showmore is a formidable duo from Tokyo’s vibrant indie-soul scene, consisting of vocalist Manami Nezu and keyboardist/producer Atsushi Inoue. Since their formation in 2017, they have carved out a unique space in the Japanese music landscape, blending the sophisticated structures of Jazz and Neo-Soul with the haunting melodies of J-Pop.

SHOWMORE (JAP)

An elegant mix of neo-soul, jazz and modern Japanese pop aesthetics

hemahusfoto Henryk Mamica-Hüsken-4239.jpg

SHRON (PL)

An instrumental project of a hypnotic soundscape on the border of downtempo soul and ambient aesthetics

A Polish band moving on the border of downtempo soul, ambient electronics and cinematic indie sound. Originally a solo project, it gradually transformed into a four-piece ensemble, which today creates fully instrumental musical landscapes based on atmosphere, detail and sensitive work with dynamics.

More info

SŪN BYRD (NO)

Afro-Latin rhythms, jazz improvisation and infectious concert energy

Sūn Byrd is part of a new generation of Norwegian music that effortlessly takes the soul legacy of the 60s and 70s and transforms it into a contemporary, fresh sound. Their music is based on strong grooves, distinctive melodies and an authentic expression that draws on tradition but feels completely up-to-date.

Terne Čhave 2023_3006m_foto Dušan Svíba.jpg

TERNE ČHAVE (CZ)

Spirited rom'n'roll combining Romani roots with the energy of a rock band

Terne Čhave is one of the most prominent and longest-running Romani bands in the Czech Republic. At the same time, they are also among those who have never been satisfied with one genre. Their music stems from Romani roots, but naturally absorbs rock, funk, ska, jazz and blues, creating an energetic, raw and absolutely infectious sound.

ZGARDA (UA)

Traditional songs of Ukraine in a combination of polyphony and acoustic world music

Kyiv folk band that works with authentic Ukrainian songs and reinterprets them in a modern live sound. We combine roots, rhythm, and stage energy – and call it "moving folk". We play exclusively on live instruments: bandura, sopilka, violin, double bass, percussion.

bottom of page