35 Years of Rebellion and Experimentation – the Vienna-based label Trost Records will bring true avant-garde legends to this year’s Wschód Kultury – Inne Brzmienia festival (July 2–5). From the iconic Afrofuturist Sun Ra Arkestra, through the powerful Swedish-Finnish project led by virtuosos Mats Gustafsson and Kimmo Pohjonen, to the electroacoustic minimalism of the Austrian duo Drank – Trost Records proves that true art never rests on its laurels, but boldly ventures into the unknown.

This marks the 19th edition of the Lublin-based Inne Brzmienia festival, organized by Warsztaty Kultury, and the 13th as part of the Wschód Kultury project, carried out by the National Centre for Culture with funding from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and in cooperation with three eastern Polish cities – Lublin, Białystok, and Rzeszów.

Each year, an important place in the Inne Brzmienia program is dedicated to a distinctive music label, which serves as a starting point for storytelling about music publishing in different parts of the world. It allows for the juxtaposition of different business models and approaches to sound, while also showing how cultural contexts shape publishing processes. Independent labels—arguably the most interesting—tend to focus either on specific musical genres or on a territorial scope, which makes it possible to capture the specificity of time and place.

In the 35th year of its existence, Trost Records will transform the festival stage into a living archive of the avant-garde. These will not be ordinary concerts, but a comprehensive presentation of the philosophy of one of the most important imprints in the world of improvised music: from meeting the label’s creators and presenting rare visual materials, to three absolutely key performances. The festival framework of Inne Brzmienia provides the perfect context for the legacy of Sun Ra Arkestra, the presentation of the Swedish-Finnish powerhouse of Gustafsson and Pohjonen, and the electroacoustic experiment of the Austrian Drank project. Thanks to this comprehensive experience, the festival audience will not only listen to leading artists, but also gain insight into the processes that have been shaping the landscape of alternative European music for three decades.

A broad presentation of Trost Records at Inne Brzmienia is a key to understanding the genealogy of contemporary jazz and experimental music. It will allow for tracing the label’s 35-year evolution—from releasing raw post-hardcore to refined Afrofuturism and electroacoustic music—demonstrating how a single, consistent artistic vision can shape the history of music over decades. This is an opportunity to explore not only the sounds but also the philosophy of Trost Records, making this event an invaluable educational point for anyone who wants to understand the roots and directions of contemporary sound art.

Trost Records is a renowned Austrian label founded in 1991 in Vienna by Konstantin Drobil. This year marks the 35th anniversary of this distinguished imprint. Today, Trost Records specializes primarily in alternative, exploratory jazz, improvised music, and avant-garde. However, it began by releasing young underground bands from the Austrian scene, such as Valina (a post-hardcore band from Linz that recorded most of its albums with Steve Albini at his iconic studio in Chicago). Over time, the label grew stronger, consistently building its brand through deliberate artistic choices, eventually launching sublabels such as Cien Fuegos. Its roster has included outstanding artists and groups such as Peter Brötzmann, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Mats Gustafsson, as well as Sun Ra Arkestra, Zu, The Thing, and DKV Trio (featuring Hamid Drake and Ken Vandermark).

The presentation of Trost Records’ output and philosophy fits perfectly into the upcoming edition of Wschód Kultury – Inne Brzmienia, especially as the label itself continues to look forward, presenting ambitious, progressive projects that challenge musical stereotypes.

As part of the Trost Records showcase, there will be a meeting with the label’s creators, a presentation of visual materials, and, above all, three exceptional musical projects:

Sun Ra Arkestra – a legendary ensemble founded in the 1950s in the United States by Herman Poole Blount, known to the world as Sun Ra. This brilliant composer and pianist is widely regarded as a pioneer of Afrofuturism and one of the foundational figures in the history of American jazz. He was a total artist, a true cultural icon. Beyond music, he was involved in philosophy, poetry, theater, and experimental art. Sun Ra led his orchestra for over 40 years until his death in 1993. His legacy continues today under the leadership of the outstanding saxophonist Marshall Allen and other members of the original lineup. Throughout its long career, Sun Ra Arkestra has both defined and redefined musical genres, boldly exploring new territories and sounds. Jazz, blues, electronic music, swing, space rock, and free improvisation—all of these are materials in the hands of this phenomenal group, whose concerts are a unique experience.

Mats Gustafsson & Kimmo Pohjonen – the latest Trost Records project, bringing together two giants of the global improvised music scene. The first is Mats Gustafsson, a Swedish saxophonist widely regarded as one of the finest and busiest musicians on the contemporary independent scene. Leader and founder of influential ensembles such as Fire! Orchestra and The Thing, he is also known for numerous high-profile collaborations. He has worked with legends such as Sonic Youth, The Ex, Peter Brötzmann, Derek Bailey, Ken Vandermark, Merzbow, Colin Stetson, and the Polish duo BNNT. The second half of the project is Finnish accordion virtuoso Kimmo Pohjonen. Known for his distinctive style and unique approach to composition, he has achieved legendary status over the years. He has performed and recorded both solo and with ensembles such as the Kronos Quartet and KTU (a supergroup formed with members of King Crimson). Now it is time for a new musical journey and a meeting of these two Scandinavian masters.

Drank – a duo founded by Ingrid Schmoliner (piano) and Alex Kranabetter (trumpet and electronics), leading figures of the Austrian experimental and improvised music scene. Their album “Breathe in Definition,” released last year by Trost Records, features four remarkable compositions, with two tracks also including drummer Lukas König and Anja Franziska (Soap & Skin). Drank’s music is a top-tier electroacoustic experience. Each individual element—prepared piano, human voice, trumpet processed through a range of effects—contributes to a broad palette of sounds and textures.