Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

ELIZABETH ANKA VAJAGIC

If the Grim Reaper were a woman, he would sound like Elizabeth Anka Vajagic. Her pitch-black voice and frugal songs on guitar, piano and cello hit you were it hurts.
“She may have spent too long staring into the darkness, but she’s making a beautiful shade of black” (Pitchfork media).

• Sounds like? Hope Sandoval, Lisa Germano, PJ Harvey, Cat Power, Patti Smith.

HARRIS NEWMAN & IGNATZ

On the guitar, Harris Newman (Hrsta) strikes a perfect balance between skill and emotion. After previously releasing an album with Mauro, he has now written new songs for Flemish artist Ignatz especially for the festival. His drone folk albums on the KRAAK-label have received praise worldwide, even making an impact on the US underground scene. Ride along on these two musicians’ meditative guitar loops and dusty electronica.

• Sounds like? John Fahey, Six Organs of Admittance, Sir Richard Bishop.