Nepriklausomas savitos muzikos ir šiuolaikinės baltų kultūros festivalis MĖNUO JUODARAGIS tradiciškai vyks paskutinį 2016 m. vasaros savaitgalį, rugpjūčio 26 - 28 d. naujoje vietoje – sodrios miško žalumos supamoje Dūburio ežero saloje, Zarasų rajone.

Daniele Brusaschetto is a veteran of Italian and international music underground. His musical expression is the sum of two artistic souls: the radicalism of extreme music, from the death metal of his early bands, to industrial and harsh noise, through the most experimental side of ambient electronics, marries the intimate, whispered dimension of a warped and oblique songwriting, with lyrics (often in Italian) that give a twisted sight on everyday’s most apparently insignificant objects and actions. Across the millennium change Daniele Brusaschetto has played live in several tours in Europe and U.S.A., accompanied on stage by Bruno Dorella, one of the most recognized characters of non-conventional Italian music in the world, and Marco Schiavo of Larsen, and sharing the stage with artists such as Oxbow, Ulan Bator, OvO, Marlene Kuntz, Uzeda, Bugo, Larsen, Paolo Spaccamonti, Sikhara and many others. Year 2016 sees the release of “Radio Stridentia”, the 12th official release under the name Daniele Brusaschetto, not counting the several side-projects. “Radio Stridentia”, likewise the majority of his releases, is available on Bosco Rec, a label founded by Brusaschetto himself in 2003 after releasing some of his works for labels such as Bar La Muerte, RRR, Blossoming Noise, Radon e Snowdonia. [danielebrusaschetto.net] Here's an interview with this wonderful musician (2016 03 22).

Bittersweet synth pop band (David Blau, Stella Gott, Ran Jacobovitz) BILL AND MURRAY are an eclectic alternative pop band based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Using an old synthesizer, a drum machine and a distorted guitar sound, they lead the listener through the magical realms of the melody while leaving him no choice but to move his body to the beat. In their own unique way they face deep and emotional topics, expressing them with confident, serene and uplifting flavors. After opening for the legendary Gary Numan and playing at the CMW in Toronto, Bill & Murray released their debut album. The interview was made 2015 04 15, about four months before releasing it.

Neofolk band DESTROYING ANGEL (Philadelphia, USA) was born in the winter of 2013 and doesn't want to be called a neofolk band, nevertheless it plays a quality music which might be qualified as neofolk/chamber pop. Or not. Listen, and read our interview with Tony Cesa from DESTROYING ANGEL (2016 04 11–13).

Muzikos, menų ir alternatyvaus gyvenimo būdo festivalis „Yaga Gathering 2016“ Dzūkijos padangę nušvies liepos 28 – rugpjūčio 1 dienomis. Spalvotos miško sienos, meno projektai ir instaliacijos, performansai, keturias paras netylanti muzika ir kerinti gamta – visa tai nuneš į nepamirštamą vasaros pasaką.

Repugnance from Marsa (Malta) was formed in late 2011 by all the current members of the band. During the first 2 years the band focused on defining their sound and playing local gigs/fests. Early in 2014 the band was signed to Anopsys Records and released its first EP entitled Seeds of Oppression exactly one month later on 18.02.2014 to much positive response both locally and overseas. The band played its first overseas shows in the UK 3 days later in Liverpoool and Edinburgh followed by Festival appearances in Austria and Italy. The Band is now also set to appear at Death Feast Open Air in Germany, Gothenburg Deathfest in Sweden and Brutality over Sanity in Greece before 2015 is out. Repugnance has recently signed to Rising Nemesis Records and is finalising work on its first Full Lenght Album to be released in Early 2016.

Jānis Joņevs is a Latvian writer. He was born in 1980 in Jelgava. After studying at the local Gymnasium in Jelgava, he went to Riga for his higher education and earned a Master's degree from the Latvian Academy of Culture. Joņevs is best known for his debut novel Jelgava'94 which was a bestseller upon its release in 2013. The book later won the EU Prize for Literature. [wikipedia] Here's a short interview with the writer (2015 05 26).

Iš Mažeikių kilęs elektroninės muzikos kūrėjas 28 metų Evaldas Azbukauskas jau ne vienerius metus žinomas keliais kūrybiniais pseudonimais: 101, Girių Dvasios, SoulSonic. Neseniai išleistas pastarojo projekto naujas albumas "Between Worlds" - dar vienas kūrinys gana didelėje kūrėjo diskografijoje. Šįsyk tai - šaltas kosminis ambientas. Kalbinu Evaldą (2016 05 26).

Debiutinį albumą birželio 14 d. išleisianti dainininkė ir dainų autorė Erica Jennings šiandien pristato vasarišką singlą „You Always Told Me“, kurį parašė įkvėpta vieno ne itin romantiško romano iš praeities.

Rokeriai „Sisters On Wire“ vėl iš naujo prikėlė griausmingą gitarų skambesį. Savo gerbėjams grupė pristato naują kūrinį „Deeper“.

Gegužės 26 d., šį ketvirtadienį, menų fabrike „Loftas“ pirmą kartą gros viena įdomiausių šiuolaikinių Islandijos atstovių – lyriška ir svajinga Sóley. Islandų multiinstrumentalistė nekantrauja susitikti su Lietuvos gerbėjais ir pasakoja žinanti, jog Lietuva garsėja... gandrų gausumu!

Šią savaitę menų fabriko „Loftas“ inicijuotame muzikos inkubatoriuje „Novus“ laukia net dvi itin turiningos dienos ir jau antrasis jaunų grupių konkurso pusfinalis.

The Finnish post-punk/death-rock band Masquerade has just released a teaser video of their upcoming album "RITUAL", to be released as 12" LP by Fight Records.

Legendary FORREST FANG (aka SANS SERIF, SPIRIT OSCILLATOR) is the man with the Ocean in his pocket. Here's an interview with this wonderful musician (2016 05 18).

One of the most interesting artists of our time playing industrial rock/dark ambient, is Mortiis, also well know as former black metal act's Emperor musician and with his side-projects such as Cintecele Diavolui, Fata Morgana, Vond. His music as well as his image always haunted me. Now, Mortiis (Håvard Ellefsen) had released new album The Great Deceiver which begins Era 0 of his discography. From 1993, the Norwegian musician releases albums as Eras, starting from Era I to Era II and Era III, and now it's Era 0. Here's an interview with Håvard Ellefsen (2016 05 16).