2012 celebrates the 10th edition of Unsound Krakow in October, assembled around the theme "THE END". What does "THE END" refer to? Is it the current mixture of feelings around us - the apocalyptic atmosphere and opposing sense of potential rebirth, or does "THE END" refer to something more prosaic? At least for now, we're not going to say - let's just reveal a small number of important acts.

To mark our 10th birthday, we'll bring back some of our favorite artists who have played over the years, quite a few presenting special projects on a large scale. There will also be compelling world debuts, label showcases and other delights shaped by innovative and extreme programming that has become Unsound's trademark for both its Krakow and New York events. To highlight the importance of New York in the development of Unsound, there will also be a high number of artists from America.

We're very excited to announce that LA's aTelecine have selected Unsound and Krakow as the location for the world premiere of their live show. Releasing music through New York's Dais Records and Pendu Sound, aTelecine's members include Sasha Grey, Pablo St. Francis, Ian Cinnamon and Anthony D'Juan. Their sound draws inspiration from seminal 80s industrial bands such as Throbbing Gristle, Coil and Nurse With Wound, while forging their own original voice. FACT Magazine wrote of aTelecine's 2011 LP: "one really has to salute the poise, restraint and uncompromising nature of 'A Cassette Tape Culture'… this album is a fine artistic achievement." Boomkat described aTelecine as "one of the most sonically intriguing and darkest elements to emerge from the DIY/Darkwave resurgence."

In the spring of 2012, two leading names in electronic music Canada's Tim Hecker and American Oneohtrix Point Never came together at Mexican Summer's facilities in Brooklyn to record. Tim Hecker and Oneohtrix Point Never's work will be the first in the SSTUDIOS series to be released on Software, focusing on out/free jazz/electronic collaborations and co-curated by Daniel Lopatin (OPN) and C Spencer Yeh. Before the album drops, Hecker and Oneohtrix Point Never will present a special sneak peak of the fruits of their collaboration with a world premiere at Unsound Festival Krakow. Coming at a time when both these artists are riding a peak of creativity, this event is sure to be a high point in our anniversary program.

TRINITY is the latest in an ongoing series of projects specially commissioned for Unsound. This unusual collaboration between Lustmord and Biosphere explores, in sound and visuals (by MFO), the first tests of nuclear weapons in the New Mexico desert. Lustmord and Biosphere travelled to the White Sands Missile Range and Los Alamos to research and make field recordings at the start of 2012 and then presented the project's world premiere at Unsound Festival New York this past April. Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote: "Lustmord and Biosphere are kindred spirits, masters of ominous ambience: enveloping, murky, ultra-slow-motion music. 'Trinity' filled the room with tectonic rumbles and gradual whooshes, with tolling crashes followed by silences, with air-raid sirens, with claustrophobically thick cluster chords that were sometimes electronic and sometimes orchestral…" Krakow is a fitting location for the European premiere of TRINITY, considering it was Unsound that coaxed Lustmord into performing his second-ever show in three decades in 2010, and it was here Biosphere and Lustmord first met.

Julia Holter has rapidly risen to prominence over the past 12 months - and not without reason. Her stunning 2011 album "Tragedy" was followed by 2012's equally wonderful "Ekstasis", proving Julia is one of the most singular and promising songwriters at work, imbuing her own brand of "pop" music with complexity and experimentation. She performed a solo piano show at Unsound Festival New York, and is now poised to make a special Polish debut at Unsound Krakow involving players from Sinfonietta Cracovia. More details soon.

Yet another very special event concerns a performance from V/VM - Leyland Kirby's (aka The Caretaker) most controversial project. Other than a spur-of-the-moment show in Madrid when Europe was covered in ash from an Icelandic volcano in 2010, V/VM haven't been seen on stage since 2006. This hasn't stilled their notoriety, with their vast output not only passing hands via Discogs, but uploaded to Youtube in the form of sinister, deranged, damaged and copyright-infringing mutations of pop music by the likes of Chris de Burgh, John Lennon and Robbie Williams. In the past, their live shows have involved pig masks, noise, "pop" mayhem and self-inflicted injury. Leyland Kirby has described the Unsound show as V/VM's "swansong", suggesting this might well be their last violent gasp, as Leyland moves into a time of life when it's better not to break bones and kneecaps throwing yourself around stage. Either way, we are certain it will prove memorable.

These are just the first announcements of a program that we will reveal over coming weeks and months: you could say this is the beginning of "THE END".

Keep in mind that in terms of venues Unsound is no ordinary festival, and as is our tradition, we'll be presenting these and other works in locations such as a 16th century church, ancient synagogue and post-industrial halls.

The festival goes from 14 - 21 October. We hope to see you here.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PRESS PHOTOS, ETC., please write to: press@unsound.pl