BRDCST is AB’s brand new indoor spring festival, one whereby we focus on musical limitlessness. The name is a direct reference to the retro futuristic electronica-pop of English band Broadcast, which released inspiring albums like ‘Haha Sound’ and ‘Noise Made By The People’ over the past decade. Artists who feel strongly about musical innovation will form the focal point for BRDCST.

The start edition of BRDCST is not even a fact yet but still a tradition (#3) has been born! In the future, there will always be a real mini-festival on the final evening of BRDCST. Just the thing for the adventurous!

BATTLES (us)
In ’16 it will be exactly ten years since Battles first performed in AB and their debut ‘EP C/B EP’ saw the light of day. The Battles motor – now a trio – remains inimitable. After the departure of guitarist Tyondai Braxton and the associated release ‘Gloss Drop’, there was time needed to search for a new identity. But all is good (and super-tight) again, as can be heard on their latest album ‘La Di Da Di’. Their mix of experiment, art rock and avant-garde jazz is quite simply best experienced live. In AB for the third time, actually!

MBONGWANA STAR (Congo)
'Stunning collision of West African street funk and European studio craft.'
(★★★★★ - Q)

‘Furiously distorted bricolage of Afro-retro-futurism, soukous and Afrobeat’
(★★★★★ - The Financial Times)

In ’13, the seven-member Mbongwana (literally translated: ‘change’) Star arose from the ashes of Congo’s Staf Benda Bilili. Their very first single ‘Malukayi’ (featuring ‘Konono N°1’) still felt like a fresh spring breeze, whereas their debut album – ‘From Kinshasa’ – really became a rousing potpourri. Punk-electronics, Afro-futurisme, hip-hop, electro, soukous and afrobeat pass in revue. Time for a provocative party!

PAUS (p.)
The latest gem of the experimental, eclectic rock scene actually comes from Portugal. The Portuguese PAUS is namely already ready to grow into a Battles 2.1, a BadBadNotGood 2.2 or a Tortoise 2.3, if you will. PAUS has only one album - ‘Clarao’  - to their name but already possesses a sound that is more destructive than Katrina. How could they not, with two drums, rhythms more swinging than their band name, and guitar riffs that sound dirtier than their beards. Oh yeah, another golden tip from us: place ‘band’ after ‘Paus’ if you want to google this foursome. That’ll instantly save you a day.

FIRE! feat. Mats Gustafsson (se.)
Pivotal figure of Scandinavian trio Fire! is quite simply furious saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, who is an outright star in the improvisation scene. But he is much respected outside of that scene too. Just recall his collaborations with contrary musical thinkers like Colin Stetson, Sonic Youth or Jim O’ Rourke. The two most well-known bands of which he is a member are The Thing (that released that bold ‘The Cherry Thing’ with Neneh Cherry in ’12) and the frankly fantastic Fire! that was one of the revelations at the latest edition of Tilburg’s Incubate Festival. What’s more, their ‘pop’ appreciation extends even further, as their latest gem ‘(Without Noticing)’ is even based upon Bill Callahan’s book ‘Letters To Emma Bowlcut’. Even more oil on the fire? Fire! excels in avant-garde jazz with punk influences and scraps of noise with a generous injection of ad rem improvisation. We couldn’t wish for a fiestier finish to BRDCST!