Bakalina Velika

First there was Bakalina, a duo of self-taught musicians – the singer songwriter and loquacious peasant poet Jani Kutin and the accordionist Renata Lapanja. Delivering contemporary melodies and socially critical lyrics in the Čadrg dialect of the Tolmin region, Bakalina has been captivating audiences for nearly a decade, from prominent concert venues to the most secluded rural villages. With each concert and album, Bakalina grew and became Bakalina Velika, comprising members of Jani's former collective Salamandra Salamandra (Samo Kutin, Dejan Lapanja, Matej Magajne), as well as percussionist Marjan Stanić and Rome-born Trieste-based trumpeter Andrea Pandolfo. They have released two albums so far, Prvi krajec came out in the spring of 2021, followed by Zviezdna srebruo (2022). The concert at Cankarjev dom is dedicated to their forthcoming new album, featuring brand-new songs and a new lineup of instruments, a lyre, a flute and a drum made from more than 6500-year-old fir tree found in Čadrg, a village in the Tolmin area.

Jani Kutin, vocals, texts, flute, goat's horn
Marjan Stanić, percussion, drums
Matej Magajne, el. guitar, bass guitar
Andrea Pandolfo, trumpet, fluegelhorn, piano
Dejan Lapanja, drums, acoustic guitar, bass guitar
Samo Kutin, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, balafon, tambura basprim, hurdy gurdy, bass harp, n’goni, sound objects