James Holden & Wenceslas Zimpel

September 1, 2026

Since their first meeting at the Rewire Festival in 2018, the duo has developed a unique musical language combining electronics, jazz, minimalism and free improvisation, and their albums “Long Weekend” and “The Universe Will Take Care Of You” showcase the incredibly creative collaboration of two artists whose common denominator is a fascination with trance, repetition and the constant search for new sound.

Dear guests, we are honored that on Wednesday, 14.10.2026 on our stage there will be a meeting of two outstanding personalities of contemporary music: British electronic visionary James Holden and Polish clarinetist and improviser Wacław Zimpl. We invite you very warmly!

🔸 Information:

▪ Date: Wednesday, 14.10.2026
▪ Entrance to the concert: 19:00
▪ Start of the concert: 20:30
▪ Tickets: 99 PLN (pre-sale)/119 PLN (on the day of the concert)
▪ Address: Aleja Armii Ludowa 14; 00-637 Warsaw

🔸 Seating:

▪ NOTE: At this concert, seating will be available in a limited number of seats only on our mezzanine! We ask those who are interested in seating to arrive at the concert in advance (from 19:00)

🔸 Tickets:

▪ Our website: https://pardontotu.pl/programme
▪ Stationary with us at the bar (collector's tickets)
▪ Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the concert (from 19:00) 'at the gate', as long as they are not sold out beforehand
▪ Tickets are also available through the GOING app and stationary at Empiki

🔸 James Holden & Wenceslas Zimpel

British synthesizer visionary James Holden and Polish clarinet master Wacław Zimpel have teamed up to form the duo Holden & Zimpel — a project in which two versatile composers explore the deepest areas of improvisation in an intimate composition, achieving hypnotic, rich sound and deeply emotional effects. Two artists with similar musical sensibilities engage in a spontaneous dialogue between alto clarinet and modular synthesizer, combining their disparate musical experiences into an explosion of raw, primal creativity.

Although they have established themselves in the electronic and jazz scene respectively for years, their paths did not cross until the Rewire Festival in The Hague in 2018. Mutual respect made them decide to get to know each other, and later that year they met at Holden's studio in London. In just four days, they recorded one song a day, creating the four-track EP “Long Weekend” — full of spontaneous krautrock-inspired improvisations. Holden's modular synthesizer met here with an extremely expressive Zimpel clarinet, enriched with organ, voice, percussion instruments and Jakub Ziółek's guitar. The result was a deep, immersive listening experience.

The EP premiered just before the outbreak of the pandemic, which is why the duo's first concerts were held in limited sanitary conditions. The intimate nature of their electroacoustic research was perfect during seated concerts with social distancing. Each time Zimpel visited London, the musicians continued their joint experiments that led to their second album, “The Universe Will Take Care Of You” (2025).

Like their krautrock predecessors, Holden and Zimpel approached new material with openness and a willingness to experiment. Holden, in addition to self-built modular synthesizers and a computer, turned to violin and percussion instruments. Zimpel, in addition to the alto clarinet, used electric piano, organ, lap steel guitar, harmonium and Indian double flute algoza.

The collaboration process was incredibly inspiring for both musicians. As Holden recalls, “We immediately caught a common language, understood our impulses, and gave each other space. I felt safe with him enough to dare to try things I would never have done before.” So it is not surprising that they decided to continue this musical adventure. Their cooperation especially flourishes at concerts, and subsequent performances — started with the prestigious Polish series 3x3x3 in 2024 — become an opportunity to further develop improvised versions of their works.

Although their musical beginnings were very different — Holden gained international fame as a producer, DJ and remixer of electronic music, while Zimpel graduated from classical music schools in Poland and Germany, then devoted himself to free jazz and collaborated with artists such as Hamid Drake and Joe McPhee — their paths surprisingly often crossed. Both were raised in homes where their fathers played the piano, both began learning music with the violin, and later became fascinated by the tradition of Gnawa music from Morocco and classical music from India.

Holden recorded with the legendary Maal Mahmoud Guinia and his son Houssam, while Zimpel toured with Mokhtar Guinia. Indian music also played an important role in their development — Zimpel recorded three albums with Carnatic musicians as part of the Saagara project, and Holden collaborated with, among others, Terry Riley and tablist Camilo Tirado.

In recent years, Zimpel has also developed his own production business, recording acclaimed albums with Shackleton and solo albums “Massive Oscillations”, “Ebbing In The Tide” and “Trainspotter”. Together with Holden, he also co-created the Pitch Gate plugin, enabling the transformation of a single clarinet line into a multi-voice “chorus” of wind instruments.

Ultimately, it was the shared fascination with trance and hypnotic repetition that became the meeting place for both artists. Trance is the guiding thread of their music — present in both traditional folk music, 20th century minimalism, krautrock, dance electronics, and improvised jazz. The music of Holden and Zimpl originates precisely where all these worlds meet and intersect.

🔸 Photography: Justyna Traczyk

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Wednesday | 14.10.2026 | 20:30

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