First Program Announcement for Warsaw’s Ephemera festival

Warsaw’s Ephemera festival is now a vital part of the Polish capital’s cultural fabric. Taking place between June 11-15, the Unsound-produced multi-art festival is created together with local curators, theatres, museums and artists, and celebrates collective rituals and the longest days of summer. Passes are now on sale, as well as individual tickets to many events. Head to the Ephemera website for more information and individual ticket links.Tickets available via Resident Advisor.

While this first announcement focuses mainly on music, one of the headline shows is ASIANDOPEBOYS’ PHYSIS, a unique 10-hour multi-disciplinary experience featuring music, dance, theatre and the visual arts. This performative ritual and rave will take place at Nowy Teatr. Tickets and info on participating artists here.

Also headlining is SUNN O))), performing at ATM Studio, with bespoke lighting design heightening the sense of collective ritual. Opening for the band is Ukrainian duo Heinali & Yasia, whose powerful music draws on Ukrainian folk and the compositions of 12th century abbess, philosopher and mystic Hildegard von Bingen. Tickets available here.

Before these weekend shows, the festival officially opens on Wednesday June 11th with the partnership with BMW and in the gorgeous neoclassical lobby of the Polish Grand Theatre and National Opera building, where the artists Sofie Birch and Antonina Nowacka will come together to present the premiere of their new show Hiraeth, alongside the Polish premiere of LEYA, whose music is equal parts medieval folk, contemporary pop and classical. Another performance will be added in the next announcement. Following the show, ticket-holders will again both gaze upon and eat an edible installation by Pola Sutryk. Tickets available here.

The program at Komuna Warszawa on Thursday June 12th heats up with rising singer Six Sex, hailing from Buenos Aires, combining perreo, reggaeton and rave in a powerful and sensual show.Opening is a trio of Swiss percussionist Julian Sartorius, and Polish musicians Marek Pospieszalski and Artur Rumiński. This performance is the result of a SHAPE+ residency. Another act will be added soon – stay tuned! Tickets available here.

Late night on Friday June 13th sees Ephemera team up again with Warsaw’s legendary Kem collective and their Dragana Bar, with a lineup featuring new live shows from Danny L Harle and aya presents hexed!, as well as DJ sets from LSDXOXO, Oldyungmayn b2b Some Guest, androgienia b2b softchaos, Veronicami, DiV4 and Vicky Nasty. Taking place at OCZKI across two stages, tickets are available here.

Early Sunday morning, Ephemera will again partner with W Brzask to present sunrise shows. The W Brzask program will be included in the second announcement, along with events connected to the visual arts and performance art program.

This year’s Ephemera design is based around the paintings of Polish artist Alicja Pakosz.

Sofie Birch & Antonina Nowacka present Hiraeth and Julian Sartorius / Marek Pospieszalski / Artur Rumiński are presented in collaboration with SHAPE+ – a platform for innovative music and interdisciplinary art, co-funded by the European Union and Pro Helvetia.