Vlado Kreslin is a Slovenian singer, composer, folk, and rock musician. He will perform on the Brijuni Islands for the first time as a guest of the Ulysses Theatre.

VLADO KRESLIN
November 29, 1953, Beltinci

With the band HORIZONT, he performed at the Subotica Festival in 1976. In 1980, as a solo singer, he won the “Slovenska popevka” festival. In 1982, he joined the group Martin Krpan, which became the most popular mainstream rock band in Slovenia in the following years (in 1997, Parni Valjak recorded their song “To ni političen song” for their album “Samo snovi teku nizvodno”). Kreslin simultaneously worked on solo projects with more colorful and distinctive music. After opening for Bob Dylan in June 1991 in Ljubljana, the band disbanded. During a family gathering, Kreslin performed with the legendary folk group Beltinška banda, originating from his village. The band consists of quite elderly musicians (bassist Jože Kociper was born in 1905 and played with Kreslin until he was 95 years old). What initially seemed like a playful joke turned into the biggest Slovenian ethno world-music attraction in the next few years. They sold out the largest concert halls in Slovenia, represented a true renaissance, and set new standards in relation to their own Slovenian folk music and heritage. Simultaneously, Kreslin reassembled some members of Martin Krpan and formed the group Mali bogovi. In 1995, Beltinška banda and Mali bogovi performed together at the World music festival WOMEX in Brussels. Kreslin recorded and performed with numerous “local” and foreign bands and musicians on his albums and concerts: Zoran Predin, Pero Lovšin, Lidija Bajuk, Šajeta, Drago Mlinarec, Livio Morosin, Parni valjak, Indexi, Vlatko Stefanovski, Kemal Monteno, Rade Šerbedžija, Vlada Divljan, Neno Belan, Arsen Dedić, Dubliners, R.E.M, Allan Taylor, Mary Coughlan, Hans Theessink, Bambi Molesters, Zapadni kolodvor… His songs have been covered by various bands, such as Parni Valjak, Siddharta, and The Walkabouts. Kreslin has performed on numerous tours and festivals worldwide, occasionally appearing in theater and films and releasing books of poems. The American publisher Guernica published a collection of his poems, and during his American tour, he performed at the legendary Kennedy Center in Washington. In 2009, after a concert at Yale University, he received the honorary title of Quincey Porter Fellow. His songs have been the subjects of theses, books, and films. He is a member of the Slovenian Writers’ Association. For twenty-two years, his Christmas concerts in Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana (in sets of three) have been a cult event for his loyal followers and the audience.

I’m not ashamed to admit that whenever I hear “Preko Mure, preko Drave” and “Ena pesem,” I always tear up because melancholy and nostalgia are Vlado’s strong suits, and it’s clear to me why “Tista črna kitara” brought Chris Eckman to his knees. I don’t know how he does it, but he always strikes the right combination of chords and sentiment, especially when it’s in a minor key and we’re in it together. And when it’s in a major key, it’s a memorable celebration, but without the showbiz taste that has become prevalent when it comes to entertainment here. Namely, Kreslin’s fusion of rock and Slovenian folk music sounds warm and pleasant, sincere and homely, unobtrusive yet irresistible.
Aleksandar Dragaš, 2013

Vlado Kreslin has written several of my songs (Miljenko Jergović).

Vlado Kreslin is the Slovenian “Bob Dylan.” He is incredibly popular in Slovenia. His songs have served as motifs for novels and films. Scott Mc Caughey (R.E.M) introduced me to his music, which impressed him while Kreslin was opening a concert for REM in Koper.

Chris Eckman from the American band The Walkabouts, which recorded a cover version of Kreslin’s song “Tista crna gitara” (That Black Guitar).

Vlado Kreslin has never allowed the borders on Rupa, Una, Bregana, and Drina to become borders in his mind.
(Denis Romac, Novi list)