Balkanarama

Whilst the Balkan music scene is growing fast everywhere in Europe (it is already very big in Berlin, Amsterdam and London, and HUGE in France - they've got the whole festivals going over there), Balkanarama is pretty much the only night of its kind in Scotland -- fusing virtuoso live performance on traditional Balkan instruments with DJs spinning electro Balkan beats, all accompanied by films, visuals (feat. work of various Balkan photographers) and exquisite Gypsy belly dancing.

Balkanarama is an expression of celebration of the Balkans' cultural diversity reflected in its musical diversity: upbeat riotous gypsy brass madness, yearning sweet sevdah music that tells long elaborate tales of love and hate, cathartic klezmer that makes one want to cry and laugh at the same time, haunting polyphonic Bulgarian female choirs, traditional Greek songs - it all melts into one! The night was launched in Edinburgh couple of years ago and soon it established itself as a night that pulls together lots of amazing musicians, from abroad but also from all over Scotland (there are usually around 30 musicians performing at each Balkanarama - it is packed with live performance!) We also realised that Balkanarama crowds came not only from Edinburgh but also from other parts of Scotland and so we decided to take Balkanarama on tour...

Exciting, high energy, with high quality of music and an element of madness(!), it gives audience an opportunity to experience an incredible appeal of Balkan music, to 'balkan out'! Or as we always say when we invite people along: it's the night where you can 'come, let loose, scream, laugh, cry, dance, sing, climb tables - party proper Balkan style!' OPA!