Druga Godba and Narodni dom Maribor have joined forces to bring one of the most striking musical projects of recent years to Maribor. As part of their tour presenting their first collaborative album Deuce, Manu Delago (handpan) and Max ZT (hammered dulcimer) will captivate audiences with their daring duo. The Grammy-nominated musicians explore the full sonic potential of their instruments, drawing from a lifetime of global collaboration, deep improvisation, and refined compositional skill. Together, they create immersive, meditative soundscapes that unfold with both delicacy and drive.

Manu Delago is undoubtedly Austria’s best-known musician on the international stage – in fact, he is a bona fide global star. He has performed at iconic venues in over 50 countries (including Slovenia), both with his own projects and as a regular member of ensembles led by Björk, Anoushka Shankar, and The Cinematic Orchestra. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Metropole Orkest and the London Symphony Orchestra. A passionate nature enthusiast, he leads a seven-piece ensemble on alpine expeditions in the Alps in his award-winning album and film Parasol Peak. In 2021, this adventurous musician and composer launched the ReCycling Tour, a sustainable concert tour by bicycle in which his band and crew cycled 1,500 kilometres across Europe.

American musician Max ZT, hailed by NPR as the “Jimi Hendrix of the hammered dulcimer,” has redefined the instrument through a life of global study and innovation. Based in Brooklyn, he has absorbed diverse musical traditions, studied with the esteemed Senegalese griot family Cissoko, and trained under the legendary Indian pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Max is a founding member of House of Waters, has composed music for Emmy-winning ESPN documentaries, and released eight albums on GroundUP Music, the label run by Snarky Puppy. His most recent album, On Becoming, was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

“When I first heard Manu, I was blown away. His virtuosity was obvious, but the way he composed and thought about his instrument in such an unusual and unique way really stayed with me and made me feel this is a collaboration that needed to happen,” explains Max ZT. The duo first met nearly ten years ago, when Manu Delago was on tour in the US. “We initially improvised together, but over the years we developed a range of compositions. Last year, we finally found the perfect time and space to record music in an incredible 18th-century venue within an even older Alpine monastery. Standing opposite each other, both just turning 40, we knew the album had to be called Deuce,” recalls Manu Delago.

Rooted in rhythm, rich in texture, and open in spirit, the duo invites listeners into a world that feels both ancient and entirely new. With extraordinary sensitivity and unmatched technical mastery, they craft enchanting soundscapes that mesmerise audiences from the very first note.

This Saturday evening promises to be an experience not to be missed.

Co-produced by Druga Godba and Narodni Dom Maribor.

With the support of: