Metal legends, icons of European counterculture, jazz stars, genre pioneers, and rising talents from the global alternative scene—these are the artists set to open this year’s East of Culture – Different Sounds festival, taking place in Lublin from July 3rd to 6th.This is the 18th edition of Lublin’s Different Sounds and the 12th as part of East of Culture—a project realized by the National Centre for Culture with funding from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and supported by the cities of Lublin, Białystok, and Rzeszów in eastern Poland.
Each year, the East of Culture – Different Sounds festival takes audiences on a musical journey to a realm where sound defies convention. It’s an invitation to discover artists who challenge genre boundaries, address meaningful issues, or simply evoke emotions and experiences that linger long after the final note fades
In a world where music festivals often chase fleeting trends and popularity metrics, Different Sounds remains a space for seekers—those in search of genuine encounters and musical epiphanies. It’s a refuge for true music lovers and a rare opportunity to connect with artists from around the globe for whom music is more than entertainment—it’s a profound form of expression.
Artists
Among the artists performing this year are
Voivod – the legendary Canadian metal band that has been shaping the scene since 1982.
The EX -– a Dutch counterculture icon and one of the most influential punk collectives in alternative music history.
A Place to Bury Strangers – the renowned American trio pushing the boundaries of alternative rock with a fusion of noise, shoegaze, post-punk, and free improvisation. Dubbed “the loudest band in New York” by fans and critics alike, they have been an unstoppable force since 2002.
The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis – an explosive collaboration between the acclaimed instrumental trio from the U.S. and virtuoso saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis.
PETBRICK – —an explosive fusion of metal, hardcore, noise, and electronic avant-garde. Or, as the artists jokingly put it when asked about their genre: simply “horrible noises.”
Maria W. Horn – a Swedish artist and composer whose creative journey revolves around a deep exploration of sound. From the start, she has embraced sound in all its dimensions—both synthetic, crafted through electronics and various effects, and acoustic, rooted in its purest form.
Butch Kassidy – a post-rock band from London that has rapidly earned a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest prospects in the loud guitar music scene.
Kicking off this year’s festival announcements, we are excited to introduce the creator of the visual concept for the festival – Jakub Zasada
Jakub Zasada – Born in 1985, Zasada is the mastermind behind over 300 posters, primarily for independent films, cultural events, concerts, and local social initiatives. His work has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Poland and abroad. He collaborates with the Wrocław Polish Poster Gallery, Dydo Poster Gallery, and various cultural institutions and NGOs. Zasada is also the founder of the Lower Silesian Phonographic Exchange, which he ran from 2013 to 2018, and a co-founder of the Hafciarka film group, operating at the intersection of video art and cinema. Currently, he performs in the band Zdrój (formerly Barłóg, Jan Chrzciciel), which is part of the Salka CRK music collective. He resides and works in Księże Małe, Wrocław.
Admission to the festival remains free, with more announcements coming soon!
More info: https://differentsounds.eu, https://nck.pl/projekty-kulturalne/projekty/wschod-kultury
Details
East of Culture – Different Sounds
3-6 July 2025
Lublin, Błonia near the Castle
Admission free.
Organisers: The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, The National Centre for Culture, the City of Lublin, Workshops of Culture in Lublin.
East of Culture – Different Sounds Festival is actively championing gender equality in the music industry as part of the Keychange network.