Film and Concert: MINYO CRUSADERS at Cosmopolite

When Film fra Sør and Cosmopolite join forces once again, we open the doors to an evening where film and music reflect one another – across continents, traditions, and expressions.

The evening begins with mingling and short-film screenings, followed by the concert. In the days leading up to it, you will also have the chance to get to know the band better through a special documentary screening at the festival.

Photo: Eric Van Nieuwland

MINYO CRUSADERS draw on the Japanese folk music tradition of min’yō – songs that for generations have been tied to work, rituals, and everyday life in different regions. With respect for the material, yet without being bound by it, they open up the tradition and let it meet rhythms from around the world.

The result is a soundscape in which Japanese melodies flow seamlessly through cumbia, afrobeat, reggae, and Latin American influences. It is precise, rhythmic, and full of vitality – yet also rooted in something older, in stories that still endure.

Photo: Yukitaka Amemiya

Since forming in Tokyo in 2011, MINYO CRUSADERS have built a strong international following, performing at festivals such as Roskilde, WOMAD, and Sziget. With the album From Japan With Love (2026), they continue to develop their sound – driven by a clear love for the tradition they emerge from, and a curiosity about where it can go next.

This evening at Cosmopolite is an invitation to experience exactly that: how old songs can be given new life, and how music and film together can open spaces we did not know we needed.

More information about the short film program before the concert will be announced soon.