Gal Gjurin, vocals, bugarija, viola, mandocello, musical direction
Severa Gjurin (concert guest), vocals
Janja Brlec, zither, vocals
Anja Oraže, vocals
Nina Reščič, classical and folk flutes, Catalan gralla, vocals
Leon Žunec, brač, Spanish laud, Canadian dulcimer
Dejan Hudoklin, electric bass
Kras Gjurin, percussion, dulcimer, pot bass, tubular bells, kazoo, stones, vocals
Niko Kostanjevec, percussion, piano

Ljubke ljudske – zgodbe o Slovenkah / Lovely Folk – Stories about Slovenian Women – the latest music project by the versatile Slovenian-Canadian musician, singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and poet GAL GJURIN, this time dedicated to Slovenian folk music, tradition, and exploration of musical cultural heritage and Slovenian cultural space, both within and beyond the borders of present-day Slovenia.

LJUBKE LJUDSKE brings together a mix of innovative and completely fresh arrangements of Slovenian folk songs from all Slovenian regions, as well as Galo’s own compositions, into a magical whole.

Both the concert and the album follow the story of a traveling troubadour on a journey through all Slovenian regions and dialects, with the events of the concert tour set in an undefined magical past in which the selected folk songs were created. With the aim of continuing and enriching the musical heritage, certain songs feature new verses added by Gjurin, which have thus become part of the original structure of the songs or new variants.

The album LJUBKE LJUDSKE, which is based on intensive and in-depth research of the original archive of Slovenian folk songs, with the subtitle ZGODBE O SLOVENKAH (Stories about Slovenian Women), presents portraits of distinctly strong female characters through selected songs – unwavering lovers, brave maidens, wicked or loving mothers, divine fish, white women, death or fate – is dedicated to Slovenian women and celebrates the gentler sex.

Over the past three years, Gal has also received three OMA Music Awards in Canada and five prestigious nominations, including the central nomination for “Artist of the Year 2023” in Toronto. LJUBKE LJUDSKE is competing for Album of the Year 2025 at the Canadian Folk Music Awards – CFMA in Ottawa, Canada, in the category “Global Roots Album Of The Year 2025.”