The MENT Festival in Ljubljana is one of the leading showcase festivals and music conferences in Central and Eastern Europe, and the largest event of its kind in the region. It’s an award-winning event, jam-packed with musical discoveries. Along with the conference, MENT offers musical acts from all over Europe the chance to perform in front of international music professionals. This year, Austria will be sending three young, creative acts to the event, happening from February 12 – 15.
Laundromat Chicks
“… one of my favourite acts to come out of the post-pandemic landscape, and their vibrant melancholy just ‘kinda fits’ the current vibe of such a world.”
Jangle Pop Hub
Since taking the Vienna music scene by storm with debut Trouble and follow-up Lightning Trails, jangle pop maestros Laundromat Chicks occupy that rare pleasure zone where humor, swagger and vulnerability overlap. From adolescent power pop anthems to crisp jangle pop, Laundromat Chicks are the kind of band who remind you of all your favorite bands at once. On their latest album Sometimes Possessed, out on Siluh Records, the band expand their sound palette and songwriting further, alternating their usual quick-witted guitar anthems with more abstract, mellow-sounding musical ideas.
LAUNDROMAT CHICKS
Feb. 13 @ Menza pri koritu
LUKAS OSCAR
A rising voice from the Viennese scene, Lukas Oscar is a singer-songwriter and music producer, who seamlessly blends emotional lyrics with heartfelt instrumentals. His latest album The Fun Never Ends!, released in October 2024, tackles themes of self-criticism, obsession, existential questions and the pressures of competition. His mission is to foster acceptance and recognition of difficult emotions as he believes that due to the often self-destructive and chaotic nature of our inner worlds everyone needs an outlet of some kind.
Lukas Oscar
Feb. 13 @ Stara mestna elektrarna
SALÒ
SALÒ, a Viennese post-punk rebel, combines instinctive punk drive with contemplative lyrics that confront themes of consumerism, identity, and alienation. His work, inspired by the likes of Idles and Rio Reiser, blends satire with raw emotion, creating an arresting stage presence. His last album Rabatt, released in 2022, combines punk and pop and ranges from gruff and angry to sugary and playful. With his daring yet reflective style, SALÒ has firmly established himself as a singular voice in Austria’s underground music scene.
SALÒ
Feb 13 @ Klub Gromka
Speed Networking event
Austria isn’t just sending artists to MENT; it will be well represented on the business side as well: Austrian Music Export will be hosting a “speed networking” event (imagine a music business version of speed dating). Want to meet the new generation of Austrian music pros? More info coming soon!
Speed Networking – Meet the Austrian Music Professionals
Friday, Feb. 14, 10:30-11:30 (Location TBA)