Denis Bango Plays Fvck_Kvlt – Piano Concert Before The Cure at Pohoda 2026
The Pohoda Festival will kick off on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, with an exceptional extra day headlined by the iconic The Cure. We wanted a strong young name from the domestic scene to play before them. We recommended the piano version of FVCK_KVLT, which Robert Smith ultimately chose from among several suggestions. With this extraordinary opening, Pohoda 2026 will symbolically launch its 30th edition, bringing together a world legend with the authentic energy of Slovak alternative music.
14. November 2025
Denis Bango will perform a piano concert featuring a cross-section of his musical work known under the pseudonym Fvck_Kvlt, songs from his home punk band The Wilderness, and a selection of unreleased piano compositions that can only be heard at these rare piano performances. The set will also include new arrangements from the current album Mŕtva revolúcia (Dead Revolution).
Being part of the evening headlined by The Cure is a special honor for Denis. "I think I'm getting pretty good at playing the piano. I recently learned a few new chords. It'll be good. Thanks to Pohoda and Robert for their trust!" he says with a smile.
“Every year, Pohoda gives strong credit to local artists. Even when confirming The Cure, we insisted that before their performance we wanted to give space to someone from our own music scene, and we recommended Denis Bango. The combination of a world-renowned legend and a powerful young name from Slovakia is an important gesture toward the people who create culture in our country. I am convinced that Denis is the right choice – I am fascinated by his journey from punk clubs to big stages, his passion for music, and the various forms his work takes. I appreciate that Robert Smith showed respect for the scene of the country he is coming to play in and approved this strong representative of our alternative music. After all, The Cure themselves are proof that even with alternative music you can become a globally known legend. It will be a powerful evening," adds Michal Kaščák about the selection of Denis Bango.
Bango became the first artist ever to win the Radio_Head Awards in both main categories when he dominated the domestic music awards in 2023 with his project Fvck_Kvlt and the album CIGÁN (GYPSY). Two years later, he released the highly acclaimed album Mŕtva revolúcia (Dead Revolution), which includes Manifest of the Dead Revolution – an experimental philosophical text that frames the ideological concept of the entire work.
As a solo project by Trnava-born punk musician and rapper Denis Bango, Fvck_Kvlt has been shaking up the Slovak alternative scene for a long time. With his debut album Kvlt Teachings (2019), he crossed regional borders and gained recognition with recordings such as Zabijem sa! (2020), CIGÁN (2023) and other EPs that combined trap, punk, phonk, R&B, hardstyle, and metal. Fvck_Kvlt moves across genres, self-producing all his material – with an authentic energy that perfectly captures the DIY spirit of his work.
During this exceptional evening, Denis Bango, The Twilight Sad, and Just Mustard, Robert Smith's favorite bands, will perform before The Cure, and there will also be a night afterparty right at the Trenčín airport.
THE CURE Extra Day is organised by Pohoda Festival at Trenčín Airport on Wednesday, 8th July 2026. Separate tickets for the extra day are available, as well as a 4-day combo ticket for The Cure and Pohoda Festival (8th – 11th July 2026), or an upgrade ticket that extends your already purchased 3-day Pohoda ticket to include the extra day with The Cure.
The exclusive partner of the festival's extra day is ESET.
