The 9th edition of the festival—and the 3rd under the East of Culture brand—took place from July 6–10, 201

Over five days, Lublin hosted 150 artists from 10 countries across three continents, welcoming pioneers and leaders across various musical landscapes.

The lineup featured the phenomenal and spectacular Shibusashirazu Orchestra. This Japanese big band of over thirty musicians delivers a truly unique spectacle, weaving together jazz, rock’n’roll, and dance music, all heightened by stunning stage design and costumes.

At the other end of the spectrum was the Chicago-based group Tortoise. Widely regarded by critics as one of the most influential post-rock and instrumental acts of the last 25 years, their performance offered a singular, immersive experience. Joining them was the New York collective Easy Star All-Stars, renowned for their masterful reggae reimaginings of iconic albums by legends like Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and The Beatles.
Closing the list of international stars was the absolute legend of the British alternative scene: UK Subs. Pioneers of punk rock alongside The Clash and the Sex Pistols, the band celebrated their 40th anniversary in Lublin. Founded and still led by Charlie Harper, the group remains a testament to the enduring power of the genre.

Continuing the festival’s tradition of highlighting influential record labels, this edition showcased the acclaimed German label Staubgold. Founded and led by Markus Detmer, the label has evolved from its 1990s roots in German electronica and avant-garde into a global authority on experimental music. Their catalog features masters such as musicians from the cult band Can, alongside Faust and Klangwart.
The showcase included a comprehensive “Staubgold Special” DJ set by Detmer himself, as well as performances by the brilliant Kammerflimmer Kollektief and the trio Aksak (Eberhard Kranemann, Holger Mertin, and Joseph Suchy).

The domestic lineup was led by Kazik Staszewski, who appeared in a dual role. The legendary lyricist and vocalist performed a retrospective concert featuring material rarely heard live—from his Tom Waits and Kurt Weill interpretations to the songs of Stanisław Staszewski—accompanied by Kwartet ProForma and special guests. Additionally, Kazik participated in a literary talk discussing the acclaimed book Idę tam gdzie idę by Rafał Księżyk.

The festival also served as a hub for:
Cinema: Screenings of documentaries and the latest feature films from Ukraine.
Literature: Polish premieres of two books published specifically for the festival—Carbide by Andriy Lyubka and 50 Percent Right by Oleksandr Boichenko.
Visual Arts: An exhibition of artistic posters by the Braty duo and a powerful poster campaign commemorating the anniversaries of the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters.

Little Different Sounds: A dedicated programme for children, featuring workshops that explored the many faces of music and encouraged unrestricted creative play with sound.