In August 2025, Swiss indie-rock band Ellis Mano Band—formed in Zurich in 2019 and crafting an energetic sound with garage riffs on the album Morph (2024), nominated for a Swiss Music Award as breakthrough act—ventured beyond Europe, debuting at Dărmănești Blues Festival, a Romanian event born in 2012 in the small village of Dărmănești as a haven for authentic blues and rock jams amid Carpathian hills. Their 60-minute set on the open stage under starry skies mirrored the Morph Tour's climax, where Chris Ellis's raw guitar lines alternated with percussive surges, resonating deeply with a few thousand locals craving crossover fire. Far from a mere gig, this performance bridged cultures, infusing Swiss garage rock with Romanian hue and affirming the band's ambitions as European scene innovators.