The 11th edition of the festival—and the 5th under the East of Culture brand—took place from 28 June to 1 July 2018.

This year’s stellar line-up featured one of the most eminent precursors of funk, George Clinton, who performed alongside the twenty-plus members of the Parliament Funkadelic orchestra. We also had the pleasure of hosting the pioneers of digital hardcore, the iconic Atari Teenage Riot. Much like George Clinton, the Berlin-based outfit arrived in Lublin for an exclusive, one-off Polish performance. Another extraordinary highlight was undoubtedly the concert by Saul Williams—a leading figure of the contemporary New York scene: poet, musician, rapper, writer, and actor all in one. Each year, the festival showcases a record label that stands out on the global music market. This year, the spotlight fell on Glitterbeat Records—one of the most vibrant labels specialising in African and Arabic sounds, as well as modern global music. These textures were represented by four diverse acts: Dirtmusic, Baba Zula, Ifriqiyya Électrique, and Ammar 808.

The concerts were accompanied by an exhibition, a stand featuring unique label materials, and a discussion with founders Peter Weber and Chris Eckman. The talk was moderated by music journalist Rafał Księżyk and music manager Martyna Markowska (head of the JazzArt Festival in Katowice). After many years of absence, Lublin also welcomed Lech Janerka—an icon and one of the most enigmatic and original figures in Polish music history.

As this edition coincided with the centenary of Poland regaining independence—celebrated in Lublin under the slogan “Lublin 1918-2018. Inspired by Freedom”—we presented a special programme of protest songs. Within the “Songs of Protest” concert, invited artists attempted to answer a question that has occupied the modern music world for years: what happened to today’s protest songs, and do the artists of our time still rebel? This theme was tackled by Follow The Rabbit Orchestra, a bespoke ensemble formed specifically for Different Sounds under the direction of Ola Rzepka (Drekoty). The festival abounded in premiere performances, including the dance-music mystery “And we are opening the gates.” Produced by the eminent guitarist and composer Raphael Rogiński, this international project featured dancers Helena Ganjalyan (Armenia) and Talya Balikcioglu (Turkey), alongside Adam Witkowski (known from the band Nagrobki). Together, they explored themes of human equality, the refugee crisis, migration, and social, ethnic, and cultural belonging.

Beyond the music found on stage and at the Indie Labels’ Fair, the event offered its signature mix of film screenings and meetings. The Move East Movie cycle presented Ukrainian animated films for children and adults, showcasing the rich history of Ukrainian animation studios.

The Eastern Express literary programme featured six new books:
Sonia by Kateryna Babkina
Pokój do smutku by Andriy Lyubka
Wakacje nad Letą by Halyna Kruk
Cyrk i inne wiersze by Yulia Cimafiejewa
Wasi, nasi, oraz inni by Oleksandr Boichenko
Poprzednie życie by Mykola Riabchuk
The literary cycle opened with a lecture by Mykola Riabchuk on “difficult love,” literature, Eastern Europe, and “Real Europe,” alongside debates on Ukrainian contemporary literature and the dilemmas of translation.

The visual arts programme was further enriched by:
“Street Life”: 19th-century Georgia through the lens of Dmitry Yermakov, a pioneer of ethnographic photography.
“Decommunized: Soviet Mosaics of Ukraine”: A documentary project by Yevgen Nikiforov capturing monumental local artworks and their histories.
“Yellow&Blue”: An exhibition of posters by Ukrainian illustrators depicting the traditions and hidden characteristics of modern Ukraine.

Our youngest visitors enjoyed Little Different Sounds, a series of workshops encouraging uninhibited sound exploration. For the industry, the festival hosted “Music IN”—a training cycle and incubator for artists, managers, and promoters, providing the tools necessary to consciously build a career in the modern music business.