The Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal presents Lars and In Charge and True Life Trio Saturday, May 17 Show starts at 8pm; doors open at 7pm The Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
$20 general/$15 students. All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm. Beer and wine bar. Kitchen closes at 10 pm.
LARS AND IN CHARGE (10 pm-11:30 pm) performs high-energy original and traditional music of Turkey, Greece and beyond. Lars Tergis, leads the charge on violin with driving, gritty interpretations of traditional party tunes as well as original compositions based on regional scales and rhythms. He leads the charge on violin with driving, gritty interpretations of traditional party tunes as well as original compositions based on regional scales and rhythms. Gregory Masaki Jenkins, professional musician and educator, is known for his passionate expression of Balkan music with clarinet, alto saxophone, and voice. Benezra Tergis, began playing piano at the age of five and honed his craft growing up among the samba, salsa and street sounds of the Mission in San Francisco; his musicality and rain dropping notes on keys are genius! Faisal Zedan & Sean Tergis keep the beat popping on derbekki, riqq and davul. Joined on stage by Bay Area’s top dancers and guest musicians, Lars and In Charge brings a big sound and an even bigger party!
True Life Trio (8-9:30 pm) is all about harmony. True Life Trio’s music is all about harmony. The fiery voices of these three women spin and interweave, traveling from Ukrainian village tunes, to Greek polyphony to Louisiana two-steps. Bulgaria to the Bayou. On paper, it’s an unlikely combination but in person, it feels just right. Like the rugged mountains, tangled love and legends about which they sing, TLT shows are full of stories and passion. Interspersed with gorgeous vocal performances are tales of their travels and song collecting that bring immediacy to each tune and envelop their audiences in a knowing, warm embrace. You don’t have to speak all of the myriad languages in which TLT sings to be transported to other worlds with them–they bring you right along. True Life Trio’s singing exudes untamed joy. They met in Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble and soon found their affinity extended beyond Balkan music to the far reaches of Europe and America. Their music is an elixir of ancient traditional songs made new, tasty choral arrangements and inspired original compositions. They have been enchanting audiences in their San Francisco Bay Area home and all across the West for more than a decade with their finely-honed, heart-centered, “concert hall meets front porch” performances.
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center 1317 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley, CA
Join us for Voice of Roma’s annual springtime celebration of Romani music, dance and culture: Herdeljezi Romani Festival on May 3 at Ashkenaz.
We regret to inform you that Dzambo Agusevi, our former headliner, had to cancel due to a family health emergency. We look forward to bringing him back on tour again to California next year. Fortunately, we still have a talented line up of performers and teachers and are pleased to announce Balkan brass band Fanfare Zambaleta will be closing out the festival showcase.
Our all-day festival at Ashkenaz culminates in an evening concert and dance party featuring, Fanfare Zambaleta, Stevens Family “Gypsy Boys” and a special program of the songs of Šaban Bajramović performed by Šaban Forever featuring Šani Rifati, Peter Stan, Marco Ghezzo and Dušan Ristić. Rumen Sali Shopov Balkan Ensemble Meraklii open the show at 7:30 pm, following a free Romani dance lesson led by Šani Rifati.
A free panel discussion beginning at 4:30 pm with the artists will cover current events concerning the human rights of Roma communities amidst shifting political climates. Afternoon workshops for brass musicians, percussionists, dancers and singers are offered to festival goers, also at Ashkenaz.
Tickets:$30 presale, $35 at door; Students: $25 presale, $30 at door Workshop registration (cost per session): $20 presale, $25 at door; Students: $15 presale, $20 at door
Afternoon Workshops: 1:00-2:15 pm: Drum workshop with Rumen Sali Shopov 2:30-3:45 PM: Singing workshop with Carol Silverman and Sani Rifati 4:00-5:15 pm: Brass workshop with Benji Rifati and Evan Stuart
Evening Program: 5:30 pm: Free Panel Discussion with artists and Voice of Roma representatives 6:30 pm: Free Dance workshop with Šani Rifati 7:30 pm: Balkan Ensemble Meraklii with Rumen Sali Shopov 8:30 pm: Šaban Forever: Songs of Šaban Bajramović performed by Šani Rifati, Peter Stan, Dušan Ristić, Marco Ghezzo and Javi Jimenez. 9:30 pm: Stevens Family “Gypsy Boys” 10:30 pm-midnight: Fanfare Zambaleta
Tickets: General: $30 presale, $35 at door; Students: $25 presale, $30 at door Workshop registration (cost per session): General: $20 presale, $25 at door; Students: $15 presale, $20 at door. Kids under age 12 are be admitted free of cost.
Additional opportunities for instrumental instruction can be arranged with festival artists, including participation in multi-instrumental group lessons led by Peter Stan (accordion) and Marco Ghezzo (violin). Contact festival production manager Peter Bonos, peterbonos@gmail.com for further information, including volunteer opportunities. Copresented by Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal and Ashkenaz. Funded by ACTA. Graphic design by Jenette Selin.
Fanfare Zambaleta (roughly meaning crazy street party with brass) is an eight piece Balkan Brass band specializing in spirited music of the Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Greek and especially the Romani people. Featuring special guest Benji Rifati on trumpet, the band is led by Greg Jenkins on saxophone. Combining a love of the classic brass bands of the past with the modern sounds coming out of the Balkans, Fanfare Zambaleta brings an irresistible blend of old and new to get you dancing! They’ve learned from some of the greats including Demiran Ćerimović, Džambo Aguševi Orkestar and Nizo Alimov (of Kočani Orkestar) and are now embarking on a new journey to write original tunes inspired by their deep love of the music.
Stevens Family “Gypsy Boys” is a third generation Kalderash family band composed of George, virtuoso on guitar, and Paul on accordion. They perform throughout California, the Northwest, Nevada, New York and Florida for Romani weddings, baptisms, and calendrical celebrations. The group formed in the 1980’s when grandfather Vine, a renowned mandolinist and leader of the Los Angeles Romani community recruited his grandchildren. Learning in the oral tradition, they blend styles from Manush Jazz to Serbian, Greek, and Russian music. George is also a co-founder, frontman, and songwriter for the Seattle based Rumba Kings.
Songs of Šaban Bajramović features Sani Rifati on vocals performing the repertoire of the legendary Serbian singer who wrote hundreds of songs. He is joined by Banat Romanian/Serbian/American accordion player Peter Stan and Italian violinist Marco Ghezzo (and his group Arcush), who studied for many years with Roma in Csavas, Transylvania. Dusan Ristic on violin hails from a distinguished Serbian Romani family from Valjevo and emigrated to California in 2003. He founded the Amala Romani Music School and is also a visual artist who exhibited at the Venice Bienalle Romani Pavillion.
Sani Rifati, founder and president of Voice of Roma, is a producer, tour manager, dance instructor, and veteran Romani activist. Born in 1962 in Kosovo in a traditional and vibrant Romani neighborhood, he emigrated to the US in 1993 and now lives in Berlin. He has worked to produce VOR’s annual festivals for over 25 years and has tirelessly educated the public about the richness of Romani folk arts. Rifati has also taught numerous Romani dance workshops, given lectures throughout the US and Europe, and organized summer seminars in Romani music and dance.
Bay Area-based Balkan Ensemble Merkalii & Rumen Sali Shopov pick you up and spin you around with their energetic Balkan and Romani dance tunes!
Rumen “Sali” Shopov is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and director of Balkan Ensemble Merkalii. Raised in the vibrant Turkish/Muslim/Romani neighborhood of Gotse Delchev, Bulgaria, he was immersed in Bulgarian, Macedonian, Greek, Turkish, Serbian, and Romani music, and also served as concertmaster of the Bulgarian folk ensemble Nevrokop. Since emigrating to the US in 2001, he has performed and taught in numerous Bay Area venues as well as international music camps and has received support from ACTA and the Berkeley Civic Arts Commission.
Carol Silverman is award-winning Prof. Emerita of Cultural Anthropology/Folklore at the University of Oregon, VOR Board member, and music co-curator for RomArchive.eu. She has supported Romani culture in the Balkans and the American and West European diasporas for 40 years as a researcher, teacher, activist, and performer. She teaches Balkan singing internationally and toured and recorded extensively with the Yuri Yunakov Ensemble. Her 2012 book, Romani Routes: Cultural Politics and Balkan Music in Diaspora won the Book Prize from the Society for Ethnomusicology.
Voice of Roma is a California based NGO that promotes the rich cultural heritage of Roma dating back a thousand years, through festivals, workshops, performances and educational presentations. VOR works to heighten awareness of human rights issues faced by Roma in today’s world, and to support efforts by Roma to build and maintain their communities, and to improve their lives. In its 27-year history, VOR has supported many educational programs about Roma as well as several national tours of esteemed artists, such as the final American tour of superstar vocalist Esma Redžepova. See voiceofroma.com.
The Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal at the Starry Plough presents Istanbul Connection Saturday, April 19 Doors open at 7:30pm; Show starts at 8:30 pm $20 general/$15 students
The Starry Plough Pub, 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
Buy Tickets – Join Facebook Event All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm. Food, beer and wine available from the bar until 10 pm.
Istanbul Connection A Bay Area musical collective formed when thirteen members of the hottest Balkan and Latin bands were gravitationally pulled to visit the city of Istanbul. With a mind towards cross-cultural connection and sonic expansion, these die-hards flew 7,000 miles to represent a piece of the the Bay Area music scene. In the process, they have cemented themselves as a supergroup of groove and since their epic beginnings, the band has performed sold-out-show after show. They continue to draw their inspiration from the Turkish Maqam, Flamenco, Rumba, Balkan, and Cumbia they are are so deeply rooted in. Come prepared to dance! istanbulconnection.net
Kata Miletich- Vox, Palmas Haluk Kecelioglu- Oud, Violin, Vox Raul Vargas- Cajón, Palmas, Vox Bob Sanders-Guitar Isaac “Izzy” Weiser- Bass Gregory Masaki- Clarinet, Saxophone Danny Cao- Trumpet Sean Tergis- Darbuka Melissa Cruz- Drums, Flamenco Dance
Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal at the Starry Plough presents Ionela Guzic with Orchestra Euphonos (10pm to midnight) Taraf de Akácfa (8-10 pm) Saturday, March 15 $20 general/$15 students. Show starts at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm. Food, beer and wine available from the bar until 10 pm.
Ionela Guzic is a talented young singer and a rising star in the world of Romanian traditional music. She has performed with many iconic musicians from Romania and Moldova. Born in Targu Jiu, Romania has received numerous awards at national and international folk music competitions. Her albums and music videos have received with widespread acclaim, was featured on many radio and television stations in Romania, and helped launch Guzic’s international career, including tours in the United States.
Orchestra Euphonos is a Bay Area-based Eastern European folk and klezmer band, performing traditional music from Moldova and Romania. Their performances are joyous occasions filled with wild takes on old favorites, group improvisations, and more than a few opportunities to dance. Guzic first met with Orchestra Euphonos in early 2018 and will finally collaborate again after many years!
Ionela Guzic – voice, Peter Bonos – trumpet, Zina Pozen – accordion, Asaf Ophir – clarinet, Leo Peringer – bass, Ivan Velev – percussion & Marco Ghezzo – violin
Taraf de Akácfa (from Budapest, Hungary)
An evening of Romanian and Moldovan folk music performed by Lulu Starr on violin, Ion Curteanu on cimbalom, Dmitri Gaskin on accordion and Ari Munkres on double bass.
Taraf de Akácfa performes the rich repertoire of Romanian folk music with distinctive interpretations and dynamic arrangements. They focus on the complex, southern Romanian style, Lăutarească, and incorporate a variety of traditional music from Moldova, Transylvania and the Balkans.
Taraf de Akácfa was created in 2014 by traveling street musicians who met in Budapest, Hungary, in an international collective house on Akácfa street. The founding members of the group came from the United States, Sweden, Hungary and France, and eventually chose to stay in Budapest, where they experienced constant musical inspiration and could share their common passion for Eastern European and Balkan folk music. Their current musical repertoire is predominantly centered around Romanian lăutarească, Moldovan and Transylvanian folk music, and they also include a variety of folk music from the Balkans. While the formation of the band has changed and now the majority of the current members are native Hungarians, one thing has always remained; the shared curiosity and enthusiasm for this complex and dynamically rich traditional music. Taraf de Akácfa mixes the different musical and cultural backgrounds of its members, while tastefully blending different styles of folk music with innovative ideas and arrangements. They honor the sources and traditions which they draw upon, all while adding their own unique interpretation and style. Over the years, the members traveled throughout Romania, Moldova and Hungary, researching the origins of the songs which they play. They have had the opportunity to learn from the some of the greatest folk musicians, most notably those of Taraf de Haidouks as well as Marcel Râmba, who heavily influenced their current repertoire. In 2016 the band recorded their first self- titled album in Budapest. In 2018 their second full length album “Trei Focuri” was recorded at Pheonix Studio in Diósd, Hungary.
Saturday, February 15 Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal presents
Terga (10 pm) Ensemble Merkalii (8 pm)
The Starry Plough Pub 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
$20 general/$15 students. Show starts at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm. Food, beer and wine available from the bar until 10 pm.
TERGA is a band which draws its inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of North Africa. Terga means “Dreams” in Amazighi, the Berber language.
Bay Area-based Balkan Ensemble Merkalii & Rumen Sali Shopov pick you up and spin you around with their energetic Balkan and Romani dance tunes!
The Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal Presents Dodona (10 pm) Andrew Cohen (8 pm)
Saturday, January 18
The Starry Plough Pub 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
$20 general/$15 students. Show starts at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm. Food, beer and wine available from the bar until 10 pm.
Dodona (10 pm): Drawing from the deep well of musical traditions from Albania and the Epirus region of Greece, Dodona moves between the mournful to the celebratory. The members of this new group have a specific goal, to bring out their love for the melodies of this small region. With a repertoire that goes from plaintive, to trance inducing, to driving, Dodona is one of the few groups in the Bay Area specifically focused on the Albanian and Epirus diaspora. So whether you love a good tsamiko, or the familiarity of a syrtos, or even if you just love to dance with wild abandon this unique band is sure to deliver. Dodona’s members are Calvin Lai on clarinet, Greg Jenkins on clarinet and vocals, Jenette Selin on accordion, Kent Kessinger on guitar, Sean Tergis on drums and vocalist Genevieve Daphne.
Andrew Cohen (8 pm)
Andrew Cohen is on a mission with the accordion. After experiencing an existential crisis common among classically trained musicians, he decided to pick up the instrument and hasn’t looked back. Andrew performed constantly for years as part of the rich Bay Area Balkan music scene, learning traditional folk music from Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, and Turkey. After a time, Romanian Gypsy music, Muzica Lautareasca caught his attention. In 2019, after recording his album Californeasca featuring professional Romanian vocalist Ionela Guzic, Andrew was invited to study in Romania with master accordionist Ionica Minune, living for months with him, his wife, and their ten dogs in the village of Stefanestii-de-Jos. To date, Andrew is the first and only American musician to be given the opportunity to study with Ionica who is one of the national figures of Romania, and the experience has inspired him to bring this virtuosic and little-known music to an audience here in the US. Andrew has performed at many venues around California and the western US, and at festivals including Outside Lands and Symbiosis festival.
The Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal Presents Krekhts (10 pm) Duygu and Friends (8 pm)
Saturday, Dec. 21
The Starry Plough Pub 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
$20 general/$15 students. Show starts at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. Buy Tickets Online All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm when kitchen closes. Food, beer and wine available from the bar.
Krekhts A krekht (קרעכץ) is a crack – a shrill cry of the clarinet, a break in the voice. An imperfection, but one which comes straight from the heart.
Krekhts is a rough and ready Berkeley psychoklezmer band that sifts through the deep drawers of Klezmer history — from the factory floor to the cheapest seats in the Second Avenue cabaret, to the Borscht Belt and the Yiddish radio. They play frenetic bulgars and soul-wrenching ballads in mameloshn (Yiddish), medineh-loshn (English) and loshnkoydesh (Hebrew). Mike Tal (guitar), Binya Kóatz (vocals), Atid Kimelman (clarinet), Aaron Goldstein (drums/vocals), Daniel Goldberg (alto sax), and Seng Chen (bass) forge gelt from the Yiddish past to pave the way towards the joyously liberated Yiddish future. Featuring special guest Ilya Kreymer on accordion.
Duygu & Friends is a dynamic ensemble celebrating the music of Anatolia and the Aegean, offering folksy interpretations of Turkish popular and classical songs. With its evolving lineup and creative collaborations, the group brings fresh energy to traditional sounds. For their upcoming performance at the Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal, the core duo Duygu Gün on guitar and vocals, and Peter Bonos on oud and trumpet, will be joined by Faisal Zedan on percussion and Marco Ghezzo on violin, accompanied by captivating belly dancing by Melike Şengül.
Duygu Gün is a musician, community advocate, creative producer, and cultural connector dedicated to preserving and sharing folk traditions. She was raised in Mersin, Türkiye and is currently based in San Francisco, California.
The Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal Presents Lars & In Charge with Zoe Jakes and Pixie Fordtears (10 pm) Aya Safiya and Michael Garibaldi (8 pm)
Saturday, November 16
The Starry Plough Pub 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
$20 general/$15 students. Show starts at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm when kitchen closes. Food, beer and wine available from the bar.
LARS AND IN CHARGE plays high-energy dance music from the Balkans and Near East. Lars Tergis leads the charge on violin with driving, gritty interpretations of Turkish Roman and Greek dance tunes, and original compositions. Gregory Masaki Jenkins brings his vast experience and soulful clarinet playing and vocals to the mix. Gopal Slavonic adds a touch of flamenco with percussive chordal accompaniment on classical guitar. Joe Rosato Jr. fills out the low end on upright bass while Sean Tergis and Faisal Zedan keep the beat popping on derbekki, riqq and davul. For this performance, the band will be joined by belly dancers Zoe Jakes and Pixie Fordtears of Beats Antique.
Aya Safiya (Violin) and Michael Garibaldi (Laouto) present music from the Greek islands. They are excited to make their first appearance as a duo at The Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal. Come listen to a carefully crafted set of songs from the Mid-Aegean, Western-Cyclades, and Northern-Dodecanese islands. Aya and Micahel are both passionate about the most traditional of traditional music so prepare for super folky!
The Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal at the Starry Plough presents: Euphonos & Friends (9 pm) Bambashka (8 pm)
Saturday, October 19 The Starry Plough Pub 3101 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703
Tickets: $20 at the door. Cash or Venmo accepted. All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm when kitchen closes. Food, beer and wine available from the bar.
“Duygu & Friends” unfortunately will no longer be playing this bill, instead we welcome Euphonos & Friends as the the house band for a program of a mix of Turkish, Balkan, Russian, Ukranian and Klezmer music, led by Peter Bonos on trumpet and oud, Zina Pozen on accordion with Marco Ghezzo on violin, Duygu Gün on guitar and Aaron Goldstein on drums. Special guest vocalists will include Jarolim Garyri, Darina Drapin, Anastasia Kuba and more TBA.
Bambáshka is your typical Bay Area band, started at a pandemic-era outdoor jam by two dog-eating immigrants posing as a Berkeley sociology professor (Cihan Tuğal – voice, guitar) and an Apple engineer (Zina Pozen – accordion, voice). Still inspired by internationalist ideas despite everything that’s happening, we sing in Turkish, Russian, Kurdish, Ukrainian, French and a few other languages. We are drawn to achingly beautiful, nostalgic songs that express longing for a better world.
Tickets: $20 at the door. Cash or Venmo accepted. All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm when kitchen closes. Food, beer and wine available from the bar.
The Helios Band is one of the most versatile Greek bands in Northern California, playing traditional styles: Rembetika, Laika, Nissiotika, Demotika and Modern Greek music. Helios has performed at Greek Festivals throughout the western U.S. and has also performed at celebrity weddings in the Bay Area (S.F. Giants’ Hunter Pence’s Wedding) and in Big Sur (Spotify founder Sean Parker’s Wedding). The outstanding musicianship and vocals of the Helios Band members make each performance a truly special and memorable event. The band is also performs at for weddings, baptisms, festivals, parties and concerts. Helios Website.
Barrio Arcush is a project born in the Bay Area from the need to draw bridges between musical styles that are much closer to each other than what appears when looking at the map. What do Balkan Roma (“gypsy”) music and manouche jazz have in common with Latin music? Barrio Arcush is a collaboration between Marco Ghezzo of Arcush (violin, Italy) and Javi Jimenez of Barrio Manoushe (guitar, Spain), they leap with virtuosity from one style to another to land in the original compositions, a sort of traditional music from a country that doesn’t exist… yet!
