If you’d like to feel the pulse of Balkan music, with its new waves and vintage appeal, emerging trends and resurgent styles, and if you’re curious about the forces shaping its constant evolution or perennial staticism, then PIN Conference is your gateway.

Reaching its 11th edition, which is not a given in the transient world of music events and conferences, PIN is arguably the most insightful long weekend dedicated to music from the Balkans and beyond.

Launched in Skopje in 2012 by the Association of Culture and Arts TAKSIRAT, which also organises the renowned festival of the same name, PIN is the first and only international music conference and showcase festival in Macedonia. It’s a pivotal platform for the country, enhancing the local music scene by forging connections with a diverse array of European cultural organisations, practices and experts.

Each year, the conference and its showcases draw hundreds by day and swelling to thousands by night, serving as a vibrant networking hub for music professionals and enthusiasts. From today until Saturday, attendees will indeed converge for a three-day feast of gigs, panels, workshops, and documentary screenings spread across five halls, rooms, and the infamous toilet stage of the Youth Cultural Center. This iconic venue, a cornerstone of Skopje’s cultural scene, boasts 37 years of experience in fostering creativity among young generations through festivals, competitions, exhibitions, performances, concerts, lectures, and more.

Amidst this dynamic setting, 60 solo artists, bands, and DJs will take the stage, presenting an electrifying array of fresh and established sounds from the Balkans and beyond. Unbounded by stylistic norms or creative limitations, they will push past conventional boundaries to deliver performances that are as innovative as they are inspiring.

You can immerse yourself in our specially curated PIN playlist below to get a taste of the incredible talent featured at this year’s festival. Among them…

Ognen Zlatanov from Macedonia blends traditional and contemporary Balkan music with jazz and classical influences, crafting a modern sound steeped in regional heritage. The Serbian folk-inspired ensemble Škofja Loka captivates audiences with deep, authentic melodies and traditional vocal harmonies. Also from Macedonia, Galatheia fuses electronic beats with Balkan melodies, creating a bridge between past and present. From Kosovo, La Fazani mixes Albanian folk with modern rock and electronic vibes, while Macedonia’s Kokiche puts a contemporary spin on traditional songs.

The Japanese-German trio Mitsune enchants listeners with their blend of traditional Japanese shamisen and global folk music. Güner Künier, a Turkish-German artist, delves into themes of identity and heritage through a mix of Turkish folk, electro-pop and experimental sounds. Sioto Jazz from Macedonia merges Balkan folk rhythms with jazz improvisation for a dynamic live experience. Croatia’s Ki Klop infuses traditional folk music with elements of rock and pop, and the legendary Malian musician Boubacar Traoré, also known as “Kar Kar,” melds Malian traditional and rootsy tunes with blues. The innovative transnational trio Avalanche Kaito combines traditional West African griot music with experimental and noise-punk sounds.

Other standout acts include Hungary’s Freakin’ Disco, renowned for their eclectic mix of electronic, jazz, and psychedelic rock; XAJKA from North Macedonia, blending traditional Balkan music with electronic elements; Fulu Miziki, an eco-friendly Afrofuturist collective from the Democratic Republic of Congo, crafting instruments from recycled materials to merge traditional Congolese rhythms with electronic music; Croatia’s Veja, combining traditional Istrian music with a contemporary musical perspective; Serbia’s Sonas, mixing Balkan music with jazz and electronic elements; Latvia’s Tautumeitas, who reinterpret folk songs with modern and choral arrangements; Hungary’s Hakumba, energising crowds with their blend of ska, reggae, and punk; to close in France with La Brigade Du Kif, blending funk, rock, and influences from around the world.