Laibach

Thirty-five years on from their genesis in Yugoslavia, Laibach (which is one of the historic names for Ljubljana) is the most internationally acclaimed band to have come out of the former communist countries of Eastern and Central Europe, and one of the most enigmatic, prophetic and authentic music groups in the world. Founded in the year of Tito’s death in the industrial city of Trbovlje, located in the so-called revolutionary Red District area of Slovenia, they rose to fame as Yugoslavia steered towards self-destruction. Laibach have consistently opposed labels of any kind, and refuse to be categorised as “rock”, “pop”, “techno” or “industrial”. In August 2015 Laibach became the first ever band of its kind to perform in the secretive country of North Korea, a reclusive garrison state that is as well-known for its military marches, mass gymnastics and hymns to the Great Leader as for its defiant resistance to Western popular culture.

On 9 February 2016 Laibach and the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra at the BOZAR, Brussels presented an exclusive performance of the Sound OF Music. The programme has been put together in collaboration between Laibach and RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra. The young Slovenian composer Anže Rozman arranged the orchestrations and Simon Dvoršak will conduct the orchestra. The audience will be able to hear some new interpretations of already acclaimed Laibach songs, including those from their Sound of Music and Spectre projects, but also from the 2003 album WAT, which deals with the refugee and migration crisis in Europe and in Middle East. Self-styled “engineers of human souls”, Laibach can make you think, dance and march to the same music. However, this time, supported by the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, they will have you nailed to your seats.