University Days of Pécs – PEN 2010

The Pécs University Days, which has been running for nearly 17 years now, has been labelled as the biggest youth event in Pécs and is known to the wider public as PEN, will be organised again in the Leather Factory (Bőrgyár) of Pécs between 21-24 April 2010.

An unconcealed aim of the festival organised biannually is to create stronger links among the decisive figures who play a role in shaping the cultural image of Pécs by bringing together the citizens of the town designated to be the European Cultural Capital this year, and the university students. The colourful program series organised by the students awaits its prospective visitors with even more significant attractions than before.

Without Boundaries

The subtitle of the first real festival of the year 2010, Without Boundaries, has a lot of implications in itself. A number of Hungarians and foreigners, among them French, British and American bands will perform on the three support act stages, and theatrical performances and literary evenings will also add to the colour of the program.

From DJ Krush to Kiscsillag

Beside Kiscsillag, the four-day monstrous students' event of the University of Pécs will stage Heaven Street Seven, Colorstar, as well as such world famous crack personalities as the Japanese DJ Krush, the currently most influential figure of instrumental hip-hop music, of whom even the prestigious Rolling Stone magazine could only speak in superlatives. The colourful music of the pioneer of Japanese hip-hop recalls elements of jazz as well as traditional Japanese sounding. The historic musical event will take place on 24 April at 01:45 on the main stage. The American scene will be represented by the popular Tito&Tarantula band, the front man of which we may know from Tarantino's films, playing music that is best categorized as indie, and shows close relations with Quimby among the domestic bands.

The already traditional talent competition will also be held again in the framework of the festival, involving DJs, MCs and beatbox formations this year for the first time in its history, in addition to the bands. Their lively performances can be seen and listened to on 21 April from 7:40 PM on the Pécs2010 stage.

Discount on the pass

Students from foreign universities are also welcome to the event that best mobilises young people within the region, and a discount on the weekly pass is offered until 16 April to those with an international student card: its price is 5200 HUF instead of 8100 HUF at the Ticketpress agencies. Daily tickets are available on the spot at 1900 HUF with a student card, and at 2900 HUF without it.
A special PEN bus service will be provided during the festival between 10 PM and 4 AM, taking home folks with a valid PEN handband and weary of partying free of charge.

Lampions for colour

At the 2010 event series, in addition to the cultural delicacies, special atmosphere is secured by the lampions designed and prepared by volunteer visitors and meant to strengthen the slogan Without Boundaries in the spirit of uniqueness and diversity.

Therefore to those who wonder how university students define culture in 2010, or what the Capital of Culture title of Pécs means to them at all, should find it worth visiting the Leather Factory of Pécs at Siklósi út 22 in the third week of April, also for reasons other than the musical programs.