Balkan Brass World

Balkan Brass Battle on tour

2011-09-28T01:49:00.001-07:00

14.10.2011 Strasbourg (F) LeMaillon
15.10.2011 Strasbourg (F) Le Maillon
19.10.2011 Paris (F) CabaretSauvage
22.10.2011 Marseille (F) Fiesta des Suds
24.10.2011 Bremen (D) Schlachthof
01.11.2011 Cologne (D) KölnerPhilharmonie
02.11.2011 Halle / S. (D) SteintorVariete
03.11.2011 Oslo (N) RockefellerConcert Hall
04.11.2011 Helsinki (FIN) The Circus

Dunkelbunt USA/Canada Tour 2011

2011-09-20T02:19:00.000-07:00

Good news from the [dunkelbunt] sound kitchen. They are back on tour and bringing their Viennese Melange over the Big Pond.

After touring Canada and the USA for four years as a DJ, they are very proud and happy to announce their live project [dunkelbunt] & The Secret Swing Society!

North America 2011 Tourdates:

09|29 - Montreal - La Sala Rossa (CA)
09|30 - Toronto - Small World Music Festival - Great Hall (CA)
10|01 - New York City - New York Gypsy Festival - Drom (US)
10|02 - New York City - Austrian Cultural Forum (US)
10|02 - Vancouver - The Waldorf Hotel (CA)
10|06 - San Francisco - Afrolicious - Elbo Room (US)
10|07 - Richmond - Acro Yoga Festival – Craneway Pavilion (US)
10|08 - San Francisco - West Coast Hemp Expo - The Cow Palace (US) – early show!!!
10|08 - Oakland - The Oakland Metro Operahouse (US) – late show!!!

Contest: win a free Warmahorn or Buddy Valve Guard!

2011-05-31T05:43:00.000-07:00

Good news for all musicians: in collaboration with Warmahorn.com we're giving away some nice gadgets to protect your brass instrument.

The Warmahorn is a neoprene sleeve that protects, colours and warms the horn.

• Protection: Made from neoprene, this fun brass accessory protects the bell from inevitable dints and scratches that happen during and after gigs.
• Fashion: Keep it on for protection or keep it on for the gig...and add even more colour to your performance!
• Warmth: For those who regularly play outdoors, intonation is always a problem at low temperatures. Fitting a Warmahorn helps to keep your horn in tune.
• Sound quality: Cheaper instruments benefit from the pleasures of a Warmahorn as it mellows the tone with no appreciable loss of presence or volume.

We're giving away three Warmahorns and three Buddy Valve Guards!

How to enter for this free giveaway:
- Send us all relevant info about your Balkan/Gypsy/Brass band (a bio, high res picture and links to your websites) so we can add you to the "bands" section of our website.
- Is your band already listed? No problem, just drop us a line to let us know you'd like to enter the contest.
- We'll randomly pick the winners from the bands that submit their info
- By entering the competition you give us permission to pass your address on to Warmahorn.com, so they can send you your free gift.
- The winners are kindly requested to send us one or two pics using the Warmahorn and/or Buddy Valve Guard. Warmahorn will use these to promote their products AND your band.
- Send your submission to info@balkanbrassworld.com. Please include your contact details. Please send questions about the contest to the same address.

Balkan Brass Battle Tour kicks off big

2011-05-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

"It has the air of a boxing match with a rowdy and expectant crowd. On the left, one trumpeter appears, on the right, another. They eye each other up and as you are distracted by the musical phrases they are swapping, an army of musicians appears behind each of them. It's the night after the Eurovision Song Contest, but you feel it's a much more fiercely fought competition that is about to take place." That's what The Guardian wrote about their gig in Budapest.

The Balkan Brass Battle is touring successfully through European cities and the competition for the title "King of Balkan Brass" is getting tighter. Watch out for the gig in your town because for Leipzig, Berlin and Gent are only few tickets left.

Tourdates:
UT Connewitz, Leipzig, D, 26 May
Huxley's, Berlin, D, 27 May
Handelsbeurs, Gent, B, 28 May
Int. Gypsy Festival, Tilburg, NL, 29 May
Mosebacke Terassen, Stockholm, S, 20 June
Festival of North Norway, Harstad, NO, 22 June
MED Festival, Algarve, P, 25 June
Pohoda Festival, Trencin, SK, 07 July
Lent Festival, Maribor, SL, 08 July
Zeltival, Karlsruhe, D, 09 July
Kulturfestival, St. Gallen, CH, 12 July
Kultur Arena, Jena, D, 13 July
Colours of Ostrava, Ostrava, CZ, 14 July
tba, Strasbourg, F, 14 Oct
tba, Strasbourg, F, 15 Oct
Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne, D, 01 Nov
Dom Musyki, Moscow, RUS, 29 Jan 2012
Den Atelier, Luxembourg, L, 11 May 2012

Listen to both bands on SoundCloud:
http://soundcloud.com/piranha-musik/sets/bobanimarko-vs-fanfare

15th International Gipsy Festival, Tilburg (NL)

2011-05-23T05:42:00.001-07:00

Sunday May 29 2011
Interpolistuin, Spoorlaan 298 Tilburg
13.30 - 21.00 hours - Garden open: 12.30 hours

ENTRANCE
-- Orkestar Braka Kadrievi (MK)

STAGE I
13.30 Koninklijk Zigeunerorkest Roma Mirando (NL)
15.30 Kálmán Balogh & the Gipsy Cimbalom Band (HU)
17.30 Fatima Spar and the Freedom Fries (AT)
19.30 Balkan Brass Battle (SE/RO)

STAGE II
14.30 NO Blues feat. Vasile Nedea (NL/RO)
16.30 The Original Nadara Gipsy Wedding Band (RO)
18.30 Maurice Leenaars & Flamencos de Malaga (NL/ES)

PITCH
14.30 Gadjo Joe & puppeteer Marten Lierman (BE)
15.30 Orkestar Braka Kadrievi (MK)
16.30 Gadjo Joe & puppeteer Marten Lierman (BE)
17.30 Orkestar Braka Kadrievi (MK)
18.30 Gadjo Joe & puppeteer Marten Lierman (BE)

Balkan Brass Battle CD out on may 20th

2011-04-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

Finally, the two titans of East European Gypsy music go head to head in a Balkan brass encounter of epic proportions. Following the tradition of brass battles from Serbia's legendary Guca Brass Festival to New Orleans' mean streets, the Balkan Brass Battle showcases the wit, passion and musical genius of Europe's Romany Gypsy people.

In the left corner: Fanfare Ciocărlia, the Romanian rockers who rose from rural obscurity to international fame as one of the world's most explosive live bands. Their fierce groove helped fuel a global beats revolution: Fanfare Ciocărlia tearing the roof off the sucka night after night!

In the right corner: Serbian trumpet legend Boban Marković & Orkestar - survivors of the Yugoslav civil war, Guca Festival's greatest champions, immortalized in Emir Kusturica's maverick films, Boban's Orkestar now feature young gun Marko Marković, the fastest trumpet in town!

The Balkan Brass Battle CD was recorded across a feverish, sleepless forty-eight hours in a Transylvanian hotel right outside Graf Dracula, the castle of Vlad Tepes. Both bands laid down their hottest grooves then shaped up for a battle royal in the studio. Your ears won't believe these Gypsy mavericks turbo charged takes on Duke Ellington's 'Caravan' and John Barry's 'James Bond Theme'. Also recorded were Balkan folk tunes, original compositions and a surreal take on 'Gummy Bear' from the McDonalds' Kids Menu.

Release: 20th May 2011
Cat. Nr.: CD-ATR 2911
Format: CD / 13 tracks
Total playing time 46:15

Brasslands - new film about Guča

2011-04-06T04:38:00.000-07:00

Brasslands is a feature documentary film currently in post-production shot in New York City and Guča, Serbia, at the 50th anniversary of the world's largest brass music festival. Brasslands follows the members of Zlatne Uste, an unlikely New York Balkan brass band as they travel to Guča to represent the United States in the first ever competition for international bands. Once in Guča, we meet some of our other main characters, including Dejan Petrovic and Demiran Ćerimović, virtuosic trumpeters and former Guča champions.

Brasslands - Work-in-progress Trailer from meerkatmedia.org.

Featuring a rich soundtrack with driving rhythms fiery melodies performed by the best brass bands in the world, Brasslands is more than just a film about Balkan brass music. It is an unusual unique story that would otherwise never be told, that offers insight and exclusive coverage of the world's most contagious music and musicians, and the tensions and struggles that lie beneath the surface.

Brasslands is made on a largely volunteer basis by a New York-based arts collective. At this crucial stage in production, we are calling on all lovers or Balkan brass music and documentary film to help fund a truly remarkable project. Your pledge will come with prizes, from exclusive field recordings made at Guča, to t-shirts and a trip for two to NY to attend North America's largest Balkan brass festival.

Brasslands fundraising site (with trailer)
Brasslands website
Brasslands Facebook page

Ekrem Mamutovĭć Balkan Brass Band in Utrecht (NL)

2011-04-01T04:19:00.000-07:00

On april 14 the Ekrem Mamutovĭć Balkan Brass Band will perform at RASA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. The concert includes a showing of the documentary film "Guča: The Serbian Woodstock", plus an afterparty featuring DJ Safri.

More details at www.rasa.nl.

Countdown for Balkan Brass Battle

2011-03-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

The preparations for the ultimate Balkan Brass Battle of Fanfare Ciocarlia versus Boban & Marko Markovic Orchestra are in full swing. This month both legends of Balkan Brass hid away in the dark forests of Transylvania and rehearsed for the major challenge of their career.

The home advantage of Fanfare during those days definitely stimulated the Markovics to give their very very best... During the stay of the rivals in Romania the recording sessions for the upcoming album were finished - out on Asphalt Tango Records in May 2011!

The Gypsy Queens and Kings on TOUR

2011-01-20T05:06:00.000-08:00

At the end of January THE GYPSY QUEENS AND KINGS will set out for a three-week tour through Europe. Esma Redzepova, Jony Iliev, Florentina Sandu, Mahala Rai Banda and Kaloomé will be guests in:

31.01.11 Riga (LV) Opera House
04.02.11 La Rochelle (F) La Coursive Scène Nationale
05.02.11 La Rochelle (F) La Coursive Scène Nationale
06.02.11 Poitiers (F) TAP Scène Nationale
07.02.11 Cenon (F) Le Rocher Palmer
09.02.11 Loerrach (D) Burghof
10.02.11 Groningen (NL) Oosterpoort
12.02.11 Den Haag (NL) De Paard
13.02.11 Amsterdam (NL) Melkweg
15.02.11 Narbonne (F) Le Théâtre Scène Nationale
16.02.11 Sète (F) Le Théâtre Scène Nationale
18.02.11 Bern (CH) Dachstock
19.02.11 Zug (CH) Theatr Casino

Album launch: Polina Skovoroda & Fanfara

2010-11-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

Brighton Album Launch for Civilization: Polina Skovoroda & Fanfara

Brighton Thursday 25 November
7pm-10pm, band on at 8pm
Jam, Middle Street, BN1 1AL

Wild, soulful Russian & Yiddish songs meets east European brass frenzy!
Live Music, East European DJ sets from Penny Metal, Uzbeki bazaar by Dina Malkova, for all your retail needs.

Come and party hard to Polina Skovoroda & Fanfara; An amazing mix of east European Roma style brass band and hot & wild Russian/Yiddish song! The new CD ‘Civilisation’ available at a special price with attached voucher plus amazing DJ sets from Penny Metal and Dina Malkova's Unique Uzbeki Bazaar.

More event details here.

Balkan Brass Battle tour update

2010-10-27T04:42:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever Boban I Marko Markovic Orkestar and Fanfare Ciocarlia - two of the foremost Gypsy brass bands of the world - will join the stage during a tour of a full on Balkan Brass Battle. With concert dates officially confirmed by now this exceptional Balkan Brass Battle between Romania & Serbia is coming closer to you each day.

Be prepared for the unexpected in this real Heavyweight Championship of Balkan Brass and check out the latest concert dates here.

Söndörgő ft. Ferus Mustafov in Utrecht (NL)

2010-10-06T02:22:00.000-07:00

The young Hungary-based tambura band Söndörgő teams up with the great Macedonian Gypsy musician Ferus Mustafov in an up-tempo Southern Slavic mix of vibrant Serbo-Croat lute music and Macedonian craziness. Söndörgő is one of the best new names the current Balkan scene has to offer.

Friday october 15, RASA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Tickets plus info at www.rasa.nl

October 1: Dance Your Brass Off

2010-09-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

A sweat-soaked fundraiser party starring Hungry March Band, Stagger Back Brass Band, Mikerline Haitian Dance Troupe, DJ Skippy Discs and You—in a Quickfire dance contest. The best rug-cutter receives free drinks, CD's, two VIP UCB Asscat tickets, two New York Aquarium tickets, candy, and more! All proceeds to benefit a friend with massive hospital bills.

October 1
Union Pool
484 Union Avenue
Williamsburg, USA
9p Sharp; $12 minimum donation
facebook invite here

New DJ Delay album out now

2010-09-22T03:33:00.000-07:00

For his latest project, DJ Delay invited 9 different artists to interpret the Čačak Kolo (Serbia) in the context of their current musical direction.

Čačak kolo is the name of many Shope type dances found in Eastern Serbia,
Northeastern Macedonia, and Western Bulgaria. They are characterized by their fast 2/4 metered music. Čačak dances are often referred to by the town or region from which they come.

Whilst this traditional tune is well known to anyone from the former Yugoslavia, this has not been a part of the handful of tunes, which have been remixed and represented in the last 10 years.

FLeCK, Joro Boro and Gypsy Syndicate give burning Dubstep remixes, with killer club tunes from DJ Superstereo, Unsoundboy, Gypsy Syndicate and DJ Delay.

Tricky D stands tall with a Cumbia dub version, Curse Ov Dialect show their abstract Hiphop skills and Benjamin Skepper bows in with a tense Contemporary Classical piece.

This release shows how far traditional music can be taken beyond standard club fare. A must for all lovers of traditional and upful club music!

Available from all major download stores now.

Black Sea Roma Festival

2010-09-21T01:43:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY, SEPT 26
Black Sea Roma Festival
A Celebration of Gypsy Music from Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine & Romania

The New York World Festival closes with this exhilarating program featuring the US debut of Mahala Rai Banda, the wild 12-member Roma band comprising musicians from the famed Clejani and Zece Prajini Romanian villages (home of Taraf de Haidouks and Fanfare Ciocarlia respectively); the great Turkish Rom clarinetist Selim Sesler, "the Coltrane of the clarinet" (Guardian, UK) famed for his masterful improvisations, funk-driven wedding songs and dance melodies, joined by the New York Gypsy All-Stars; Técsöi Banda, a raucous family fiddle band making its US debut, providing a rollicking ride through the Ukrainian Carpathians with its multi-ethnic mix of spinning dance tunes, magical improvisations and haunting shepherds' laments; the Yuri Yunakov Ensemble with its electrifying sax solos and dizzying polyrhythmic beat of Bulgarian wedding music; and the DJs Wonderlust who appeared in the 2009 New York Gypsy Festival.

More info here.

Balkanbeats / Robert Soko update

2010-09-02T04:35:00.000-07:00

Not only is maestro Robert Soko slated to rock at the Berlin Clubnacht, he's also going to preach the gospel according to Magnifico, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Boban Markovic & Co. from the turntable pulpit on 24 September at The World Music Festival Chicago, the largest and longest running festival of international music in the United States.

And speaking of Boban Markovic, he, the undisputed king of Balkan brass, will take to the Lido stage on October 9th together with heir apparent Marko and Orkestar for a BalkanBeats Berlin Deluxe. Pencil that date into your diaries now!

Apparently not content to rest on his laurels as a premiere record-selector and party-planner, Soko has joined forces with medieval metal stadium rockers Corvus Corax (yes, you read that correctly) to form "BerlinskiBeat".

Read all about BalkanBeats here.

Guca Festival celebrates 50th anniversary

2010-08-02T02:18:00.000-07:00

Forget Glastonbury, Reading and Burning Man: the wildest music festival on earth is a cacophonic, crazy brass band festival that takes place every summer in the tiny Serbian town of Guca in the western region of Dragacevo. And from 13 to 22 August, Guca will host the biggest, loudest brass mashup on earth for the 50th time. 600,000 visitors make their way to the town of 2,000 people every year, both from Serbia and abroad.

More than just a festival, Guca hosts a fierce band competition. Elimination heats earlier in the year mean only a few dozen groups get to compete. The Boban Markovic Orkestar were among the winners every time, receiving the "best orchestra" award in 2000 as well as "best trumpet" for the maestro himself in 2001 - his 5th personal win. Since then, Boban has stepped out of competition and instead performs as an honored guest, the undisputed King of Balkan Brass music.

All details of the festival are here.

Festival Kumpania 2010

2010-07-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

La Kumpania présents Festival Kumpania 2010
When: Saturday, September 04, 2010 2:00 PM - 3:00 AM CEST
Where: L'estrade, Argein (09) Midi-Pyrén 09800, France

A unique festival in the middle of nature in a magical setting with a program consisting of groups from all corners of Europe around the cultures of the Balkans.

With this year:
RotFront (Germany / Hungary / Ukrain)
CimbaliBand (Hungary)
Shazalakazoo (Serbia)
Max Pashm Band (UK / Greace)
Fanfara Vagabontu (Romania)
Forty Thieves Orkestar (UK)
Tako Lako (Denmark / Serbia)
The Kumpania Beats (France)
Rapskallion (Australia)
Simona Jovic (Serbia)
Collective Slavalgar (France)

Fanfare Ciocarlia meets Boban Markovic!

2010-06-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

Boban i Marko at Guca Festival 2010

2010-05-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

Another year, another Guca Festival! But this year, it's different:

2010 marks the big 50, a major anniversary for the world's most important festival of brass madness. Of course, the kings of the realm will be in attendance: the Boban I Marko Markovic Orkestar. The BMMO has won the Guca competition so often, they decided to stop participating to give other bands a chance. Instead, Boban, Marko & Co. will work their magic at guest appearances on several stages during the festival run from 13 to 22 August. It'll be a blast!

Keep track of the goings on by going to www.guca.rs/eng.

Our newspage has moved

2010-04-29T06:25:00.001-07:00

For technical reasons our newspage is now located at http://balkanbrassworld.blogspot.com/.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://balkanbrassworld.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Boban I Marko Markovic in Utrecht

2010-04-28T00:52:00.000-07:00

For our Dutch readers: Boban I Marko Markovic will perform in Utrecht, the Netherlands on may 6th, Boban's birthday!

All info is here.

BOBAN I MARKO MARKOVIC ORKESTAR + DJ RROMANO SUNO
Donderdag 6 mei 2010 | 21:00 | afterparty 22:30 | Euro 19 |
kortingspas Euro 16,15 | RASA-pas of U-pas Euro 11,40

In memoriam Ljiljana Buttler

2010-04-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

Ljiljana Buttler, the queen of "gyspy soul" has died. She was 66 years old.

Looking for Balkan Band to play at wedding

2010-04-07T04:04:00.000-07:00

We received a request from a frequent visitor of our website, Alexia from Lebanon:

"Hello, my name is alexia and my fiancé and I are huge fans of Balkan music specially Emir Kusturica's and the Non Smoking Orchestra's music,

We are getting married on October 2nd in Beirut, Lebanon, and we are interested in having a gypsy Balkan band at our wedding. It is impossible to find such bands in Lebanon, this is why we thought about contacting you in order for you to help us in this matter, we are ready to get the band over here and pay for their tickets, hotel and fees..."

If you can help Alexia please drop us a line at info@balkanbrassworld.com

Hungry March Band to Embark on West Coast U.S. Tour

2010-04-06T00:08:00.000-07:00

Hungry March Band, New York's inimitable music and performance ensemble, will begin their week-long West Coast tour, "It Came From New York!" in Seattle on Friday, April 9 at the third annual HONK! West Festival. HMB plays their final West Coast show Sunday, April 18 in San Francisco. For more info on scheduling, visit www.hungrymarchband.com.

Founded in Brooklyn in 1997, HMB's global brass repertoire and carnivalesque theatricality have taken them from coast to coast and to Europe, where they've been enveloped into a longstanding tradition of community and professional brass bands. Veterans of six European tours, "It Came From New York!" is the group's second voyage to the West Coast, and their California debut.

Why the West Coast? If the invitation to attend HONK! Fest West convinced HMB to return for a second visit, another possibility made this trip hard to resist. For many in the project, "It Came From New York!" holds special importance: it's their first-time ever playing in San Francisco, home to many fellow brass travelers and to the Burning Man organization, whose East Coast followers have especially supported HMB over the last decade as their original sound and presentation has developed.

HMB arrives on the West Coast fresh from a summer that included the Pouet Pouet Circus Festival in France's Loire Valley and the Sant'Anna Arresi Jazz Festival in Sardinia, where they collaborated with American conductor Butch Morris. In October, HMB attended Boston's fourth annual HONK! Festival of activist street bands as well as the Brooklyn HONK! Festival. Though different in content, together these festivals highlight HMB's unique ability to effortlessly meld improvised music and movement with catchy hooks and social dance.

Imagine if the conservatory jazz ensemble kidnapped the local marching band's baton twirlers and pom-pom dancers. Inspired by the wild Gypsy brass bands of Macedonia, sprinkled with the surrealism of Fellini, and a deep dish of New Orleans' Second Line, this crew runs loose in Coney Island while playing original compositions flavored by Latin, Balkan, Indian, Salsa, Afrobeat, Punk, Jazz, New Wave, No Wave, Caribbean, Swing, Hip Hop, Techno and oh, a few good old sing-a-longs. Ladies and gentlemen, this blazing entity of flesh, brass, blood, steel and wood could be no other than Hungry March Band.

More info: www.hungrymarchband.com.

DJ Delay releases Brass, Wires & Bass

2010-03-24T02:56:00.000-07:00

Beaming productions is excited to announce the upcoming release of DJ Delay's "Brass, Wires & Bass" (Cat # BEAM01). Out 31.03.2010 digital (iTunes, Amazon and other stores).

Conceived on the dancefloors of Berlin and Melbourne, birthed in the studios of Argentina, Budapest and Belgrade and raised through a Berlin studio filled with, well, brass, wires and bass, this is a remix album like no other that plumbs the depths and traditions of Eastern European music styles.

Brass, Wires & Bass is the new offering from DJ Delay, featuring remixes of some of the finest Balkan music has to offer: La Cherga. Max Pashm, Boban Markovic, and many more. Tweaking, fiddling, pushing the parameters and genre defying sonical touches all combine to give an imprint of what these music forms can sound like when taken to the limit.

DJ Delay aka Beam Up aka Sonical are the monikers and aliases that Brian May works under, exploring the different facets of sound and sound design that have seen him releasing tracks since 1999. From the outdoor trance scene in Australia of Earthcore, Rainbow Serpent and Submerge Chill Festival to supporting the likes of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, African Headcharge, DJ Spooky and The Evolution Control Committee amongst many, many others, Brian has consistently challenged musical notions, dub reasonings and event management and curation. As a radio host he steered the mothership of "Into the Groovy" on PBSFM from 1990-2002 and now produces and presents the show of the same name on www.straightup.com.au. In Melbourne he co-curated Australia's first regular Balkan night at Horse Bazaar ’05-’08 The Good, The Bad and the Balkan as well as Forward the Bass (dub), Loony Tunes (Animation) Steel Drum (Dub & related) and Living Version (Roots reggae, dub and wider) between '98 and '08.

This is his first release since relocating to Berlin in 2008 where he continues to stride forward with Rotfront, Popkomm and various performances throughout Europe.

More info: www.myspace.com/deejaydelay

Romano Drom in Utrecht, The Netherlands

2010-03-18T03:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday march 27th Romano Drom is playing in RASA, Utrecht (The Netherlands).

This Hungarian gypsy ensemble incorporates several foreign styles and instruments into their music to add a new dimension to traditional Olah songs, such as flamenco and the accordeon.

Starts at 21.00 h.
Ticketsale: www.rasa.nl
030-2316040 (Wednesday-Friday 15.00-18.00)
Address: Pauwstraat 13A, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Songlines Music Awards 2010 nominations

2010-03-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

Songlines magazine announces the final nominees of the Songlines Music Awards 2010 and releases a compilation album on March 22, featuring all 16 nominated artists.

The Songlines Music Awards recognise outstanding talent in world music and are voted by Songlines readers and the general public. There are four categories: Best Artist, Best Group, Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Newcomer. The final nominees are the top four in each category from the public vote. The winners of each category will be announced in the June issue (#68) of Songlines, on sale from April 30, 2010.

See the list of nominations here.

Fanfare Ciocarlia on tour

2010-03-12T03:47:00.000-08:00

Upcoming tour dates for Fanfare Ciocarlia:

11.03.10 Athens (GR) Gazarte
12.03.10 Athens (GR) Gazarte
15.03.10 Prague (CZ) Akropolis
17.03.10 Rubigen (CH) Mühle Hunziken
18.03.10 Waldhut-Tiengen(D) Stadthalle
19.03.10 Bonn (D) Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle
20.03.10 Munich (D) Muffathalle
22.03.10 Zagreb (HR) Aquarius
22.05.10 Luckau (D) Bülitz 13
23.05.10 Landshut (D) Wintergarten Live Club
26.05.10 Stockholm (S) tba
27.05.10 Bergen (N) NattJazz Festival
28.05.10 Oslo (N) Balkan Beat
29.05.10 Geneve (CH) Mai ou Parc
01.06.10 Mannheim (D) Alte Feuerwache
02.06.10 Erlangen (D) E-Werk
04.06.10 Granada (E) Festival
05.06.10 Almeria (E) Festival

Mahala Rai Banda on tour

2010-03-08T16:03:00.000-08:00

Upcoming tour dates for Mahala Rai Banda:

26.03.10 Bursa (TR) Hayal Kahvesi
08.04.10 Wien (A) Konzerthaus
09.04.10 Budapest (HU) Kunsthalle (with The Gypsy Queens & Kings)
10.04.10 Brussels (B) Festival Balkan Trafik (with The Gypsy Queens & Kings)
11.04.10 Amsterdam (NL) Melkweg (with The Gypsy Queens & Kings)
14.05.10 Bielefeld (D) Forum
15.05.10 Hannover (D) Pavillon
17.05.10 Reutlingen (D) FranzK.
19.05.10 Rubigen (CH) Mühle Hunziken
20.05.10 Aarau (CH) Kiff
21.05.10 Fribourg (CH) La Spirale
22.05.10 St.Die (F) Festival
23.05.10 Dornbirn (A) Spielboden
26.05.10 Halle Saale (D) Objekt 5
27.05.10 Frankfurt a.M. (D) Brotfabrik
28.& 29.05.10 Prag (CZ) Khamoro Festival
30.05.10 Tilburg (NL) International Gypsy Festival

25th Annual Jewish Music Festival

2010-03-05T01:59:00.000-08:00

From Berlin to Buenos Aires, from the melodies that bring ecstasy, to cool jazz and hot klezmer, the 25th Jewish Music Festival has embraced the entire multifaceted world of Jewish experience and let it sing.

The Festival captured an elderly Ukrainian Yiddish singer's work on the fly and inspired a new generation of artists. It produced a staged reading of the only 19th-century opera on Jewish themes (La Juive), anda Czech children's opera (Brundibar) produced by the inmates of the Jewish concentration camp at Terezin. It's seen world-premiere collaborations, and even a marriage proposal on stage.

Now celebrating its twenty-fifth year, this year's Jewish Music Festival (March 20-29, 2010 and July, 2010) explores the sacred resonances of world Jewish music at venues mostly in downtown Berkeley in March and downtown San Francisco in July, with West Coast and U.S. premiere performances by Diaspora Redux, Lorin Sklamberg, and Susan McKeown. The celebration continues in July, when the Festival will present several multimedia arts events to mark its quarter century, including the world premiere of a JMF commissioned piece, Dan Plonsey's Bar Mitzvah.

"We're living in a time when people are looking for answers in different places," reflects Eleanor Shapiro, festival director. "The Jewish Music Festival this year focuses on a mix of the sacred and secular. Our attitude is that in this economy, we need all the help we can get; whether it be Jewish and Muslim mystical music and dance, or Irish and Jewish songs about love, death, betrayal, and the demon drink. Musical salvation can also come through an ensemble mix of Jewish New York, Berlin and Buenos Aires , thanks to Diaspora Redux."

The great riches of song and its ability to induce contemplation and ecstasy lie at the heart of Sacred Jewish and Muslim Music of the Middle East with the Yuval Ron Ensemble including Mevlavi Dervish Aziz (March 20), which brings together the joyous music and movement of a whirling dervish, Armenian Orthodox melodies, and Jewish traditions. Under the thoughtful direction of Israeli composer Yuval Ron, who recently scored the Oscar-winning film West Bank Story, the group unites as Sufi feet fly and Ron's oud evokes the universal ache of human experience.

The heady mix of sacred and profane is also celebrated with Saints and Tzadiks (March 28; West Coast premiere), when acclaimed Klezmatics singer Lorin Sklamberg and stunning vocalist Susan McKeown reveal the unexpected ties between Jewish and Irish songs. "Saints and Tzadiks touches the real oppression faced by both groups, and the very rich culture of words and music they developed in defense," Shapiro explains.

Festival goers can also discover bliss the old-fashioned way: by learning niggunim, the melodies used in Hassidic tradition to achieve an ecstatic state, from Klezmatics members Frank London and Lorin Sklamberg at an open Friday night service and participatory performance of Zmiros (March 26) . But watch out: this religious music can get as wild and passionate as any rave. "It's a continuation of using music to reach a sacred space. The melodies themselves are transformative. And I can't think of anybody better to learn them from than Frank and Lorin" Shapiro smiles, "It can be dangerous. I once broke a glass singing with them by pounding it too hard as we sang around a table."

Mapping unexpected corners of the diasporic experience has long been part of the Festival's mission. Diaspora Redux (March 27; American premiere), a Berlin-based project led by Brave Old World's Alan Bern, captures its sonic essence, with an innovative blend of jazz, tango, klezmer, and new music. "Bern has gathered top players from vital centers of Jewish culture, cities like Berlin, New York, and Buenos Aires ," notes Shapiro, "They come of out of secular traditions, but have this amazing improvisational spirit that reaches a different kind of ecstatic state." Musicians can explore the role of improvisation in new Jewish music themselves during a master class with Bern and other members of Diaspora Redux (March 28).

Festival goers will also get an opportunity to hear a novel take on klezmer thanks to the rich acoustic arrangements of Klezmer Buenos Aires (March 29). Founded by two self-taught, innately talented musicians with roots in Eastern Europe , the duo has spent decades perfecting their playful approach to tango, klezmer, folk, and jazz on a staggering array of unusual instruments. "I have seen them in three different countries and every time they shock everybody out of their seats. I like to take bets on how many encores they'll get," laughs Shapiro. "I've never seen an audience let them play fewer than three or four."

While savoring sacred resonances from across the diaspora, this year's Festival also looks back to where the most recent secular Jewish music revival unexpectedly took off. Almost dying out after World War II, Eastern European Jewish folk music or klezmer, got a new lease on life in the coffeehouses and libraries of 1970s Berkeley. "Though the klezmer revival was going on at roughly the same time on both coasts, the Klezmorim, here in Berkeley , were the first," says Shapiro. "I've done the research."

The Festival does just that, with a lively panel discussion, Back to the Roots: Notions of Jewish Music Revival, featuring international Jewish music scholars (March 14) and by holding the Festival in a storied venue, the Freight and Salvage Coffee House. After ten years, the most famous folk venue west of Chicago is in a new green building resonant with wood salvaged from the building's last incarnation. "The Freight and Salvage has been the heart of the folk scene for thirty years," Shapiro says, "and now it's got a wonderful space, with gorgeous sound and great accessibility. I can't think of a better place to hear our artists."

The Festival's anniversary party continues into the summer, with several groundbreaking events in July. Dan Plonsey's Bar Mitzvah, a Festival-commissioned performance piece by whimsical and idiosyncratic composer Dan Plonsey, will premiere at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Inspired by Babylonian lore, Jewlia Eisenberg of Charming Hostess will create a multi-media installation titled "The Bowls Project " at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The transcultural electronica of Watcha Clan, led by singer/dancer Sistah K, takes Berber, Sephardic, and Ashkenazi Jewish grooves into the 21st century via sounds conceived in Marseilles.

In this time of economic cutbacks, when everybody seems to be struggling, the Festival continues to showcase world-class performers from France, Germany, Argentina, and beyond. "Our dedication to Jewish music as a genre and to introducing fantastic artists to the Bay Area is unwavering," says Shapiro. "It's this commitment that has sustained us for twenty-five years, and that brings old and new audiences out every year."

In March, most Festival concerts will be held at the new Freight and Salvage Coffee House around the corner from the Downtown Berkeley BART station. In July, Festival events will take place at YerbaBuena Gardens, Center for the Arts and the Contemporary Jewish Museum, in San Francisco. See www.jewishmusicfestival.org for ongoing updates and ticket information. Tickets: 1-800-838-3006

Gogol Bordello Non-Stop on DVD March 16th

2010-02-25T02:06:00.000-08:00

A vibrant chronicle of one of today's most notorious and revered live bands, GOGOL BORDELLO NON-STOP follows Eugene Hütz's gypsy-punk brigade around the world as they spread their liberating libertine musical gospel. Filmmaker Margarita Jimeno tracks their raucous gigs from 2001 to 2006, from NYC to Italy, as the band rises from dingy basements to festival main-stages. The cast is a rotating circus of polyglot personalities from Israel, Russia and America, who dish on their music, their heritage, and their favored vices. Hütz, a sardonic mustachioed Ukrainian immigrant and the group ringleader, fuses his gypsy heritage with a love of punk rock and burlesque. Part carnival barker, social organizer, and poet, he's a mesmerizing presence on-stage and off.

GOGOL BORDELLO NON-STOP is an artful documentary that mixes flamboyant costumes, intricate dance choreography, a relentless beat and an explosive energy not seen since the dawn of rock 'n' roll.

The DVD will be released by Knitting Factory Entertainment, a specialty distribution arm of Kino Lorber, Inc. dedicated to releasing the best in world music documentaries. Drawing on its rich history of introducing indie and avant garde musicians to audiences at New York's legendary Knitting Factory club, the label will focus on bringing the world music experience to an even wider audience with definitive films about the most exciting artists of our time. Recent releases include A Not So Silent Night, featuring Kate and Anna McGarrigle and Fela Kuti: Music Is The Weapon.

Debut cd by Molotow Brass Orkestar out now

2010-02-23T02:50:00.000-08:00

Dutch label WM Recordings is very proud to present the release of the debut album by Molotow Brass Orkestar from Switzerland.

Molotow Brass Orkestar combine swiss folk songs with a balkan brass playing style and add a little bit of ska to get their unique sound. The band was founded in fall 2007, when 6 friends sat together and started to rediscover songs they knew from their childhood.

The album is available from all major download stores and can be ordered on cd directly from WM Recordings. More info here.

"Concert Tzigane"

2010-02-05T02:43:00.000-08:00

Jeudi 04 mars, Soiree Tzigane, Mr Big Stuff, Toulouse - 21h
Avec Davai (Musique tzigane Russe), DJ Vinodilo / La Kumpania Beats

Gogol Bordello presents Casa Gogol tour

2010-02-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

The guys from Gogol Bordello report:

Gogol's house coming direct to your state of being. To represent for our coming this spring album TRANSCONTINENTAL HUSTLE which will bring the international flavor to American Recordings and was produced by Rick Rubin. To honor these momentus events, Gogol Bordello will be taking on their most epic outing ever ... And we are bringing seriousa familia with us in the form of the physical manifestations of the first ever Gogol Bordello presenta CASA GOGOL tour.

Bringing the maximus amounts of our friend's jams in one show for the ages, CASA GOGOL will be a 3 band show with special appearance by the legendary Tres Leches Afterparty Soundcrew. Gogol Bordello will perform a full set every night.

Joining us in the US will be the world renowned creators of world class eastern flavored rock and roll and suppliers of fine cinematic climaxes DeVotchka and straight outta the bowery punk rock troubadour and our main muchacho Jesse Malin and his band the St. Marks Social

In similar epic spirits the UK and Europe tour will bring our new friends Matt and Kim who brang it so hard with us in Poland our friendship was destined in the stars and the categorical defeating Mariachi El Bronx who bring the mexican jamz with added punk reverence.

Tickets go on sale to general populus on Friday and Saturday. Check your local listings and line up. Do not rest until you have yours.

DATE CITY VENUE
Apr 18 Montreal, QC Metropolis
Apr 20 Toronto, ON The Sound Academy
Apr 21 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
Apr 23 Chicago, IL Congress Theatre
Apr 24-25 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
Apr 28 Boston, MA House of Blues
Apr 29-30 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live!
May 1 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
May 7 London, UK Hammersmith Apolo
May 8 Manchester, UK Academy
May 9 Glasgow, UK Academy
May 10 Norwich, UK UEA
May 11 Birmingham, UK Academy
May 14 Bulligny/Nancy, FR JDM Fest
May 15 Longirod, CH Longirock
May 16 Karlsruhe, GER Tollhaus
May 18 Paris, FR Elysee Montmartre
May 19 Toulouse, FR Le Bikini
May 21 Madrid, SP La Riviera
May 22 Barcelona, SP Razzmatazz
May 24 Bologna, IT Estragoon
May 25 Milan, IT Alcatraz
May 26 Zurich, CH Xtra

Gypsyliana in Berlin

2010-02-03T02:25:00.000-08:00

WM Recordings artist Gypsyliana will perfom in Berlin on february 14. Click on the picture for the announcement in pdf format.

International Gipsy Festival Tilburg

2010-01-31T13:43:00.000-08:00

The 14th edition of the International Gipsy Festival in Tilburg, the Netherlands will feature lots of balkan brass this year: Ekrem & Gypsy Groovz, La Caravanne Passe, Haidouti Orkestar and Mahala Rai Banda. If you're in the neighbourhood on may 30th this festival is not to be missed!. More info at Gipsyfestival.nl.

The Golden Festival celebrates 25th anniversary

2010-01-14T13:48:00.000-08:00

Every January, NY Balkan music scene pioneers the Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band organize the Golden Festival - a massive two-night grassroots Balkan and East European music and dance festival at the Good Shepherd School, 620 Isham Street in the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan.

The Golden Festival is New York's largest Balkan music event, with multiple stages, Balkan & Middle Eastern refreshments, Balkan arts vendors, as well as beautiful Balkan textiles on display. From international stars to local musicians, modern Balkan stylists to folk traditionalists, over 40 bands provide hours of ecstatic listening, dancing and partying.

The Golden Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary this Friday and Saturday, and tickets are available here.

For those who won't be able to attend but want to live vicariously, Rob Weisberg's Transpacific Sound Paradise program will broadcast live on WFMU this Saturday from 6pm until midnite (NY time).

The TSP broadcast will take place from one of the festival's three stages, the "Kafana" stage (Kafana is Serbo-Croatian for "cafe"; and the broadcast hq will once again be conveniently located right next to the beer line!).

Balkan Brass World is looking for you!

2009-11-27T13:10:00.000-08:00

Balkan Brass World is looking for CD and concert reviews, news items, bio's of brass bands big and small, links to sites, clips, audio, concert and festival dates for the 'calendar' section, etc.

So, if you would like to submit anything every once in a while, be it CD reviews, news items, etc. please get in touch! You can mail us here.

Looking forward to your contributions and ideas!

Goods news for bands: we can also release your music on all major download stores (iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, etc.)! Contact us for more info.

London based band looking for musicians

2009-11-23T07:42:00.000-08:00

Red Hot Gypsy Fever from the UK have issued the following:

We are an established London based Balkan Gypsy band looking for 2-3 musicians to take our line-up back up to 7. We are looking for a new violinist, a bass player (and posibly an acordion as well).

We have regular gigs and are looking to expand our current repertoire of material by bringing people into the band who love this style of music but who also want to experiment with some new types of gypsy fusion.

Red Hot Gypsy Fever are a seven-piece, live Gypsy folk band based in London. Fusing their Balkan and Anglo-Saxon heritage, they draw inspiration from diverse musical backgrounds including classical, jazz, and folk to create a unique sound all of their own. We play Romany gypsy tunes, traditional Balkan folk, Russian Gypsy Romance, etc. At the moment we are looking to expand our repertoire and experiment with new original compositions and create some new types of gypsy fusion.

You can get in touch through their MySpace.

New Dunkelbunt release

2009-11-19T01:33:00.000-08:00

[dunkelbunt] & CLOUD TISSA - KEBAB CONNECTION
Release date: November 20th, 2009
Release Party: 30. November 2009 - DUB CLUB, Vienna

"Kebab Connection" is a dancehall medley woven into a Turkish/Greek Balkan twist by [dunkelbunt] featuring the Kenian No. 1 ragga MC Cloud Tissa with his Swahili lyrics. This unique tune is inspired by the theme of the same-titled German movie and brings pure Balkan-Dancehall madness.

This remix package includes [dunkelbunt]'s own versions as radio, club and instrumental edit. His "Kedub"-remix turns the song into a more sophisticated track, and a "folkstep"-remix by Serbian laptop wizards Shazalakazoo as well as more mixes by Hungarian top notch DJ's Savages y Suefo and UK's finest Forty Thieves Orkestar complete this EP.

Listen to KEBAB CONNECTION
Available on iTunes, Amazon, etc. from november 20th.

The CD version is ONLY available on dunkelbunt's webpage. It is limited to 100 pieces and comes signed and with a Kebab Spice Mix by [dunkelbunt]

"Kebab Connection" is [dunkelbunt]'s exclusive contribution for his recently released "Sun Dub"-compilation on Poets Club Records. Sun Dub is a "Best of" compilation that has [dunkelbunt] digging the crates of Poets Club Records and Chat Chapeau... highlighted by a string of exclusives and long forgotten pearls. "To me personally, most of these songs are like good old friends that have accompanied me on my journeys and gigs for years now" says [dunkelbunt]. "Sun Dub": a unique groovy compilation that creatively combines different styles.

"Kebab Connection & Sun Dub" Release Party
30. November 2009 - DUB CLUB, Vienna
Camera Club, Neubaugasse 2, 7. Wien

Orkestar Zirkonium at Tractor Tavern

2009-11-16T01:36:00.000-08:00

Come out this Thursday night (November 19th) to Tractor Tavern (Seattle, WA 98107). It's going to be a very special night of horn-driven danceable music.

Orkestar Zirkonium will be teaming up with the local mischievous jazz/punk sextet Reptet that bring as many horns as they do costumes. They have just gotten back from a slamming west coast tour and are releasing their new 7" vinyl entitled Agendacide at this show. Orkestar Zirkonium will kick the night off at 9 pm. We hope to see you there!

More info:
Tractor Tavern
www.orkestarzirkonium.com
www.reptet.com

Klezmatics on tour

2009-11-13T01:25:00.000-08:00

Globally renowned world music superstars (and the only klezmer band to win a Grammy award) genre-bending pioneers The Klezmatics are back on the tour trail with stops in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Russia and the USA. Catch them if you can!

Check the full tour schedule.
Visit The Klezmatics website.

BalkanBeats - A Night In Berlin release and party

2009-11-12T01:21:00.000-08:00

The wait is over... BalkanBeats addicts around the world can score a fresh fix of the good stuff from the genre's most experienced dealer, Robert Soko. Shantel, Boban i Marko Markovic, Magnifico, Rotfront, Ahilea, Deladap, dunkelbunt: "BalkanBeats - A Night in Berlin" offers prime cuts of cutting-edge Slavic soul. Now available digitally everywhere and on enhanced CD with bonus features or 180 gram vinyl in the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Physical releases hit the shops in Australia on 20th November and the USA on 8th December.

The "A Night in Berlin" experience can be had live on Saturday, 14th November at Berlin's Lido. The usual packed-to-the-rafters, in-your-face, DJ-driven-dance-a-thon will be enhanced on stage by those Emigranski Ragamuffins, Rotfront.

Take an audio taste here.

BalkanBeats Live dates (including residencies in Berlin, Paris and Budapest): http://www.myspace.com/balkan_beats

Aberdeen BALKANARAMA

2009-11-02T00:50:00.000-08:00

You are wholeheartedly invited to the next Aberdeen BALKANARAMA:

Come indulge in the sights, tastes and sounds of the Balkans! Come jump, sings, scream, cry and laugh, climb tables and dance the night away! Come party with us proper Balkan style! OPA!

Aberdeen BALKANARAMA proudly presents:
BLACK CAT: uber-energetic 10-piece playing maddest finest klezmer, gypsy and Balkan music
KUCHKE: polyphonic Balkan female choir PLUS Balkan Beats DJs, VJs, dancers, early live jam session (starts v early!), free home-made rakija and much much more.

See you there!

Aberdeen BALKANARAMA
Saturday 28 November
@ Lemon Tree, West North St
7.30pm - late

More info: www.balkanarama.org

Free Slavic Soul Party! track

2009-10-14T02:01:00.000-07:00

We mentioned earlier that Slavic Soul Party! have a great new album out. SSP! once again mixes the modern with the tradition on "Taketron", an album overflowing with compositions and arrangements from different members of the band.

Balkan Brass World is happy to offer you a free mp3 download of the title track:

Slavic Soul Party! - Taketron

Buy Taketron from Amazon.com

Gogol Bordello: "Live from Axis Mundi" out now

2009-10-13T01:09:00.000-07:00

Gogol Bordello's epic historical document "Live at Axis Mundi" is now available in finer stores and you can have it sent directly to your dwelling via the Gogol online store. If digital downloads are your jam you can purchase a special version from Itunes.

"Live at Axis Mundi" includes both a CD of BBC Sessions, Outtakes and Demos PLUS a DVD with a full concert filmed at NYC's legendary Irving Plaza, behind the curtain scenes and more! Its all the stuff you've been asking for...

New Slavic Soul Party! album: Taketron

2009-10-07T04:02:00.000-07:00

Slavic Soul Party! is more than a band, it's a promise. Anyone who has seen them live can attest to that. The massive brass band is a supercollider of Eastern European sounds from the Balkans and all the funk of American musical traditions like second-line, gospel, and jazz. Hybridity isn't just a buzzword with this New York City-based group - domestic and foreign, new and old - it's a fact of life. The fusion even carries over into the title of the band's fifth album, Taketron, mashing up Japanese drummer Take Toriyama's love of electronic music with the rapid fire of Balkan brass, and the incessant creativity of some of New York's finest musicians.

As with fellow Balkan fusionists like Gogol Bordello (which has featured SSP! on album) and Balkan Beat Box (who borrows SSP! members for tours and recordings), SSP! has connected with audiences at home and abroad. When at home the nine-piece band (give or take a few members, depending on the night) can be found playing Tuesday nights at the hip music club Barbes in Brooklyn, whose signature label is releasing Taketron. The band has also made key appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, played weddings and rock clubs, as well as brass band festivals in the Balkans.

Bandleader and percussionist Matt Moran continues to see the band's profile rise, but he's most excited about the music’s possibilities amongst younger audiences. "We've seen this huge explosion of brass bands in the U.S. and in Europe in the last eight years and it begs a question: why are all these young kids getting into this music when they should be running to the turntables and the electric guitars? Brass bands are like living off the grid or growing your own food: a lot more trouble, a lot more rewarding, and fundamentally subversive. We're not wearing the school uniform, playing the electric guitar, or taking the easy path."

SSP! once again mixes the modern with the tradition on Taketron, an album overflowing with compositions and arrangements from different members of the band. According to Moran, "I think Taketron really shows our original style, more so than any of our other records. People in the U.S. assume that we are playing traditional Balkan music, but people over there who play in bands say that we totally have our own style. I think with this record we are going to clear up any confusion."

Taketron showcases its hybridity in "Sancti Petri," which was originally a flamenco guitar tune, or the more electronic music inspired rhythms on tunes like the title track. SSP! also demonstrates how they breath new life to more traditional sounding tunes like the gospel classic "Canaan Land" and a little Romanian/Moldovan gem "Sarba" (which could pass for a Raymond Scott cartoon classic). Regardless, this band has it own ideas of what a brass band is and it's big, vivid and brazen if not always Balkan. Yet there is subtlety here as well - enjoy the gentle playfulness of that ska-like backbeat on "Sviraj Srecko" and savor the slow elegiac opening to "Hymn," a closer that lets you catch your breath before a final farewell.

Buy Taketron from Amazon.com

Balkan Revolutia Festival

2009-10-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

November 7th in De Melkweg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands:

Balkan invasion

2009-10-02T02:43:00.000-07:00

The German Piranha label reports:

Open the floodgates, there's a big Balkan wave coming at you! Get your toes wet with the ballsy brass madness of Boban i Marko Markovic's brand new album "Devla: Blown Away to Dancefloor Heaven", available worldwide as digital download on 2 October with physical releases spreading out region by region thereafter.

Fans in Berlin have a lot to look forward to the following week: on 6 October Shantel's "Planet Paprika" release party concert features Mr. BalkanBeats himself, Robert Soko. On 8 October Boban i Marko Markovic storm the Kesselhaus stage with a special guest appearance by our favorite Power-Frau Miss Platnum. After that, those fans still able to party can get a foretaste of the upcoming Piranha release "BalkanBeats: A Night in Berlin" at Robert Soko's monthly Lido blowout on the 10th. His new compilation hits the shops 30 October.

The Piranha Distribution Service joins the Balkanisation trend with a release from Croatia's Tom Waits, Darko Rundek. The ex-Haustor frontman's "Live in Youth Club Belgrade" is out on 9 October.

Get more info here:

Boban i Marko Markovic's "Devla":
http://lnk.piranha.de/www.piranha.de/devla

Boban i Marko Markovic Orkestar at Berlin's Kesselhaus:
http://www.kesselhaus-berlin.de/

Shantel and Robert Soko in Berlin, BalkanBeats Party in Lido:
http://www.balkanbeats.de/wp/?page_id=29

BalkanBeats-A Night in Berlin:
http://lnk.piranha.de/www.piranha.de/balkanbeats_berlin

Darko Rundek:
http://www.piranha.de/english/piranha_musik_verlag/darko_rundek

Balktoberfest Balkan Brass Band Workshop

2009-09-27T23:36:00.000-07:00

Balktoberfest Balkan Brass Band Workshop
with Michael Ginsburg

Saturday, October 3, 2 PM – 4 PM

Location:
St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral
15100 New Hampshire Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20905

Cost: $20 for workshop (does not include Balktoberfest after 6 PM)

If you plan to attend this workshop, please contact: Beth LeaMond: bleamond@gmail.com

Michael Ginsberg is the leader of the band Zlatne Uste (Golden Lips) http://www.zlatneuste.org/ an internationally known group of American-born musicians playing traditional music of the Balkans, primarily representing Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Romany (Gypsy) traditions. Four-time invited guest at the Dragachevo Brass Festival in Gucha, Serbia, the 12-piece band is among the foremost presenters of traditional Balkan dance music in the United States.

Zlatne Uste will be performing later in the evening on October 3 at Balktoberfest, at the same location. Don't miss this opportunity to see this band in the Washington DC area!

New Boban i Marko Markovic album in november

2009-09-14T00:20:00.000-07:00

Piranha Musik will release "Devla: Blown Away to Dancefloor Heaven" by Boban i Marko Markovic on November 10. The digital release will be available on October 2.

Clad in a suave white suit, it's not impossible to imagine why urban legends credit gypsy trumpet king Boban Markovic with getting his homeland out of a recent jam: Markovic's spit-fire precision is rumored to have so seduced Bill Clinton that the saxophone playing president called off the further NATO bombing of Serbia.

True or not, one thing is clear: Markovic and his son, prized protege Marko, are the bomb in Balkan brass dance music, harnessing the absolute flexibility of Miles Davis and the cool funk of Herb Alpert in the ultimate expression of their Southern Serbian Rroma roots. Their latest album as the Boban and Marko Markovic Orkestar, Devla: Blown Away to Dancefloor Heaven (Piranha Musik, November 10, 2009),flies effortlessly between echoes of the Ottoman Empire and down-and-dirty grooves that would make P-Funk's jaws drop.

Boban's decades of experience are now fired by Marko's youthful vibe-an energy sustained by marathon practice sessions and a lifetime spent with dad on stage. As a kid, Marko put in ten hours a day at home with his horn, a practice that drove Boban so crazy he finally insisted his son stand and deliver with the Orkestar. The determined, then fourteen-year-old Marko played so perfectly, he soon became a fixture in the group.

But Marko has done more than merely play along. Together, Boban and Marko Markovicare expanding the idioms of gypsy brass, as Marko scats ("Devla"), raps in Serbian and English ("Benim Gecem"), and even flirts with flamenco ("Kazi Baba"). All while keeping true to tradition: the lightning-fast melodies, driving rhythms, and exuberant transcendence of the greatest Balkan brass bands.

Of course, to get to dancefloor heaven, you need some help from the Balkans' gypsy saints, the singers who have made and remade the centuries-old traditions now wildly popular worldwide. There are veteran singers like Rade Krstic ("Udre Mila") who Markovic lured out of his decades-long retirement, or Ljubisa Stojanovic ("Kum Boemcina") dubbed "Louis" for his Balkan-flavored renditions of Louis Armstrong tunes and his love of jazz. There are rising stars like Bulgaria's Sofi Marinova ("Soske Sul Na avea") and hidden gems like Mustafa Å abanovic ("Maruska"), a little-known idol of the Serbian gypsy scene. Devla showcases the melismatic and dramatic vocal stylings of these singers, adored at home but little known in the West; the best the Balkans have to offer.

Musicians wanted to stage "gypsy glam musical"

2009-08-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

Lanny Cordola is looking for musicians to put together a regular ongoing ensemble for his project "Dark Root of The Dream". This "gypsy glam musical" has already been staged in Los Angeles and Lanny is looking to stage it at other dates in the US and Europe. One of the collaborators is Donovan Leitch, son of the legendary 60s singer Donovan.

Interested musicians can contact Lanny Cordola at lcordola@earthlink.net

New Flamenco blog

2009-08-30T01:25:00.000-07:00

Fans of gypsy music may be interested in a new weblog about Flamenco music and dance that just went online: http://juncalflamenco.blogspot.com.

It's in Spanish only, but it does include some nice pics and YouTube clips.

Rromfest

2009-08-24T00:28:00.000-07:00

More info at http://www.myspace.com/rromfest

Follow Balkan Brass World on Twitter

2009-08-16T04:02:00.000-07:00

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets.

You can follow Balkan Brass World on Twitter by going to http://www.twitter.com/balkanbrass.

New Fanfare Ciocarlia releases: more info

2009-08-14T04:03:00.000-07:00

The autumn of 2009 promises to be a hot one. Not only will we see the release of the second album by Mahala Rai Banda, but we can also expect two new releases by Fanfare Ciocarlia. One will be a 'greatest hits' album, the other one will be a live CD/DVD package.

The greatest hits album will be an exclusive vinyl album called "Best of Gypsy Brass". It will be available on September 21st in the UK and on september 25th in Germany.

The live package includes a CD recorded at the Kulturbrauerei in Berlin in 2004 and the DVD "Gypsy Brass Legends - The Story of the Band", which is already available as a separate release. This album will come out on the same dates as the "Best of" LP.

Festival Kumpania

2009-07-30T02:21:00.000-07:00

The Kumpania Tzigane association, one of the most important organisers of events of Balkan culture in France, organizes its international festival on September 4th and 5th, 2009 in the South of France: The Festival Kumpania.

All this during two days on a magic site. Concerts, Electro balkan night, expos, exhibitions, conferences, Balkan food, free camping under the sun and the moon. All for 15 Euros!

With:
Romano Drom (Hungary)
Nadara Gypsy Band (Romania)
Terne Chave (Czeck Républik)
Antwerp Gypsy Ska Orkestra (Belgium)
Pad Brapad Moujika (France)
Slivo Electric Klub (France)
La Kumpania Beats (France)
Le Cri Du Choeur (France)

Ariano Folkfestival

2009-07-29T02:04:00.000-07:00

New Klezmer podcast

2009-07-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

Keith Wolzinger of Klezmerpodcast.com reports:

Klezmer Podcast 54: Video podcast with Watcha Clan. This marks the first video podcast for the show. My guests are the members of Watcha Clan, who performed in Los Angeles on 17 July, 2009 on their North America tour.

You can watch the latest Klezmer Podcast (Vodcast?!) here.

New Fanfare Ciocarlia releases this autumn

2009-07-10T01:43:00.000-07:00

New Dunkelbunt album

2009-07-09T09:49:00.000-07:00

Here it is: The new dunkelbunt album!

RAINDROPS & ELEPHANTS - Piranha Re:Interpretations (PIRANHA)

[dunkelbunt]'s music is like an imaginary river. If looked for on a map, it would start somewhere in India. It would head out west and follow a fairly certain path while constantly changing in size and intensity, through the Orient and into the Balkans. From there, things get a little more confusing. Like a delta it spreads, and none of its offshoots take precedence over the others. It keeps moving - west, north, south, looping around itself, on the way adding dancehall and electro, reggae and house, bossa and breakbeats, jazz and ragga to the mix. With his ever-growing list of featured vocal collaborators like Cloud Tissa, Jimi D, Selecta Bence et.al., [dunkelbunt] continues to expand and recreate his unique musical universe, beyond any borders set between the cultures by the prejudices of the fundamentalists on all sides.

For Rain Drops and Elephants other musical traditions bubble to the surface and enter the stream from the deep, wide wells of Piranha Musik's repertoire: Simentera from the Cape Verde Islands and Fanfare Ciocarlia from the Carpathian Mountains, Boban i Marko Markovic from the banks of the Danube river and Frank London from New York's Lower East Side, Ihsan Al-Mounzer from resurrected Beirut, Ruth Yaakov from ancient Jerusalem and Watcha Clan from Marseilles' hard harbour 'hood. In [dunkelbunt]'s Piranha Re:Interpretations, the influences from both sides are clearly visible and wholly harmonious.

Variety is the spice of life!

Get your personal copy on www.dunkelbunt.tk (CD / VINYL) with an extra homemade dunkelbunt spice mixture or of course in all common records stores. Mp3s on Itunes / etc.

The Harris Brothers Balkan Band on WPKN Radio

2009-06-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

WPKN Radio presents a live on-air concert with
The Harris Brothers Balkan Band
Sunday, June 21
1 PM Sharp!

Live on the air
89.5 FM Bridgeport, CT
88.7 FM Montauk, NY/ New London CT
Live online at http://www.wpkn.org
Live at the Kasbah Garden Cafe, 105 Howe Street, New Haven, CT

The band is:
Drew Harris, saxophone and clarinet
Laine Harris, Truba (rotary valve Flugal horn)
Melinda Fields, accordion
Helen Marx, percussion

It's the perfect music for a garden concert or a comfortable radio brunch on your own back porch!

For more info about the band:
http://www.myspace.com/harrisbrothersband

For directions to the Kasbah:
http://kasbahgarden.com

More about WPKN:
http://www.wpkn.org

Balkanbeats London

2009-06-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

Balkan Beats (London) presents Balkanic Delirium with Radio Zastava, Chancery Blame and the Gadjo Club, Djs Sacha Dieu and Drusus Germanicus vs Dr.Malaka. @ The New Passing Clouds (The Empowering Church), FRIDAY 19TH JUNE 2009, 3 Richmond Road, London E8 3HY. From 10pm till very late!

Tickets available here.

Upcoming Orkestra del Sol gigs

2009-06-13T03:32:00.000-07:00

June 14 Oran Mor GLASGOW 8pm
June 17 BIRNAM Arts Centre 8pm
June 20 Colour Meeting Festival Policka, CZECH REP 9.15pm
June 24 Fusion Festival Larz, GERMANY 11pm
June 25 Fusion Festival Larz, GERMANY 1pm
June 26 Avalon Stage, GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL 8pm
June 28 Club Dada, Shangri-La, GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL 1am
July 4 Hat Fair, WINCHESTER 4pm & 10pm
July 5 BOURNEMOUTH Street Event 3pm & 5.30pm
July 11 TYNEMOUTH Festival 1pm & 3.30pm
July 12 SOUTH SHIELDS Festival 1pm & 3pm
July 16 Cornerstone, DIDCOT 8pm
July 17 Interstellar Arena, GLADE FESTIVAL 11pm
July 18 Pandora's Playground, LATITUDE FESTIVAL 3.15pm
July 19 Cabaret Arena, LATITUDE FESTIVAL 2pm & 9.30pm
Aug 7 Hothouse Stage, BELLADRUM FESTIVAL 6pm
Aug 11 Fringe by the Sea, NORTH BERWICK
Aug 21 The Lemon Tree, ABERDEEN 8pm
Sept 4 Olot Fiesta, Catalunya, SPAIN
Sept 6 Eden Festival, DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY 10.30pm
Sept 11 The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, LONDON 8pm
Sept 12 & 13 BESTIVAL, Isle of Wight
Sept 16 Bathgate Regal, BATHGATE Music Festival

More info about Orkestra del Sol here.

Gogol Bordello on tour

2009-05-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

Gogol Bordello is on tour right now. In their own words: "We are making stops in some places we haven't been to in a while and places we've never been at all! Growing the caravan of creative mayhem and madness we're rolling out to get the party started."

5/22 - Santa Cruz, CA, USA - The Catalyst
5/23 - Santa Cruz, CA, USA - The Catalyst
5/25 - George, WA, USA - Sasquatch! Music Festival
5/27 - Murray, UT, USA - Murray Theatre
5/28 - Boulder, CO, USA - Fox Theatre
5/29 - Kansas City, MO, USA - Beaumount Club
5/30 - Minneapolis, MN, USA - Cabooze - Outdoor Stage
5/31 - Chicago, IL, USA - Congress Theatre
6/02 - Royal Oak, MI, USA - Royal Oak Music Theatre
6/04 - Baltimore, MD, USA - Ram's Head Live
6/05 - Boston, MA, USA - House of Blues - Boston
6/06 - S. Burlington, VT, USA - Higher Ground
6/07 - S. Burlington, VT, USA -Higher Ground

For full dates and ticket info, go here.

Two Orkestar Zirkonium gigs on Sunday

2009-05-20T00:52:00.000-07:00

Orkestar Zirkonium is playing twice this Sunday, May 24th. If you are in Seattle for the long weekend, please consider joining us for one or both of our performances:

Folklife Festival, Seattle Center

Orkestar Zirkonium makes a rare daylight appearance at the Folklife Festival. They are playing at 2:20 pm at the Fountain Lawn Stage.

Can Can, 94 Pike Street

They are playing later in the evening (sometime after 10pm) at the Can Can. Only $10! The doors open at 7pm.

Apparatschik is coming [2]

2009-05-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

Mention 'balkan brass' when you buy your tickets for the Apparatschik gig in Heerlen (may 22nd) and you'll get a 2,50 Euro discount!

New promo video by KAL

2009-05-18T02:54:00.000-07:00

The hottest Gypsy band from Serbia brings Rock'n'Roma power and a forceful pop aesthetic. Kal mix traditional Gypsy music with the latest beats from the city, bring it to the boil with Balkan fire and use it to set alight dance floors around the world.

More info on www.asphalt-tango.de

Apparatschik is coming

2009-05-16T01:30:00.000-07:00

Om may 22nd German band Apparatschik will play in Heerlen, the hometown of BalkanBrassWorld.com, in the Netherlands. Apparatschik is the first Berlin Russian Party Scene Band. Formed in 1989 right after the wall fell.

Balkan Bende live featuring Apparatschik
Nieuwe Nor, Heerlen, The Netherlands, 22 may 2009
More info here

Municipale Balcanica news

2009-05-15T01:39:00.001-07:00

Municipale Balcanica announces that their 2009 tour will reach Ankara in Turkey on 30 May. Municipale Balcanica will make in fact in two concerts (30 May and 2 June) in collaboration with the Institute of Italian Culture and the Italian embassy in Ankara, the first one in the square and the second in its premises. The sound of the new disc, which is inspired in some passages by the Middle Eastern atmosphere, is the soundtrack of the feast of the Republic. MB will be avaible for a press conference and interviews on 31 May and 1 June.

Kako Da Ne: Global folk explosion

2009-05-14T03:32:00.000-07:00

13th of June, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Kako Da Ne. Global folk explosion

This night the Kako Da Ne collective is joined by Requestival Soundsystem to get you dancing. Tunes from the global mix up - flamenco, reggae, balkan and some beats to make you move on the sounds of the global underground. Tonight's benefits will get a destination at Requestival projects all over the world.

Partytime first. And still we enjoy without coke and pizza, Kako Da Ne is fueled by slivovica.

Acu, Utrecht, www.acu.nl
door: 3 euros
open: 23.00

Watcha Clan interview

2009-04-27T02:00:00.000-07:00

Keith Wolzinger's latest Klezmer Podcast features an interview with Watcha Clan, the Balkan-influenced band from Marseilles, France.

Go to Klezmerpodcast.com for more info.

Orkestra del Sol and Ivo Papasov

2009-04-20T02:47:00.000-07:00

The world of ORKESTRA DEL SOL, your favourite musical toreadors of the BRASS BULLRING, is about to rupture. Yes, RUPTURE...into a kaleidoscope of CLARINETIC HAPPINESS! Friends, the Orkestra will appear for ONE, yes ONE NIGHT ONLY at the EDINBURGH PICTURE HOUSE along side one of the GREATS of BULGARIAN MUSIC - no, not OLGA, great though she is - but IVO PASASOV!

Ladies and gentlemen, MAY 5th 2009 at EDINBURGH'S PICTURE HOUSE will be a spectacular before your every ears! For anyone not familiar with Mr Papasov, he is THE KING OF WEDDING BAND MUSIC - his music not only blows you away, it comes back, spins you round, dusts you down and buys you a pint.
Howsabout that for a Tuesday night? Bring your dancing shoes, dancing socks, dancing trousers or skirt, dancing underwear, best dancing shirt and a hat..... for dancing in. And adjust your watches to the correct GMT - the fun starts EARLY, with Orkestra del Sol appearing on stage at 8pm.

The Picture House, 31 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2DJ Tuesday 5 May 2009 - Doors 7pm - Tickets £14.00 - 24hr Ticket Hotline 0844 847 1740

50th Klezmer Podcast online now

2009-04-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

Our friend Keith at Klezmerpodcast.com has posted his 50th Klezmer Podcast, with guests Ljova and Inna from the group Ljova And The Kontraband. You can listen from iTunes, the Klezmer Podcast site and Blubrry.

Watcha Clan Digital Diaspora remix

2009-04-05T09:36:00.001-07:00

On their never-ending tour trail, Watcha Clan have met many talented DJs, fellow musical travelers on dance floor journeys. Friendship and mutual inspiration blossomed, communicated in the languages of dub, ragga, reggae, drum'n'bass and electro, sung to melodies traditional or modern, spiced with arabic and Mediterranean flavors.

As of 3 April, a tuneful travel diary of these encounters, "Diaspora Remixed", is available for download. The authors of these audio chapters include pioneering London collective Transglobal Underground, Balkan breakbeat maestri and kazoo virtuosi Shazalakazoo, EarthRise SoundSystem (NYC), Viennese sound-spice mixer Dunkelbunt, Dj Click (Paris), Gaetano Fabri (Brussels), BalkanXpress Soundsistema (Cologne), Spark (Berlin), Undergang & Mars Exist (Marseille), Barrio Populaire (Hamburg) and Stratman (Athens).

Each give Watcha Clan's music a new, individual interpretation.
Have a listen and take a sound trip.

More info here

New Mahala Rai Banda album in autumn

2009-04-01T03:57:00.000-07:00

Asphalt Tango Records reports:

MAHALA RAI BANDA signed to Asphalt Tango Records and Romania's hottest young Gypsy band from Bucharest will release a second album in autumn 2009.

More info about Mahala Rai Banda here.

Balkan Brass Band workshop with Michael Ginsberg

2009-03-30T00:46:00.000-07:00

Balkan Brass Band workshop with Michael Ginsberg

Sunday, May 3, 11 AM to 1 PM

Location: Electrik Maid 268 Carroll St NW Takoma Park, right at the DC- Maryland border

$30 For more information: Beth LeaMond, bleamond@gmail.com

Michael Ginsberg is the leader of Zlatne Uste ("Golden Lips"), an internationally known group of American-born musicians playing traditional music of the Balkans, primarily representing Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Romany (Gypsy) traditions. Four-time invited guest at the Dragachevo Brass Festival in Gucha, Serbia, the 12-piece band is among the foremost presenters of traditional Balkan dance music in the United States.

Michael teaches the Balkan Brass Ensemble at East European Folklife Festival camps each year. His teaching method is to play a recording of the piece, then to teach each part (by ear) to each group of instruments, and then to bring it all together. In the 2 hour time he plans to teach two pieces.

New Klezmer podcast

2009-03-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

Keith Wolzinger reports:

I have posted Klezmer Podcast 48, an extended special episode from the Jewlicious Festival 5.0 recently held in Long Beach, California. Interview guests and music include Aharit Hayamim from Jerusalem; Jewdyssee from Berlin; Inbar Bakal from California; and festival organizer Rabbi Yonah Bookstein.

The podcast is available from iTunes, Klezmerpodcast.com and Blubrry.com/klezmerpodcast

Orkestra del Sol's "WORLD TOUR OF ENGLAND"

2009-03-22T05:14:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Calling Oxford!.... Hailing Milton Keynes!.... Bothering London!.... Rocking Brighton!..... Getting on, Bristol!..... Hello, Bracknell!..... Ey Up Hebden Bridge!

Your friends the Orkestra are coming! Lock up your sheet music! Tether your gooses! Put those dancing boots on and join yourself to the Orkestra del Sol WORLD TOUR OF ENGLAND. Yes, loyal fans of the now locally-famous behemoths of brass, wherever you live in ENGLAND, the Orkestra are going to be within dancing distance. Set the dial to 'fanfare', look on the brass spectrum, and the Orkestra we will appear as a 10 piece carnival on your musical radar.

The Orkestra is in a very special preparation: Bad Tim Bones is polishing his Scottish-Cuban 'Thistle crisis' heels, Sincero Minimo is polishing his libido and Marco is mapping bakeries en route so he's no more than 2 km from a fresh sponge cake. Olga has packed her champagne and Cameron has cleared his 7 day release from the Island. The Orkestra are ready for YOU!

28th Mar 09
OXFORD
The Isis Farmhouse
tickets 01865 243 854

29th Mar 09
MILTON KEYNES
The Stables
tickets 01908 280 800

30th Mar 09
LONDON
Cargo
tickets 08444 77 1000

1st Apr 09
BRIGHTON
The Hanbury Club
tickets 01273 605 789

2nd Apr 09
BRISTOL
The Croft tickets 0117 987 4144

3rd Apr 09
BRACKNELL
South Hill Park Arts Centre
tickets 01344 484123

4th Apr 09
HEBDEN BRIDGE
The Trades Club
tickets 01422 845 265

And if you're not near England - don't worry - the Orkestra will be all over other places in 2009:

2nd May 09
GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, INVERNESSHIRE
Strathspey in May

5th May 09
EDINBURGH
MAY Extravaganza with the Ivo Papasov Wedding Band!!
The Picture House
tickets 0131 221 2280

8th May 09
LIVERPOOL
Bluecoat Arts Centre
tickets 0151 709 5297

10th May 09
BRIGHTON
The Parlure @ The Spiegeltent

22nd May 09
KNOCKENGORROCH FESTIVAL
Main Stage

28th May 09
SLIGO
The Clarence

29th May 09
DUBLIN
The Button Factory

30th & 31st May 09
DUBLIN
Maritime Festival

14th June 09
GLASGOW
Oran Mor

19th & 20th June 09
POLICKA, CZECH REPUBLIC
Colour Meeting Festival

21st 23rd June 09
BERLIN
(check our website for details as they emerge)

24th & 25th June 09
nr LARZ, GERMANY
Fusion Festival

26th June 09
GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL
Avalon Stage

16th July 09
DIDCOT
Cornerstone Arts Centre

17th July 09
nr.WINCHESTER
The Glade Festival

7th August 09
BELLADRUM, INVERNESSHIRE
Tartan Heart Festival, Hothouse Stage

11th August 09
NORTH BERWICK
Fringe by the Sea

12th & 13th Sept 09
ISLE OF WIGHT
Bestival (Main Stage)

More info about Orkestra del Sol can be found here.

Mondo Electrico

2009-03-19T03:26:00.000-07:00

Lord Lingham hosts a radio show, Mondo Electrico, on PBS, a community radio station in Melbourne, Australia.

Mondo Electrico features cutting edge and otherworldly sounds of post-modern landscapes - the surreal zone where contemporary electronic dance music fuses with world and folk sounds. Call it the sounds of tomorrow, or the mashed-up beats and bleeps from a giant industrial-size culture-blender, or simply Post-World music. This is a show that explores the electronic interpretations of the rich and diverse sounds of the globe.

Mondo Electrico is essentially a dance music show - the first hour takes us through a head-nodding and feet-tapping trip of mid-tempo grooves, while the second hour gradually transports us to a netherworld of faster polyrhythmic beats and growling basslines.

The palate of musical styles include Future Electro-Funk, Glitchy Dancehall, Balkan Beats (Balkan Beat Box, La Cherga, DJ Click, Dunkelbunt, Shantel, Shukar Collective), Indietronica and Folktronica, Asian Massive, Bollywood club remixes, Turkish electro, Berlin Techno, Nu-Skool Afrobeats and local Australian releases.

Mondo Electrico on MySpace

In the spotlight: Orkestra del Sol

2009-03-16T10:22:00.001-07:00

We have a new featured band on our homepage: Orkestra del Sol, from Scotland, UK. You can read their full bio here.

ITB Book Award for "Princes Amongst Men"

2009-03-11T04:12:00.000-07:00

The German version of the book Princes Amongst Men: Journeys with Gypsy Musicians has won an ITB Book Award 2009. The book and the compilation CD of the same title will be awarded in the category "Most important Travelbook". The award show will take place on Friday 13 March on the ITB 2009 in Berlin.

More information on the book (in English)

More information on the book (in German)

Buy the CD Princes Amongst Men: Journeys with Gypsy Musicians from Amazon.com

Stranger Than Paradise

2009-03-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Stranger than paradise (DJ Sacha Dieu, Malaka, Kobayashi & Mahnahmahna) - 14 Mar @ Dex Club (London, UK)

Balkan Brass World @ Twitter

2009-03-07T14:09:00.000-08:00

Balkan Brass World @ Facebook

2009-03-06T07:22:00.000-08:00

We now have an official group on Facebook. Come and join us here.

STriCat release new CD

2009-03-04T06:46:00.000-08:00

Dutch Balkan jazz trio STriCat will release their new CD "Jab" tomorrow, march 5th. The official presentation of the CD will take place at the Tropentheater in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. More info here.

La Cherga on tour

2009-03-03T12:26:00.000-08:00

"Electro-roots music with a pan-Balkanic consciousness!"

New Fanfara Tirana video

2009-02-25T06:53:00.001-08:00

Fanfara Tirana posted a new live video on their MySpace site:

New bio added: Boris Kovac

2009-02-19T07:09:00.000-08:00

The latest addition to our bands section: Boris Kovac.
Not strictly Balkan Brass, but his music is well worth a listen!

New Dunkelbunt tour dates

2009-02-13T01:56:00.000-08:00

Dunkelbunt on Sun Dub Tour:

#14.02. - Freiburg - KGB Bar
#20.02. - Istanbul - Ghetto
#21.02. - Istanbul - Ghetto
#26.02. - Paris - Le Divan Du Monde
#27.02. - Hannover - 3 Raum
#06.03. - Bern - BeeFlat
#14.03. - Ljubiljana - Metelkova
#20.03. - Budapest - Kuplung

Pre-order the new Dunkelbunt album (release date 9 march 2009) on CD or limited edition vinyl (!) at www.dunkelbunt.tk

Klezmer Podcast

2009-02-10T02:59:00.000-08:00

Keith Wolzinger hosts a regular Klezmer Podcast, featuring news, interviews, and music from the Klezmer world.

The most recent edition, posted on february 5th, features an interview with Max Pashm and info on KlezKanada 2009.

More info: Klezmerpodcast.com.

New band added: Ajde Braco

2009-02-09T03:06:00.001-08:00

The latest addition to our band biographies: Ajde Braco from Hungary. You can find all their info here.

New KAL album out now

2009-02-06T05:09:00.000-08:00

Almost 3 years after their stunning debut CD Belgrade based KAL turn up the volume with an album of original material. Kal's sound is Rock'n'Roma, a blend of folk roots and punk energies - angry, articulate and outspoken. KAL refute cliches and confront rather than simply entertain.

Their album "Radio Romanista" is available on CD and limited edition Vinyl. More info on Asphalt Tango.

Fanfare Ciocarlia tour dates winter/spring 2009

2009-02-05T04:58:00.000-08:00

13.02.09 D - Muenchen - Muffathalle
01.03.09 GR - Anakatosaria - Festival Anakatosaria
22.04.09 D - Bremen - Schlachthof
23.04.09 CZ - Praha - Palace Akropolis
24.04.09 D - Berlin - Kesselhaus
25.04.09 E - Santa Cruz - Auditorio de Santa Cruz
15.05.09 MA - Rabat - Festival Mawazine
16.05.09 MA - Rabat - Festival Mawazine
17.05.09 MA - Rabat - Festival Mawazine
18.05.09 MA - Rabat - Festival Mawazine

La Cherga record release tour

2009-02-02T02:46:00.000-08:00

Tour dates for La Cherga's record release tour:

04.03.09 A - Wien Szene Wien
05.03.09 A - Dornbirn Spielboden
06.03.09 D - Koeln Gebaude 9
07.03.09 NL - Amsterdam Melkweg
09.03.09 D - Duisburg Steinbruch
11.03.09 D - Hamburg Fabrik
12.03.09 D - Berlin Maria
13.03.09 DK - Copenhagen Global
14.03.09 DK - Follenslev Kulturhus Gimle
17.03.09 D - Leipzig naTo
18.03.09 D - Chemnitz Weltecho
19.03.09 D - Regensburg Alte Mälzerei
20.03.09 CH - Martigny Les Caves du Manoir
21.03.09 CH - Frick Meck a Frick
22.03.09 CH - Thun Cafe Bar Mokka
24.03.09 D - Marburg KFZ Folkclub
25.03.09 D - Ulm Roxy
26.03.09 D - Karlsruhe Tollhaus
27.03.09 D - Freiburg E-Werk
28.03.09 D - Goppingen Odeon
16.04.09 CH - Aarau Kiff
17.04.09 CH - Fribourg La Spirale
18.04.09 CH - Zuerich Moods
24.04.09 D - Kassel Weltmusikfestival
25.04.09 D - Muenchen Ampere

Check Asphalt Tango for up-to-date tour info:
http://www.asphalt-tango.de/cherga/tour.html

Bands section updated

2009-01-29T02:34:00.000-08:00

Latest addition to our band biographies: Fanfara Tirana from Albania.

New band biography added

2009-01-14T04:48:00.000-08:00

Latest addition to our bands section: Kumpania Algazarra from Portugal.

Do you want your band to be added? Mail us at info@balkanbrassworld.com.

Dunkelbunt news

2009-01-13T02:13:00.000-08:00

Dunkelbunt on tour:

#16.01. - Kolding (DK) - Pitstop
#17.01. - Copenhagen (DK) - Rust
#30.01. - Budapest (HU) - A38
#31.01. - Wuppertal - Viertelbar
#14.02. - Freiburg - KGB Bar
#20.02. - Istanbul - Ghetto
#21.02. - Istanbul - Ghetto
#26.02. - Paris - Le Divan Du Monde
#27.02. - Hannover - 3 Raum
#28.02. - Hamburg - XXX
#14.02. - Ljubiljana - Metelkova

Upcoming Dunkelbunt releases:

Tales of the chocolate butterfly - piranha re:interpretations
(spring 09 on Piranha Music)

Sun dub - a spicy blend prepared by [dunkelbunt]
(winter 09 on Poets Club Records)