The Parisian music collective arrives at St. Michael's Fortress on Thursday, August 13, to mark ten years since the passing of a music icon with an evening of timeless hits, delivered in their own unmistakably energetic style.
Ten years after the world lost Prince, his musical spirit remains very much alive. Credit for this goes in part to the members of the Parisian collective Echoes Of Prince, who on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 9 PM, will take the stage at Šibenik's St. Michael's Fortress. Audiences can expect not a classic tribute concert, but an evening where Prince's songs are reimagined through the personality and energy of musicians who genuinely love them.
The story of this collective began 12 years ago at the famed Parisian club New Morning. Back then, they performed under the name Echoes Of and launched the regular program Funk & the City. The idea was to pay homage to America's funk capitals, leading to projects dedicated to Washington, Dayton, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.
"One of our first projects was dedicated to the Minneapolis Sound. When Prince, also known as The Kid Of Minneapolis, passed away ten years ago, it became clear to us that we wanted to create an entire show dedicated to his legacy," the collective's members told Slobodna Dalmacija. What began as a tribute naturally evolved into Echoes Of Prince. "Ten years later, we're still on stages, so it clearly wasn't just a phase," they add.
The collective is made up of musicians from Paris who have grown into a tight-knit little family over time. Besides Echoes Of Prince, they also play in other projects, such as Jéroboam, their latest original project, and as Echoes Of A New Dawn Orchestra with Shuya Okino's Kyoto Jazz Massive. Last year, they performed right here at St. Michael's Fortress, and before that, they were equally delighted by Zagreb.
From last year's visit to the Croatian capital, they remember exceptional warmth and hospitality. "More than anything, we remember the warmth and kindness. There was something incredibly elegant about Zagreb: beautiful people, in every sense of the word, and extremely hospitable..." the collective's members recall.
Although Prince was their absolute idol, especially for lead vocalist Malca, they are aware that they cannot and do not want to copy him. "We are completely incapable of accurately reproducing Prince's soul, and thank God for that. There was only one Prince, and pretending otherwise would end badly for everyone involved," they say candidly. Their goal is to reinterpret the songs and infuse them with their own personalities. "The idea is to respect his music but never turn it into a museum," they emphasize.
When asked what the Šibenik audience can expect, they respond directly: "We hope they'll feel something! We are true performers and give absolutely everything on stage. Whether you've been a Prince fan your whole life or only know 'Purple Rain,' we'll take care of you. One thing is certain: We won't leave you indifferent. And honestly, not even sitting down!"
Improvisation is a key part of their performances. Although there is a structure-otherwise concerts would last up to six hours-they leave plenty of room for freedom within it. "A solo can stretch out, the groove can take us somewhere unexpected, and the rest of the band follows. Ideally, even we shouldn't know exactly how the concert will sound," they explain. Singer Malca has a special connection to the performance of 'Do Me, Baby'. "I always feel something very special when I sing it. It takes me emotionally to a very intense and sensual place," he admits.
This year's tour carries particular emotional weight due to the tenth anniversary of Prince's death. "It's strange, because ten years sounds like a long time, but musically, he doesn't seem absent at all. His fingerprints are still everywhere in contemporary music," the collective's members reflect. They believe every new generation discovers something new in Prince. "Beneath all his genius and extravagance, his music is incredibly human: desire, heartbreak, sex, spirituality, loneliness, humor, love. You open one door, and then you realize there are twenty more behind it..." they describe.
Their message to everyone coming to St. Michael's Fortress is clear: "Don't come expecting wax figures! Come ready to dance, sing, sweat, and listen to these extraordinary songs performed by people who genuinely love them. We'll give our all to make the evening appropriately unreasonable!"
