Ensemble Nist-Nah is a shifting collective from Nantes, founded in 2019 by Australian drummer and percussionist Will Guthrie. The group fuses Javanese gamelan with contemporary classical music, noise and free jazz, performing on drum kits, traditional percussion and a full set of gamelan instruments. The music is rooted in Guthrie's travels in Indonesia and his study of diverse gamelan traditions, from the courtly Javanese Gamelan Sekatan to the trance ritual Jathilan. Alongside performing, ensemble members regularly run gamelan workshops in universities, prisons and community centres.
Ensemble Nist-Nah plays a European tour in October 2026 with stops in Groningen (Vera, October 2) and Tilburg (Festival Murf/Murv, October 3).
On May 27, 2026, the ensemble performed in Brescia (MO.CA), combined with an open gamelan workshop.
Ensemble Nist-Nah performed on November 8, 2025 in the Jacobikerk in Utrecht during the festival Le Guess Who?
In November 2025, the ensemble organized a two-day residency at Cafe OTO in London, with guest musicians Rie Nakajima and Fyn Dobson.
On June 20, 2025, Spilla, the third album by Ensemble Nist-Nah, was released on Black Truffle Records - 48 minutes of music for gamelan, drum kits and plucked instruments.
An evening blending folk and experimental music with French ensemble Nist-Nah and UK/Swedish musician Jon Collin, presented by Minorie.
Ensemble Nist-Nah blends gamelan, contemporary classical and noise in an evening of experimental music. Jon Collin opens with his distinctive take on the blues.