The 15th edition of Different Sounds, marking the 9th year under the banner of East of Culture, took place from July 7 to 10, 2022 The year 2022 brought a welcome respite from the pandemic’s grip, allowing event organiSers to breathe a collective sigh of relief as restrictive audience limits, health protocols, and travel constraints began to ease. However, we were soon confronted with a new reality, one defined by the war raging just beyond our eastern border. Lublin welcomed a new audience, one composed largely of Ukrainian mothers and children, who yearned for a moment of respite, a break from the harsh realities of their daily lives, seeking words of comfort and gestures of solidarity from the festival’s international audience and partners.

Once again, the festival tent graced the Błonia meadow near Lublin’s castle, its canvas walls reverberating with four days of diverse and ambitious music. Among the highlights were the legendary Washington, D.C.-based record label Dischord Records, represented by its stellar roster of bands: Scream, Soulside, and Girls Against Boys. The 2022 edition also featured electrifying performances by Godflesh, Squarepusher, Beardyman, Lean Left, and the captivating Pablopavo i Ludziki. Memories will be long cherished of the concerts by Niemoc, Nanga, sneaky jesus, and the mesmerizing sounds of Julian Sartorius.

A captivating array of exhibitions enriched the festival, each offering a unique lens through which to experience art and culture: Irena Jarosińska’s “Portraits” , Zmicer Waynowski’s “Voices of Lublin”. “Support Ukraine PIC” – Images of War – exhibition of posters Ukrainian artists from the Pictoric collective. “Yellow & Blue,” also featuring works by Pictoric artists. And completing the artistic journey, an exhibition of book covers from the “Wschodni Express” project.

Literary enthusiasts revelled in a series of captivating encounters with renowned writers, poets, and translators, as well as the thrill of witnessing literary premieres. The year 2022 saw the Wschodni Express publishing series expand its portfolio with four remarkable titles: Igor Pomerantsev’s “KGB and Other Poems,” masterfully translated from Russian by Zbigniew Dmitroca; Les’ Belei’s captivating novel “The Mirror Cube,” brought to life by Bohdan Zadura; Agnė Žagrakalytė “Klara. Bande dessinée”, translated from Lithuanian by Zuzanna Mrozik ; Wano Krueger “The Last Kiss of Ilyich”” translated from Ukrainian by Bohdan Zadura.

A brand-new publishing series, “Zakotwiczone”, was also launched. Literary breakfasts delved into the complex themes of cultural appropriation and the diverse paths to national identity. Discussions also explored the ideal concept of Polish-Ukrainian cooperation and the multifaceted role of social media – a battleground of both hope and despair in the face of war. Music took centre stage in a series of enlightening encounters, including a thought-provoking discussion with representatives of the legendary Dischord Records, whose bands graced the festival stage. Wojciech Kozielski, in conversation about his debut novel “Weltschmerz Hardcore,” provided a captivating journey through the Polish and British contexts of the electrifying 1980s. The festival also hosted a panel on inclusivity in the music industry, exploring new frontiers in music export and the crucial topics of mental health and workplace well-being in the arts community.

East of Culture – Different Sounds Festival is also an event for children. This year, numerous music workshops, performances, and concerts awaited the youngest attendees. Among the exciting activities were ukulele lessons, vegetable instrument crafting, music video creation, and the whimsical task of conjuring up musical monsters.