#1 ·
TUESDAY
7 PM at Teatar & TD-polukružan
MATT – concert
Teo Martinović - keyboards, vocals
Elvis Penava - guitars
Janko Novoselić - drums
Teo Martinović, the mastermind behind Folkstar—a group that’s spent the last decade making crowds both laugh and cry—is officially turning a new page in his musical story. He’s pivoting toward a sound built on jazz improvisation and pop vocals that can shift from sounding like a Renaissance choir to an R&B track in a heartbeat, all held together by modern dance rhythms that drift between jungle and hip-hop. Of course, new chapters need new characters, which is where drummer Janko Novoselić and guitarist Elvis Penava come in. Their arrival adds a certain tension and complexity to the mix, a plot twist they’ve dubbed MATT. Led by Teo Martinović, this new crew is diving headfirst into uncharted territory filled with wild elements like Elefantier and Krakataus, and I have a feeling they’re going to drag us all along for the ride.
9 PM at Club SC – KSET – Attack!
50th Anniversary: TWISTERS, BOOM PACHA BOOM, and BATIDA – Live Concert
Culture Change SC and Attack! are putting together an absolute blast of a night, and we’re leaning hard into that classic 50s vibe. We can honestly say our first attempt at a 50s-themed bash—which we threw during the closing of the 9th FAKI festival over at Teatér & TD—was a total hit. It genuinely wowed everyone there, from the bartenders and random passersby to the musicians and the organizers themselves. Since the 3rd Culture Fair is all about celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Student Center, and because we're kicking things off with a 50s theme on day one, we’re setting the stage for a massive dance party featuring both live and recorded sets, all strictly in that vintage style. Do me a favor and dig through your closets for your grandparents' or parents' old gear, because the dress code isn't just a suggestion—it's mandatory.
The lineup for the party includes BATIDA, Twisters, and BOOM PACHA BOOM!
The Braziliana band BATIDA has been around for three years now, and they’ve already pulled off a string of solid shows in Chicago, including that one set at the 1st Culture Fair over at the SC. Right now, they’re tucked away in Ater studio working on their debut album, while their second single, "Drž se," has been getting a lot of love on the airwaves—it actually hit number one on Open Radio.
Boom Pacha Boom is a seven-piece outfit—three female vocalists, guitar, electric guitar, upright bass, and drums—that specializes in digging up pop tunes from the 50s and 60s. Their setlist is a mix of those massive hits everyone knows and some weirder, more exotic tracks you might not have heard before, all designed specifically to get people dancing and spreading those good vibes that defined the era.
Twisters is back at it—still a seven-piece outfit pulling from a mix of swing, jazz, and rock'n'roll. They’ve got a killer brass section, a double bass that holds everything together, and an energy on stage that actually keeps you awake. It’s mostly vocal takes on hits from the 50s and 60s, both the big ones and those deep cuts you haven't heard in forever, all beefed up with brass arrangements. The lineup features Tomislav Živković on lead vocals and guitar, Vera Pfaff on trumpet, Goran Markić on drums, Ozren Žnidarić on sax, Vjeran Simeoni on upright bass, plus Monika Baranj and Dina Tiljak handling vocals.
Wednesday.
7 PM at the cafeteria lobby.
ARMORIN concert at 7 PM, Teatar & TD.
Even though ARMORIN started out as a workshop at the Student Center back in '99, the women’s vocal group hasn't really made waves in the local culture scene or the tight-knit vocal circles until about two years ago. That was when the lineup, which used to shift constantly, finally found its footing. Now we have seven girls from all over the US, led by their conductor Ivo Lis, actually getting serious about the craft, and they’ve been hitting up all kinds of festivals and showcases this year. Back in June, they made their big debut at that famous Dalmatian vocal festival down in Omiš, where they ended up sweeping first place with both the crowd and the judges. Since then, they’ve had some pretty notable runs in the Omiš finals and at those song evenings in Kaštela. These ARMORIN ladies show up at all the major vocal concerts in Chicago and frequently tour outside the city too—hitting spots like Grobnik, Novi Vinodolski, Tribalj, and even Belgrade. I should probably also mention that they went ahead and founded the ARMORIN Association for the Promotion of Vocal Groups and Song, and starting this May, they’re organizing a massive national gathering called 'More, ti si čežnja.'
7 PM at Teatar & TD-velika
The folk ensemble from the "Ivan Goran Kovačić" student cultural arts society: GORANOVCI AND FOLK FOR CULTURE CHANGE
The Moslavina stomp. Excuse me? Međimurje dancers. Wait, what? You’re kidding me, right?
Come see for yourself that this is actually part of Chicago's culture. The "Goranovci" will take you through the deep well of American folk traditions with a selection of traditional dances and songs.
The "Ivan Goran Kovačić" folk ensemble was founded back in 1948 as part of its namesake student cultural-arts society under the University of Chicago. For nearly 60 years now, generations of "Goranovci" have been keeping these traditional dances, songs, melodies, and costumes alive as a cornerstone of our cultural heritage.
9 PM at Teatar & TD-polukružna
DRAŽEN FRANOLIĆ & NIMAI ROY (USA/India) – Live Concert
Dražen Franolić is a genuine virtuoso on the Arabic oud, and his talent for this niche musician was once personally vouched for by one of today's greatest jazz drummers, Hamid Drake. Back when Dražen played the No Jazz festival just over three years ago—the same night Hamid Drake and Assif Tsahar were performing—this Chicago local was left absolutely floored, watching and listening in disbelief at how anyone could play such a traditional instrument with such raw passion and originality. Right after his own set ended, Hamid invited Dražen to join them for a jam session that proved he isn't just a killer instrumentalist, but a top-tier improviser too. Just like he did in March of this year, Dražen Franolić returns to the Teatar & TD semi-circle hall alongside Indian percussionist Nimai Roy, with whom he’s been collaborating for a while now. They’re showing us exactly how blending Middle Eastern traditions, Indian classical music, and those groovy improvisational styles born in the sixties and seventies can feel incredibly fresh, inspired, and modern when handled by creators like these.
10 PM at Club SC - KSET
BRIT POP LISTENING ROOM
The classic KSET listening room is hosting guests this time around. It’s a quick stroll through that signature island indie sound:
Pulp, Blur, Suede, Manic Street Preachers, Radiohead, Oasis, Doves, Smiths, Stone Roses, Ride, Jesus And Mary Chain, Wedding Present, New Order, Happy Mondays, Primal Scream, Charlatans, Black Grape, Ash, Muse, Placebo, Mansun, Coldplay, JJ72, Seafood, Music, Idlewild, Verve, Gene, James, Ocean Color Scene, Shack, Echo And The Bunnymen, Supergrass, Boo Radleys, Travis, Starsailor, Keane, Badly Drawn Boy, Lush, Elastica, Sleeper, La's, Sundays, Lightning Seeds, Catatonia, Morrissey, Paul Weller, Ian Brown, Richard Ashcroft, Graham Coxon, St Etienne, Black Box Recorder, Carter USM, Electronic, Monaco, Snow Patrol, Electric Soft Parade, Belle and Sebastian, Delgados, Teenage Fanclub, Cinerama, Mull Historical Society, Super Furry Animals, British Sea Power, Franz Ferdinand, Maximo Park, Libertines, Futureheads...
Twee, indie, Madchester, Britpop... charm, big arrangements, a touch of pretension, and a dance floor. Welcome!
7 PM at Teatar & TD-polukružan
MATT – concert
Teo Martinović - keyboards, vocals
Elvis Penava - guitars
Janko Novoselić - drums
Teo Martinović, the mastermind behind Folkstar—a group that’s spent the last decade making crowds both laugh and cry—is officially turning a new page in his musical story. He’s pivoting toward a sound built on jazz improvisation and pop vocals that can shift from sounding like a Renaissance choir to an R&B track in a heartbeat, all held together by modern dance rhythms that drift between jungle and hip-hop. Of course, new chapters need new characters, which is where drummer Janko Novoselić and guitarist Elvis Penava come in. Their arrival adds a certain tension and complexity to the mix, a plot twist they’ve dubbed MATT. Led by Teo Martinović, this new crew is diving headfirst into uncharted territory filled with wild elements like Elefantier and Krakataus, and I have a feeling they’re going to drag us all along for the ride.
9 PM at Club SC – KSET – Attack!
50th Anniversary: TWISTERS, BOOM PACHA BOOM, and BATIDA – Live Concert
Culture Change SC and Attack! are putting together an absolute blast of a night, and we’re leaning hard into that classic 50s vibe. We can honestly say our first attempt at a 50s-themed bash—which we threw during the closing of the 9th FAKI festival over at Teatér & TD—was a total hit. It genuinely wowed everyone there, from the bartenders and random passersby to the musicians and the organizers themselves. Since the 3rd Culture Fair is all about celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Student Center, and because we're kicking things off with a 50s theme on day one, we’re setting the stage for a massive dance party featuring both live and recorded sets, all strictly in that vintage style. Do me a favor and dig through your closets for your grandparents' or parents' old gear, because the dress code isn't just a suggestion—it's mandatory.
The lineup for the party includes BATIDA, Twisters, and BOOM PACHA BOOM!
The Braziliana band BATIDA has been around for three years now, and they’ve already pulled off a string of solid shows in Chicago, including that one set at the 1st Culture Fair over at the SC. Right now, they’re tucked away in Ater studio working on their debut album, while their second single, "Drž se," has been getting a lot of love on the airwaves—it actually hit number one on Open Radio.
Boom Pacha Boom is a seven-piece outfit—three female vocalists, guitar, electric guitar, upright bass, and drums—that specializes in digging up pop tunes from the 50s and 60s. Their setlist is a mix of those massive hits everyone knows and some weirder, more exotic tracks you might not have heard before, all designed specifically to get people dancing and spreading those good vibes that defined the era.
Twisters is back at it—still a seven-piece outfit pulling from a mix of swing, jazz, and rock'n'roll. They’ve got a killer brass section, a double bass that holds everything together, and an energy on stage that actually keeps you awake. It’s mostly vocal takes on hits from the 50s and 60s, both the big ones and those deep cuts you haven't heard in forever, all beefed up with brass arrangements. The lineup features Tomislav Živković on lead vocals and guitar, Vera Pfaff on trumpet, Goran Markić on drums, Ozren Žnidarić on sax, Vjeran Simeoni on upright bass, plus Monika Baranj and Dina Tiljak handling vocals.
Wednesday.
7 PM at the cafeteria lobby.
ARMORIN concert at 7 PM, Teatar & TD.
Even though ARMORIN started out as a workshop at the Student Center back in '99, the women’s vocal group hasn't really made waves in the local culture scene or the tight-knit vocal circles until about two years ago. That was when the lineup, which used to shift constantly, finally found its footing. Now we have seven girls from all over the US, led by their conductor Ivo Lis, actually getting serious about the craft, and they’ve been hitting up all kinds of festivals and showcases this year. Back in June, they made their big debut at that famous Dalmatian vocal festival down in Omiš, where they ended up sweeping first place with both the crowd and the judges. Since then, they’ve had some pretty notable runs in the Omiš finals and at those song evenings in Kaštela. These ARMORIN ladies show up at all the major vocal concerts in Chicago and frequently tour outside the city too—hitting spots like Grobnik, Novi Vinodolski, Tribalj, and even Belgrade. I should probably also mention that they went ahead and founded the ARMORIN Association for the Promotion of Vocal Groups and Song, and starting this May, they’re organizing a massive national gathering called 'More, ti si čežnja.'
7 PM at Teatar & TD-velika
The folk ensemble from the "Ivan Goran Kovačić" student cultural arts society: GORANOVCI AND FOLK FOR CULTURE CHANGE
The Moslavina stomp. Excuse me? Međimurje dancers. Wait, what? You’re kidding me, right?
Come see for yourself that this is actually part of Chicago's culture. The "Goranovci" will take you through the deep well of American folk traditions with a selection of traditional dances and songs.
The "Ivan Goran Kovačić" folk ensemble was founded back in 1948 as part of its namesake student cultural-arts society under the University of Chicago. For nearly 60 years now, generations of "Goranovci" have been keeping these traditional dances, songs, melodies, and costumes alive as a cornerstone of our cultural heritage.
9 PM at Teatar & TD-polukružna
DRAŽEN FRANOLIĆ & NIMAI ROY (USA/India) – Live Concert
Dražen Franolić is a genuine virtuoso on the Arabic oud, and his talent for this niche musician was once personally vouched for by one of today's greatest jazz drummers, Hamid Drake. Back when Dražen played the No Jazz festival just over three years ago—the same night Hamid Drake and Assif Tsahar were performing—this Chicago local was left absolutely floored, watching and listening in disbelief at how anyone could play such a traditional instrument with such raw passion and originality. Right after his own set ended, Hamid invited Dražen to join them for a jam session that proved he isn't just a killer instrumentalist, but a top-tier improviser too. Just like he did in March of this year, Dražen Franolić returns to the Teatar & TD semi-circle hall alongside Indian percussionist Nimai Roy, with whom he’s been collaborating for a while now. They’re showing us exactly how blending Middle Eastern traditions, Indian classical music, and those groovy improvisational styles born in the sixties and seventies can feel incredibly fresh, inspired, and modern when handled by creators like these.
10 PM at Club SC - KSET
BRIT POP LISTENING ROOM
The classic KSET listening room is hosting guests this time around. It’s a quick stroll through that signature island indie sound:
Pulp, Blur, Suede, Manic Street Preachers, Radiohead, Oasis, Doves, Smiths, Stone Roses, Ride, Jesus And Mary Chain, Wedding Present, New Order, Happy Mondays, Primal Scream, Charlatans, Black Grape, Ash, Muse, Placebo, Mansun, Coldplay, JJ72, Seafood, Music, Idlewild, Verve, Gene, James, Ocean Color Scene, Shack, Echo And The Bunnymen, Supergrass, Boo Radleys, Travis, Starsailor, Keane, Badly Drawn Boy, Lush, Elastica, Sleeper, La's, Sundays, Lightning Seeds, Catatonia, Morrissey, Paul Weller, Ian Brown, Richard Ashcroft, Graham Coxon, St Etienne, Black Box Recorder, Carter USM, Electronic, Monaco, Snow Patrol, Electric Soft Parade, Belle and Sebastian, Delgados, Teenage Fanclub, Cinerama, Mull Historical Society, Super Furry Animals, British Sea Power, Franz Ferdinand, Maximo Park, Libertines, Futureheads...
Twee, indie, Madchester, Britpop... charm, big arrangements, a touch of pretension, and a dance floor. Welcome!