STORYTELLING
Storytelling used to be a craft which was enabling a conveyance of the universal messages about life. The subconscious would recognize the symbolism of a story through metaphors and would enrich the conscious part of our mind leading us towards deeper insights and awareness about life within us and around us. Rene Medvešek, prominent Croatian actor and director of theatre plays will be the first storyteller in this new programme of the festival that will be developing in the future together with the main, music part of the festival.
  

MARIJA PRELAS
It is said that this folk singer from Srijane in Gornja Poljica used to sing before she could even walk. She would listen to the elders singing to ease difficulties of working hard at fields or at home but also celebrating eminent life events and customs as well as celebrating nature that nourish them. Marija would easily remember all lyrics and melodies of traditional chants and today she is one of the few who still sings ancient songs and passes them on to younger generations. Many consider Marija Prelas as a true gem of traditional songs from Poljica. At the festival Ethnoambient Marija will be accompanied by Marija Ćurlin and Blaženka Franić.

VRUJA
Vruja is a group of musicians who are inspired by the folk music from Istria. Some consider them pioneers of traditional music revival in Istria. Members of Vruja are aware that most of the treasure they are after is hidden in various homes of elderly people so they are often wandering around, visiting such homes and listening to those who still remember ancient chants. Vruja is also appreciating the transcripts of enthusiasts and ethnologists who saved such chants from being forgotten. Traditional music from Istria varies in style, depending whether it comes from South of from the North of Istria and Vruja presents both of those thus also showing us the richness of traditional instruments being used during their performance.
VRUJA su: Marino Kranjac (vokal, violina, dude, mandola, sopele, gitara), Alenka Kranjac (vokal, daska), Peter Kaligarič (harmonika), Rok Kleva Ivančić (violina), Gabrijel Križman (gitara, mandola, vokal) i Gorast Radojević (istarski bajs, električna bas gitara).
  

KRIES
Those who have been attending Ethnoambient Salona festival for years, know about Kries since this band started with Mojmir Novakovic (who is also the founder of the festival), Ivo Letunić and Krešimir Oreški. Since then the group has been involved in creating music for movies, documentaries and theatre plays and recorded their first album “Ivo I Mara” which launched them into international music maps and hapenings. Their second album “Kocijani” successfully followed the path of the first one and spread the news about them even more also introducing new members of the band; Andor Végh, Konrad Lovrenčić, Erol Zejnilović, Ivan Levačić and Martin Swan. Now Kries is marked as a band “whose sound can’t be compared to any other band”. Their interpretations of traditional Croatian chants enable one to get introduced with ancient messages that are capable of raising awareness about a better, more creative and more enjoyable life. "Chants never sounded so explosively good until Croatian ethno-rock band Kries hit the stage to close the second night. Their performance was hypnotic and addictive." The Star, Malaysia
  

ETHNO CROATIA ORCHESTRA 2009
Ethno Croatia project is a member of ethno camps family whose aim is to connect young folk musicians from various countries thus supporting creativity and intercultural exchange and learning. Lead by Dario Marušić in Grožnjan, Istria, this year Ethno Croatia camp attracted musicians from Zambia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Macedonia and Croatia. They all worked together and explored the varieties of interpreting traditional songs from their own countries and some of them will be presented at the festival Ethnoambient.

KATALENA
Katalena is a phenomenon of a modern music scene in Slovenia, so it is claimed by many fans and music professionals. Members of Katalena have different favourite styles of music – from jazz and blues via rock to funk, yet they got together in 2001 to join their forces in discovering traditional heritage of their country thus creating new possibilities and insights of Slovenian music. They were delighted by what they found in the Institue of Ethnomusicology in Ljubljana and by listening old vinyl records and that inspired them to create their own music based on traditional chants. They recorded four albums: (Z)godbe/Stories (2002), Babje leto/Indian summer (2004) and Kmečka ohcet/Country wedding (2006), Cvik Cvak (2008). They have presented their unique performance at many cultural centres in the World, including Vienna, Tel-Aviv and New York.
  

BAKA BEYOND
"If there has to be a definition of world music, this is it!" – once said a BBC DJ and music critic and this is the shortest and most colourful description of this band who base their creation on the tradition of Baka people from Cameroon. The members of the band derive from various cultures: Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Brittany and Great Britain. It is said that together they present an excellent combination of African rhythm and Celtic soul. The group was formed in the early nineties by Martin Cradick and Su Hart who were inspired by what they experienced in Cameroon, by melodies and rhythm of the Baka people. In order to make a fair exchange for what they’ve been given in many ways, the band is sending royalties to Baka people to help their development projects, and even touring with Baka musicians.
“…Amazing Gaelic, English and Baka vocals with powerful percussion section, rhythmic guitar and firey fiddle…”
National Geographic Live!
The regular audience of the festival Ethnoambient Salona will be delighted to find out that Malian magician from Senegal - Seckou Keita will join Baka Beyond on the stage in Solin!