61. Maribor Theatre Festival: bambus

The bambus Collective primarily engages in setting original poetry to music, developing it in a distinctive way into a genre-diverse performative sound experience. Audiences can expect everything from rock, metal, and jazz to improvised twists woven between poetic verses.

The collective has been performing across Slovenia since the release of their debut album Neskončno dolgi pogovori (Endlessly Long Conversations) in July 2024. The album was released by Dve luni, an institute dedicated to the poetization of the world, in co-production with KMŠ and KID KIBLA.

The album features original compositions as well as a reinterpretation of the song Ta stol by Marko Brecelj, through which the authors pay tribute to the legacy of setting poetry to music in Slovenia. The mentors of Neskončno dolgi pogovori were the poet Nina Medved and the musician Samo Šalamon. In addition to Šalamon, the album also features collaborations with Boštjan Gombač, Žan Cesar, and others.

Originally, the Bambus duo consisted of the poet Alja Pušič and the musician Gašper Drev, who are also the authors of the album. In its expanded lineup, the collective is joined by drummer Tin Matuš, pianist Jakob Korošec, and guitarist Jakob Podlesek.