ARTISTS
| DAN BARTA & ILLUSTRATOSPHERE / CZ |
 Dan Barta is one of the most talented Czech vocalists of his era, the owner of a distinctive voice, he’s an artist who incorporates rock, funk, blues and jazz into his own inimitable style. With the release of his solo albums ‘Illustratosphere’ and ‘Entropicture’ Barta has fully embraced the jazz world via a musical journey of discovery and experimentation.
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| ANNA MARIA JOPEK / PL |
 Anna Maria Jopek synthesises a whirlwind of sound in unique fusion that Incorporates pop music, jazz, Polish folk and other ethnic influences. Having recently collaborated with Pat Metheny on the ‘Upoienie’ album, selling 80,000 copies in first week of release, this Universal recording artist is a classically trained pianist and graduated from Chopin's Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland. After briefly studying in Manhattan School of Music's Jazz Department Anna decided not to play Mozart concertos anymore and traded her beloved Ravel for Keith Jarrett. Philharmonic Halls for small, smoky clubs and theatres. |
| JANA KIRSCHNER / SK |
 To launch the Pulse Festival 2008, Slovakian singer-songwriter Jana Kirschner and Polish vocalist Anna Maria Jopek star in a special double-bill on the South Bank. Having made her name with numerous awards in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Jana Kirschner, now based in London, released her album Shine last year on Universal to vast critical acclaim. |
| TRIGON / RO |
 In 1992, violinist Anatol Stefanet joined forces with keyboardist Dorel Burlacu, saxophonist Vali Boghean and percussionist Gari Tverdohleb to form Trigon, one of the hottest bands on the thriving Romanian jazz scene. Mixing jazz, folk, rock and symphonic music, performed with a highly-tuned understanding of all musical forms, their stunning, and unique compositions are the trademarks by which they’re revered. |
| TRABAND / CZ |
 Wild “brass techno” lovers may miss clamorous Balkan rhythms and raging solos. On the contrary, admirers of quieter and more lyrical songs and interesting sound combinations are going to enjoy this dearth of banging beats. After an omnivorous period, when the Trabandits adopted almost any music style, they decided to look for inspiration from their home landscape. |
| KAMPEC DOLORES / HU |
 The music of Kampec Dolores is an imaginative, unique synthesis of original melodies, surreal lyrics, and subtly broken rhythms drawing on the influence of both Hungarian and non-Hungarian folk. Mixing modern jazz, post-rock and (sometimes) contemporary improvisational elements Kampec Dolores has created the genre of virtual world music. |
| LAVAGANCE / SK |
 Hot on the heels of supporting Duran Duran and winning the Radio FM Best Slovak Album 2007 award for new album ‘Orthodox Experience’, Slovakian new-wavers Lavagance are heading to England to rip up the Pulse Festival. The full list of accolades, awards and nominations in their homeland is extensive and impressive so let their live set show you what the fuss is about. |
| THE COMPLAINER & THE COMPLAINERS / PL |
 The Complainer is the music-culture project of the polish artist Wojciech Kucharczyk, an electronic, psychofolk ambassador of the polish underground. Realising his idea of "quotadelic" music, full of quotations and references, analyses and contexts, dominated by the unique personality of WK himself. It is a jungle-like density with bigger and bigger controversies, but no wonder, these shows are becoming more and more surprising, with their vision and power, humour and intimate revolutions of anti-style. |
| TERNE CHAVE / CZ |
 Touring Europe from Slovakia and Hungary via Italy, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands to Scotland, wherever Terne Clave go, people dance. Today Terne Chave are a band without ethnicity or genre who don't fret over style and you won’t either cos their songs are played at the devil's tempo. This is the real gypsy rock'n'roll, or...it's only rom 'n' roll!!! |
| CHIKI LIKI TU A / SK |
 After 13 years and 700 shows in over 10 countries, Chiki Liki Tu A are all set to light up the Pulse Festival 2008 with their incendiary live show. A vastly experienced festival act, Chiki Liki Tu A’s high-energy, new-wave set is guaranteed get any crowd jumping. |
| DJ TVYKS / CZ |
 TVYKS has become a must-listen by anybody fascinated by the wealth of music arriving from Eastern Europe. DJ, producer, party organiser, radio presenter, graphic designer and co-founder of the Plastique and Boom Bang Baby! club nights in Prague, TVYKS is a man of many talents. As a DJ, TVYKS has rich experience behind the decks of some of Europe’s finest clubs playing a mix of house, electro, disco punk, booty bass, acid house, grime and baile funk in a powerful head banging blend. Fasten your seatbelt for the blast! |
| MIKI & ALEK / MK |
 Miki and Alek met in London in early 2000 and found common interest through music and attitudes towards music. Alex was already part of the Wang Collective, of whom Miki was a dedicated fan when they were organising illegal parties in 'The Premises' studio, Hackney. The idea to start organising and playing parties together was born there. Starting with intimate house parties, they swiftly became hugely popular and transferred this success to the bar and club scene before becoming festival must-sees. |
| DJ RUSS JONES / UK |
 Russ Jones was behind some of London’s most successful club nights in the mid 90’s, including London Calling and No Room for Squares. He is regarded as one of the leading DJs on the ‘Global Beat’ scene. From his seminal club night ‘Future World Funk’ working alongside his regular DJ partner ‘Cliffy’, he has compiled numerous CDs, including ‘Gypsy Beats and Balkan Bangers’ Volumes I and II. He has hosted and played Europe’s leading music Festivals including Glastonbury and Womad. His DJ sets are not to be missed. |
| THE LONDON GYPSY ORCHESTRA / UK |
 The London Gypsy Orchestra is a London-based group of musicians from various backgrounds who share a passion for Eastern European and Balkan Music. Founded in early 2005 by Gundula Gruen, the LGO perform regularly at festivals and events, always receiving rapturous responses from their audiences. Recent performances include concerts at the Union Chapel, The Oxford Academy, and the Cecil Sharp House. |
| VRBOVSKÍ VÍŤAZI / SK |
 Vrbovski Vitazi’s production present a musical collage consisting of pieces dedicated to the workplace and its safety rules that are interspersed with short comments. Apart from writing lyrics and music for his ‘industrial songs’, the authors have built almost fifteen various instruments made of vacuum cleaner pipes, cement mixer and sewage system pipes with every song being played on a unique instrument. |
| DJ PENNY METAL / UK |
 With a big hat and a big smile Penny Metal boldly plays tunes no one else dares. A truly anarchic Russian-loving party queen, she delves deeply into her extraordinary collection of Eastern European music and pulls out Greek folk dances, Serbian kolos, Polish polkas and the richest Russian anthems. She broadcasts her weekly Mad Tunes Show over the internet on Wireless fm and has a monthly club night, Soviet Reunion, where she showcases her most recent tunes to great applause. |
