DakhaBrakha

About

DakhaBrakha is world music quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine. Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, Ukrainian “ethno-chaos” band DakhaBrakha, create a world of unexpected new music.

The name DakhaBrakha is original, outstanding and authentic at the same time. It means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language. Accompanied by Indian, Arabic, African, and Ukrainian traditional instrumentation, the quartet’s astonishingly powerful and uncompromising vocal range creates a trans-national sound rooted in Ukrainian culture.

Live Soundtrack for “Earth”: In addition to their own performances, DakhaBrakha also performs their original live soundtrack alongside a screening of the classic 1930 film, “Earth”, by Aleksandr Dovzhenko (considered to be one of the most important films of the Soviet era). Dovzhenko is a master of composition, and the film—with its intense close-ups and the impressive expanses of the landscape—is a passionate tribute to the countryside, to nature, and to the people that work on it.


Artist Links: Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Bandcamp

Areas of Representation: The Americas, UK, Australia, New Zealand, China

Biography

  Photo by Steve Carrillo for CAP UCLA

DakhaBrakha is music quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine. Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, Ukrainian “ethno chaos” band DakhaBrakha creates a world of unexpected new music.

DakhaBrakha was created in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art “DAKH” by the avant-garde theatre director – Vladyslav Troitskyi – and given the name that means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language. Theatre work has left its mark on the band performances – their shows are always staged with a strong visual element.

After experimenting with Ukrainian folk music, the band has added rhythms of the surrounding world into their music, thus creating the bright, unique and unforgettable sound of DakhaBrakha. They strive to help open up the potential of Ukrainian melodies and to bring it to the hearts and consciousness of the younger generation in Ukraine and the rest of the world as well.

Accompanied by Indian, Arabic, African, and Ukrainian traditional instrumentation, the quartet’s astonishingly powerful and uncompromising vocal range creates a trans-national sound rooted in Ukrainian culture. At the crossroads of Ukrainian folklore and theater, their musical spectrum is at first intimate then riotous, plumbing the depths of contemporary roots and rhythms, inspiring “cultural and artistic liberation”.

In March 2010, DakhaBrakha won the prestigious Grand Prix prize named after S.Kuriokhin, in the sphere of contemporary art, and confirmed its place in the culture once again. In March 2011 DakhaBrakha was discovered by Australian Womadelaide and began their ascent in the international music scene. They have since played more than 300 concerts and performances and have taken part in major international festivals throughout Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, Asia, Australia, and North America. DakhaBrakha has also collaborated with such international musicians as: Port Mone (By), Kimmo Pohjonen Cluster (Fi), Karl Frierson (DePhazz) (Ge), Steve Cooney (IRL), Inna Zhelannaya (Ru), Kievbass (UA), Djam (UA-Iran), and David Ingibaryan (Hu).


Live Soundtrack for “Earth”:

In addition to their own performances, DakhaBrakha also performs their original live soundtrack along with screening of the classic 1930 film, “Earth”, by Aleksandr Dovzhenko, considered to be one of the most important films of the Soviet era. Dovzhenko is a master of composition, and the film—with its intense close-ups and the impressive expanses of the landscape—is a passionate tribute to the countryside, to nature, and to the people that work on it.

“Earth” was banned 9 days after it’s original release, and was glorified in Ukraine only after Dovzhenko’s death in 1956. Full of lyrical pantheism and utopian exaltation, it demonstrated the ambiguity of Ukrainian geopolitical choice in the 1920s. In 1958, a film critics’ forum in Brussels named “Earth” one of the 12 best films in the history of world cinema.

The group has this to say about the creation of their soundtrack for “Earth”:

“Making music for Alexander Dovzhenko’s “Earth” was a great honor for us and a difficult creative challenge. Frame by frame, this Ukrainian masterpiece of world cinema impressed us every time we worked on it. No matter how we tried to work on the film as a self-contained artistic endeavor, avoiding ideological evaluation, we could not. Of course, we voiced the film in the human terms of the 21st Century, even while being aware that after 1930, when the work was completed on “Earth”, came the years of the Communist famine of 1932-1933, the years of repression, and we know about the difficult fate of the Dovzhenko socialist empire. Together, we tried to convey the authenticity, and also the naivety, of those feelings and messages brought to us from that time and that era, to us today and our Earth.”


Marko Halanevych – vocals, darbuka, tabla, accordion

Marko is the only representative of the countryside in the band. He was born in the village of Krushenivka, in the Vinnitskiy region. into a family of village intellectuals. He graduated from the faculty of the Ukrainian philology, but came into the theatre, became an actor of the Centre of Contemporary Art “DAKH” and then accidentally found himself working with the band. Marko is fond of design – he creates the visual images of DakhaBrakha and also for the “DAKH” theatre where he continues to perform on stage as an actor.

Iryna Kovalenko – vocals, djembe, bass drums, accordion, percussion, bugay, zgaleyka, piano

Ira has played Ukrainian ethnic music since her early childhood. Moreover, she has graduated from the faculty of folklore. She is fond of yoga, yachting, and rowing. Ira is responsible for the “brass section” of the group, as she easily gets the feel of different musical instruments. She also performs at the “Dakh” theatre as an actress.

Olena Tsybulska – vocals, bass drums, percussion, garmoshka

Lena is one of the specialists at the folklore department of the National University of Ukraine. When she has some time off, she works on preparing her Candidate’s dissertation about traditional Ukrainian wedding songs. She is fond of driving, sewing and interior design.

Nina Garenetska – vocals, cello, bass drum

Nina professionally studied folklore and is a self-taught cellist. She is the most artistically open-minded member of the band and is always up for collaborating with other musicians. Nina is fond of traveling, photography, fancywork and adornment creation.


Ethno-Chaos: DakhaBrakha Reinvents Ukraine’s Unsung Roots Music With Global Finesse

(Rockpaperscissors)

A shadowy procession to the pounding of drums, to the murmur of a cello, morphs into an anthem, an invocation, a wild and wacky breakdown. Drones and beats, crimson beads and towering black lambs-wool hats all serve as a striking backdrop for an unexpected, refreshingly novel vision of Eastern European roots music. This is the self-proclaimed “ethno-chaos” of Ukraine’s DakhaBrakha, a group that feels both intimately tied to their homeland, yet instantly compelling for international audience.

“We just want people to know our culture exists,” muses Marko Halanevych of DakhaBrakha, the remarkable Kyiv-based ensemble that has broken down the tired musical framework for Ukrainian traditional music. “We want people to know as much as possible about our corner of the world.”

The quartet does far more than introduce Ukrainian music or prove it is alive and well. They craft stunning new sonic worlds for traditional songs, reinventing their heritage with a keen ear for contemporary resonances. With one foot in the urban avant-garde theater scene and one foot in the village life that nurtured and protected Ukraine’s cultural wealth, DakhaBrakha shows the full fury and sensuality of some of Eastern Europe’s most breathtaking folklore.

Refined yet saucy, eerie yet earthy, Ukrainian music has languished in relative obscurity, though its achievements are diverse and sophisticated: complex polyphonic singing with interlocking lines so tight the ears buzz, long and philosophical epics, humorous ditties, instrumental virtuosity, and raucous dance tunes. Ritual and ribaldry, urbane composition and rural celebration, Asian influences and Western harmony all combined to give contemporary musicians a true wealth of potential sources.

DakhaBrakha knows these sources well: the three female vocalists have spent many summers traveling around Ukraine’s villages collecting songs and learning from elder women in remote areas. Like these village tradition-bearers, they have spent years singing together, a fact that resonates in the beautifully close, effortlessly blended sound of their voices. Marko grew up steeped in village life, and draws on his rural upbringing when contributing to the group.

Yet the young musicians and actors were determined to break away from purist recreations and from the stale, schmaltzy, post-Soviet remnants of an ideology-driven folk aesthetic. Urged on by Vladyslav Troitsky, an adventuresome theater director at the DAKH Center for Contemporary Art, a cornerstone of the Kyiv arts underground, the group resolved to create something radically different. They wanted to experiment, to discover, to put Ukrainian material in a worldly context, without divorcing it from its profound connection to land and people. That’s why tablas thunk and digeridoos rumble, filling out DakhaBrakha’s sound, and yet never overshadow the deeply rooted voices and spare, yet unforgettable visual aesthetic.

“The beginning was pretty primitive,” recalls Halanevych. “We tried to find rhythms to match the melodies. We tried to shift the emphasis of these songs. We know our own material, our native music well, yet we wanted to get to know other cultures and music well. We started with the Indian tabla, then started to try other percussion instruments. But we didn’t incorporate them directly; we found our own sounds that helped us craft music.”

Through this experimentation and repurposing of instruments from other cultures to serve DakhaBrakha’s own sound, the band was guided by the restraint, the elemental approach that owed a debt to the emotionally charged minimalism of Phillip Glass and Steve Reich.

“At the same time as we explored ethnic music, we got interested in minimalism, though never in a way that was literal or obvious,” Halanevych explains. “The methods of minimalism seemed to us to be very productive in our approach to folk. The atmospheric and dramatic pieces that started our work together were created by following that method.”

This mix of contemporary, cosmopolitan savvy and intimacy with local traditions and meanings cuts to the heart of DakhaBrakha’s bigger mission: To make the world aware of the new country but ancient nation that is Ukraine. “It’s important to show the world Ukraine, and to show Ukrainians that we don’t need to have an inferiority complex. That we’re not backward hicks, but progressive artists. There are a lot of wonderful, creative people here, people who are now striving for freedom, for a more civilized way of life, and are ready to stand up for it.”

Tour Dates

Future Tour Dates

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Tour History

Return to Future Tour Dates

2020
Apr 9, 2020 Cancelled
Santa Barbara, CA USA Campbell Hall
8:00PM  
Apr 3, 2020 Cancelled
Grass Valley, CA USA Center for the Arts
7:30PM  
Apr 3, 2020 Cancelled
Salem, OR USA Chemeketa Auditorium,Building 6
7:30PM  
Mar 20, 2020 Cancelled
Ithaca, NY USA State Theatre - Ithaca
8:00PM  
Mar 19, 2020 Cancelled
Kingston, ON CANADA Regina Rosen Auditorium
7:30 PM  
Mar 18, 2020 Cancelled
St.Catherines, ON CANADA FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
7:30 PM  
Mar 5, 2020 Diamond Season Cancelled
Markham, ON CANADA Markham Theatre
8:00 PM  
2019
Oct 20, 2019 Venue Info
Duncan, BC CANADA Cowichan Theatre
7:30PM  
Oct 19, 2019 Venue Info
Vancouver, BC CANADA Chan Shun Concert Hall
8:00PM  
Oct 17, 2019 Venue Info
Edmonton, AB CANADA Winspear Centre
8:00 PM  
Oct 15, 2019 Venue Info
Seattle, WA USA Triple Door
7:30PM  
Oct 14, 2019 Venue Info
Seattle, WA USA Triple Door
7:30PM  
Oct 13, 2019 Beloved Open-Air Sacred Art and Music Festival Venue Info
Portland, OR USA First Congregational United Church of Christ
8:00PM  
Oct 12, 2019 Beloved Open-Air Sacred Art and Music Festival Venue Info
Portland, OR USA First Congregational United Church of Christ
8:00PM  
Oct 9, 2019 Venue Info
Berkeley, CA USA Freight and Salvage
8:00PM  
Oct 8, 2019 Venue Info
Berkeley, CA USA Freight and Salvage
8:00PM  
Oct 6, 2019 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Venue Info
San Francisco, CA USA Porch Stage
1:20PM to 2:00PM  
Oct 4, 2019 Venue Info
Holyoke, MA USA Gateway City Arts
8:00PM  
Oct 3, 2019 Venue Info
Brooklyn, NY USA Murmrr Theater
8:00PM  
Sep 29, 2019 Rock in Rio Venue Info
Rio de Janeiro, RJ BRASIL Rock Street Asia
4:50-5:50PM  
Sep 28, 2019 Rock in Rio Venue Info
Rio de Janeiro, RJ BRASIL Rock Street Asia
7:00-8:00PM  
Sep 27, 2019 Rock in Rio Venue Info
Rio de Janeiro, RJ BRASIL Rock Street Asia
4:50-5:50PM  
Jul 30, 2019 Venue Info
Bristol, UK The Lanes
9:30 PM  
Jul 28, 2019 Port Eliot Festival Venue Info
St Germans, Cornwall UK Port Eliot
9:00PM  
Jul 27, 2019 Venue Info
Charlton Park, Wiltshire UK WOMAD - Siam Tent
8:15PM-9:30PM  
Jul 26, 2019 Venue Info
London, UK EartH
9:30PM  
Jun 27, 2019 Ottawa Intl Jazz Fest Venue Info
Ottawa, ON CANADA Confederation Park
10:30 PM  
Jun 25, 2019 Venue Info
Ithaca, NY USA The Haunt
8:00PM  
Jun 23, 2019 San Francisco Jazz Festival Venue Info
San Francisco, CA USA Miner Auditorium
7:00PM  
Jun 22, 2019 NoHo Summer Nights Venue Info
North Hollywood, CA USA North Hollywood Park
8:00 PM  
Jun 17, 2019 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
7:00PM  
Jun 15, 2019 Venue Info
New York, NY USA Schimmel Center for the Arts
7:30PM  
Jun 9, 2019 Fairy House Festival Venue Info
Lewiston, NY USA Artpark, Lower Park, Emerald Grove stage
4:00PM  
Jun 8, 2019 PVDFest Venue Info
Providence, RI USA PVDFest Outdoor Stage
TBD  
Apr 21, 2019 Soul'd Out Festival Venue Info
Portland, OR USA The Crystal Ballroom
8:00 PM  
Apr 19, 2019 Venue Info
Chicago, IL USA Patio Theater
8:00PM  
Apr 17, 2019 Venue Info
Tallahassee, FL USA Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
7:30PM  
Apr 14, 2019 Venue Info
Toronto, ON Canada Koerner Hall
7:00 PM  
Apr 13, 2019 Venue Info
Somerville, MA USA Somerville Theatre
8:00PM  
Apr 12, 2019 Venue Info
College Park, MD USA Milkboy Arthouse
8:00PM  
Apr 9, 2019 Venue Info
Holyoke, MA USA Gateway City Arts
8:00 PM  
Apr 7, 2019 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
6:00 PM  
Apr 6, 2019 Venue Info
St. Joseph, MN USA Gorecki Family Theater
7:30 PM  
2018
Oct 17, 2018 Venue Info
London, Lambeth United Kingdom Queen Elizabeth Hall
7:30PM  
Oct 14, 2018 Open Spaces KC Venue Info
Kansas City, MO USA Starlight Theater
6:00PM  
Oct 12, 2018 Desert Daze Festival Venue Info
Moreno Valley, CA USA Lake Perris
TBD  
Oct 9, 2018 Venue Info
San Jose, CA USA The Ritz
8:00PM  
Oct 7, 2018 Venue Info
Petaluma, CA USA Mystic Theatre
8:30PM  
Oct 5, 2018 Venue Info
Arcata, CA USA Fulkerson Recital Hall
8:00PM  
Oct 2, 2018 Venue Info
Folsom, CA USA Three Stages
7:30PM  
Sep 30, 2018 Venue Info
Berkeley, CA USA Freight and Salvage
8:30PM  
Sep 29, 2018 Venue Info
Berkeley, CA USA Freight and Salvage
8:30PM  
Sep 27, 2018 Venue Info
Los Angeles, CA USA The Theater at Ace Hotel
8:00PM  
Sep 25, 2018 Venue Info
Portland, OR USA Aladdin Theater
8:00PM  
Sep 24, 2018 Venue Info
Portland, OR USA Aladdin Theater
8:00PM  
Sep 22, 2018 Venue Info
Duncan, BC CANADA Cowichan Theatre
7:30 PM  
Sep 21, 2018 Vancouver Island MusicFest Venue Info
Courtenay, BC CANADA Native Sons Hall
8:00PM  
Aug 15, 2018 Central Park Sessions Venue Info
Madison, WI USA Central Park
7:30PM  
Aug 12, 2018 Regina Folk Festival Venue Info
Regina, SK CANADA Victoria Park
6:00 PM  
Aug 11, 2018 Edmonton Folk Music Festival Venue Info
Edmonton, AB CANADA Gallagher Park
 
Aug 10, 2018 Edmonton Folk Music Festival Venue Info
Edmonton, AB CANADA Gallagher Park
 
Aug 5, 2018 Pickathon Music Festival Venue Info
Happy Valley, OR USA Pendarvis Farm
7:10- 8:10 PM  
Aug 3, 2018 Pickathon Music Festival Venue Info
Happy Valley, OR USA Pendarvis Farm
11:00 -12:10 PM  
Jul 31, 2018 Music on The Half Shell  
Hillsboro, OR USA Stewart Park
 
Jul 30, 2018 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
7:00PM  
Jul 27, 2018 Friday Night Live Venue Info
Detroit, MI USA Detroit Institute of Arts - North Lawn
7:00PM  
Jul 23, 2018 Venue Info
Washington, DC USA City WInery - DC
8:00PM  
Jul 22, 2018 Venue Info
New York, NY USA Sony Hall NYC
8:00PM  
Jul 20, 2018 Finger Lakes Grass Roots Festival Venue Info
Trumansburg, NY USA Trumansburg Fairgrounds
10:30PM  
Jul 18, 2018 Venue Info
San Francisco, CA USA Miner Auditorium
7:30pm  
Jul 16, 2018 Venue Info
Santa Cruz, CA USA Kuumbwa Jazz Center
7:00PM  
Jul 14, 2018 Vancouver Folk Music Festival Venue Info
Vancouver, BC CANADA Jericho Beach Park
7:00PM  
Jul 13, 2018 Vancouver Folk Music Festival Venue Info
Vancouver, BC CANADA Jericho Beach Park
7:00PM  
Apr 20, 2018 Venue Info
St. Joseph, MN USA College of Saint Benedict - Gorecki Family Theater
7:30 PM  
Apr 13, 2018 Venue Info
Toronto, ON Canada Koerner Hall
7:00 PM  
Apr 11, 2018 Venue Info
College Park, MD USA Milkboy Arthouse
8:00PM  
2017
Dec 4, 2017 Venue Info
Bristol, UK The Lanes
9:00 PM  
Dec 2, 2017 Venue Info
Gateshead Quays, Gateshead UK The Sage Gateshead
8:00PM  
Dec 1, 2017 Venue Info
Bangor, Wales UK Pontio Arts Center
8:00PM  
Nov 30, 2017 Venue Info
Brighton, UK Attenborough Centre for the Arts
Time TBD  
Nov 29, 2017 Venue Info
London, UK The Oval
Time TBD  
Nov 26, 2017 Venue Info
Reston, VA USA CenterStage at Reston Community Center
7:00 PM  
Nov 25, 2017 Venue Info
Wilmington, DE USA Baby Grand
8:00PM  
Nov 24, 2017 Venue Info
Chicago, IL USA Old Town School - Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall
8:00PM  
Nov 22, 2017 Venue Info
Cleveland Heights, OH USA Concert Hall
8:00PM  
Nov 20, 2017 Venue Info
Rochester, NY USA Kilbourn Hall - Eastman School of Music
8:00PM  
Nov 19, 2017 Venue Info
Brooklyn, NY USA Littlefield
8PM  
Nov 18, 2017 Venue Info
Alliston, MA USA Brighton Music Hall
9:00PM  
Nov 17, 2017 Venue Info
N Bethesda, MD USA Music Center at Strathmore
8:00 PM  
Nov 14, 2017 Venue Info
Gainesville, FL USA Curtis M. Phillips Center - U of FL
7:30PM  
Nov 13, 2017 Venue Info
West Palm Beach, FL USA Rinker Playhouse - Kravis Center
7:00PM Sun & 10:30AM Mon  
Nov 12, 2017 Venue Info
West Palm Beach, FL USA Rinker Playhouse - Kravis Center
7:00PM Sun & 10:30AM Mon  
Nov 8, 2017 Venue Info
Grass Valley, CA USA Center for the Arts
7:30 PM.  
Nov 5, 2017 Venue Info
Seattle, WA USA Neptune Theatre
8:00 PM  
Nov 3, 2017 Venue Info
Portland, OR USA Star Theater
9:15PM  
Nov 2, 2017 Venue Info
Los Angeles, CA USA Echoplex
10:30PM  
Nov 1, 2017 Venue Info
San Francisco, CA USA Miner Auditorium
7:30PM  
Oct 3, 2017 Venue Info
Huangpu Qu, Shanghai CHINA The Medium Theatre, Shanghai Grand Theatre
7:30PM  
Oct 2, 2017 Venue Info
Huangpu Qu, Shanghai CHINA The Medium Theatre, Shanghai Grand Theatre
7:45PM  
Jul 23, 2017 Grassroots Festival Venue Info
Trumansburg, NY USA Trumansburg Fairgrounds
 
Jul 23, 2017 Grassroots Festival Venue Info
Trumansburg, NY USA Trumansburg Fairgrounds
3:45-5:15PM  
Jul 22, 2017 Venue Info
East Meredith, NY USA West Kortright Centre
8:00 PM  
Jul 21, 2017 Capital Ukrainian Festival  
Ottawa, ON CANADA St John the Baptist Ukrainian Shrine grounds
8:00PM  
Jul 21, 2017 Capital Ukrainian Festival  
Ottawa, ON CANADA St John the Baptist Ukrainian Shrine grounds
8:30PM  
Jul 20, 2017 Hamilton World Music Festival Venue Info
Hamilton, ON CANADA Lincoln Alexander Centre
8:00PM  
Jul 20, 2017 Hamilton World Music Festival Venue Info
Hamilton, ON CANADA Lincoln Alexander Centre
8:00PM  
Jul 16, 2017 Vancouver Island MusicFest Venue Info
Courtenay, BC CANADA The Concert Bowl Stage
7:00 PM  
Jul 15, 2017 Vancouver Island MusicFest Venue Info
Courtenay, BC CANADA The Concert Bowl Stage
7:00 PM  
Jul 14, 2017 California Worldfest Venue Info
Grass Valley, CA USA Nevada County Fairgrounds
11:30AM  
Jul 13, 2017 California Worldfest Venue Info
Grass Valley, CA USA Nevada County Fairgrounds
7:50-8:40PM  
Jul 11, 2017 Festival D'ete de Quebec Venue Info
Quebec, QC CANADA Place d'Youville Square
9:10PM  
Jul 9, 2017 Venue Info
London, ON CANADA Victoria Park
5:45 PM  
Jul 8, 2017 Venue Info
London, ON CANADA Victoria Park
10:00 PM  
Jul 7, 2017 Winnipeg Folk Festival Venue Info
Manitoba, MB CANADA Birds Hill Provincial Park
11:10PM  
Jul 7, 2017 Winnipeg Folk Festival Venue Info
Manitoba, MB CANADA Birds Hill Provincial Park
11AM / 2:45PM  
Jun 30, 2017 Canada 150 Years  
Toronto, ON CANADA Humber Bay Park West
8:15 PM  
Jun 29, 2017 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival Venue Info
Rochester, NY USA XRIJF BIG TENT
8:30PM & 10:00PM  
Jun 27, 2017 Venue Info
Washington, DC USA U Street Music Hall
8:30PM  
Jun 24, 2017 The Santa Fe Railyard Concert Series Venue Info
Santa Fe, NM, NM USA The Santa Fe Railyard
7:00PM  
Apr 28, 2017 Venue Info
Los Angeles, CA USA Disney Hall
8:00 PM  
Apr 25, 2017 Venue Info
Berkeley, CA USA Freight and Salvage
8:00PM  
Apr 23, 2017 Venue Info
Seattle, WA USA Neptune Theatre
7PM  
Apr 21, 2017 Venue Info
Vancouver, BC CANADA York Theatre
8:10 PM  
Apr 19, 2017 Venue Info
Nanaimo, BC CANADA The Port Theatre
7:30PM  
Apr 15, 2017 Venue Info
New York, NY USA Schimmel Center for the Arts
7:30PM  
Apr 14, 2017 Venue Info
Durham, NC USA Baldwin Auditorium
8:00 PM  
Apr 12, 2017 Venue Info
Montreal, QC CANADA Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier
8:00 PM  
Apr 10, 2017 Venue Info
South Burlington, VT USA Higher Ground
8PM - opener  
Apr 9, 2017 Venue Info
Portsmouth, NH USA The Music Hall Loft
7PM  
Apr 7, 2017  
Amherst, MA USA Buckley Recital Hall - Amherst College
8:00 PM  
Apr 6, 2017 Venue Info
Storrs, CT USA Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
7:30PM  
Apr 4, 2017 Venue Info
University Park, PA USA Schwab Auditorium - Pennsylvania State University
7:30 PM  
Apr 2, 2017 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
7:00 PM  
Apr 1, 2017 Venue Info
Batavia, IL USA Fermilab's Ramsey Auditorium
8:00 PM  
Mar 31, 2017 Venue Info
Chicago, IL USA Old Town School - Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall
8:00PM  
Mar 29, 2017 UMS - University Musical Society. Venue Info
Ann Arbor, MI USA Michigan Theater
7:30 PM  
Mar 25, 2017 Savannah Music Festival Venue Info
Savannah, GA USA Lucas Theatre for the Arts
3:00PM  
Mar 23, 2017 The Big Ears Festival Venue Info
Knoxville, TN USA The Standard
11 PM  
Mar 22, 2017 Venue Info
Kennett Square, PA USA Longwood Gardens Open Air Theatre
8:00PM  
Mar 17, 2017 Globalfest@SXSW Venue Info
Austin, TX USA Palm Door on Sixth
11:59PM  
Mar 16, 2017 SXSW Music Fest Venue Info
Austin, TX USA International Day Stage
2:00PM  
Mar 16, 2017 SXSW Film Fest Venue Info
Austin, TX USA Stateside Theatre
5:30PM  
Mar 15, 2017 Riot Nights @ SXSW Venue Info
Austin, TX USA Speakeasy
12:30AM(Thur)  
Mar 14, 2017 Venue Info
Phoenix, AZ USA Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
7:00PM  
Mar 12, 2017 Venue Info
Albuquerque, NM USA Kimo Theater
7:30PM  
Mar 11, 2017 Venue Info
El Prado, NM USA Taos Mesa Brewing
9:00PM  
Mar 10, 2017 Venue Info
Overland Park, KS USA Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College
8:00PM  
Mar 9, 2017 Venue Info
Denver, CO USA Gates Concert Hall - Newman Center of Performing Arts
7:30 PM  
Feb 17, 2017 Venue Info
Doha, Abu Dhabi UAE East Plaza, NY University
7:30 PM  
2016
Oct 9, 2016 Mimo Fest Tiradentes Venue Info
Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL Rio de Janeiro Venues
Time TBD  
Oct 8, 2016 Mimo Fest Tiradentes Venue Info
Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL Rio de Janeiro Venues
Time TBD  
Aug 21, 2016 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Venue Info
Lyons, CO USA Planet Bluegrass Ranch
3:15 PM  
Aug 19, 2016 Venue Info
San Francisco, CA USA Miner Auditorium
7:30PM  
Aug 14, 2016 San Jose Jazz SummerFest 2016 Venue Info
San Jose, CA USA California Theater
3:00 PM  
Aug 13, 2016 Beloved Open-Air Sacred Art and Music Festival Venue Info
Tidewater, OR USA Tidewater Falls
8PM  
Aug 12, 2016 Wanderlust Festival Venue Info
Mont Tremblant, QC CANADA Wanderlust Mont Tremblant
9:45PM  
Aug 10, 2016 Festival des Traditions du Monde Venue Info
Sherbrooke, QC CANADA Scene Desjardins
7 PM  
Aug 7, 2016 Music Haven Concert Series Venue Info
Schenectady, NY The Agnes Macdonald Music Haven Stage
7:50 PM  
Aug 6, 2016 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
8:00 PM  
Aug 5, 2016 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
8:00 PM  
Aug 4, 2016 Venue Info
Madison, WI USA Central Park
8:30PM  
Jun 24, 2016 Glastonbury Festival 2016 Venue Info
Glastonbury, Somerset, UK West Holts Stage
2:30PM  
Jun 23, 2016 Venue Info
Shoreditch, London UK The Rich Mix
8:30 PM  
May 26, 2016 Venue Info
Zapopan, Jalisco MEXICO Auditorio Telmex
10PM  
May 21, 2016 Venue Info
New York, NY USA Schimmel Center for the Arts
7:30PM  
May 20, 2016 Venue Info
New York, NY USA Schimmel Center for the Arts
7:30PM  
May 15, 2016 Lake Eden Arts Festival 2016 Venue Info
Black Mountain, NC USA Lake Eden
2:15PM  
May 13, 2016 Joshua Tree Music Festival Venue Info
Joshua Tree, CA USA Joshua Tree Lake Campground
6:30PM  
May 12, 2016 Venue Info
Los Angeles, CA Echoplex
8PM  
May 11, 2016 Venue Info
La Jolla, CA USA Price Center Ballroom - UC
8:00 PM  
May 7, 2016  
Santa Ana, CA USA Yost Theatre
7:30PM  
May 5, 2016 Venue Info
Livermore, CA USA Bankhead Theater
7:30PM  
May 4, 2016  
Santa Cruz, CA USA Kuumbwa Jazz Center
7:00PM  
May 1, 2016 10 X 10 Venue Info
Fayetteville, AR USA Walton Arts Center
7:00PM  
Apr 28, 2016 Venue Info
Whitefish, MT USA O'Shaughnessy Center
1:00 PM  
Apr 28, 2016 Venue Info
Whitefish, MT USA O'Shaughnessy Center
7:30 PM  
Apr 27, 2016 Venue Info
Sandpoint, ID USA Panida Theater
10:00 AM  
Apr 27, 2016 Venue Info
Sandpoint, ID USA Panida Theater
7:30 PM  
Apr 24, 2016 Venue Info
Toronto, ON CANADA Aga Khan Museum Auditorium
2:00 PM  
Apr 23, 2016 Venue Info
Toronto, ON CANADA Aga Khan Museum Auditorium
8:00 PM  
Apr 22, 2016 Venue Info
Manchester, NH USA Dana Center
8:30PM  
Apr 21, 2016 World Music CRASH Arts Venue Info
Alliston, MA USA Brighton Music Hall
8:00PM  
Apr 20, 2016 Venue Info
Portsmouth, NH USA The Music Hall Loft
7PM  
Mar 20, 2016 Womad NZ Venue Info
New Plymouth, AUSTRALIA Brooklands Stage (Brooklands Park)
 
Mar 20, 2016 Womad NZ Venue Info
New Plymouth, New Zealand TSB Bowl Stage (Brooklands Park)
2PM  
Mar 19, 2016 Womad NZ Venue Info
New Plymouth, AUSTRALIA Brooklands Stage (Brooklands Park)
1PM  
Mar 18, 2016 Womad NZ Venue Info
New Plymouth, AUSTRALIA Brooklands Stage (Brooklands Park)
7:15PM  
Mar 14, 2016 Venue Info
Warrnambool, Vic AUSTRALIA Port Fairy Festival
 
Mar 13, 2016 Venue Info
Warrnambool, Vic AUSTRALIA Port Fairy Festival
8:30PM  
Mar 12, 2016 WOMADELAIDE 2016 Venue Info
Adelaide, AUSTRALIA Novatech stage - Botanic Park
4:00 PM  
Mar 11, 2016 WOMADELAIDE 2016 Venue Info
Adelaide, AUSTRALIA Novatech stage - Botanic Park
9:30PM  
Feb 6, 2016 Venue Info
Portland, ME USA Port City Music Hall
8:00PM  
Feb 5, 2016 Venue Info
Saint John, NB CANADA Imperial Theatre
8:00PM  
Feb 4, 2016 Venue Info
Frederickton, NB CANADA Fredericton Playhouse
7:30PM  
Feb 3, 2016 Venue Info
Moncton, NB CANADA Capitol Theatre
7:30 PM  
Jan 31, 2016 Venue Info
Guelph, ON CANADA St. George's Sanctuary
7:30PM  
Jan 30, 2016 Venue Info
Kingston, ON CANADA Regina Rosen Auditorium
7:30 PM  
Jan 29, 2016 Venue Info
Burlington, ON CANADA Burlington Performing Arts Centre
8:00PM  
Jan 28, 2016 Venue Info
St.Catherines, ON CANADA FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
7:30 PM  
Jan 24, 2016 Venue Info
Sainte-Geneieve, QC CANADA Salle Pauline-Julien
3PM  
Jan 23, 2016 Venue Info
Beloeil, QC CANADA Centre culturel de Beloeil
8PM  
Jan 22, 2016 Venue Info
Longueuil, QC CANADA Theatre de la Ville
8PM  
Jan 21, 2016  
Gatineau, QC CANADA Salle Jean-Desprez
8PM  
Jan 20, 2016 Venue Info
Outremont, QC CANADA Theatre Outremont
8:00PM  
Jan 18, 2016 Venue Info
Brooklyn, NY USA Brooklyn Bowl
9:45PM  
Jan 15, 2016 Venue Info
Washington, DC USA Millennium Stage - Kennedy Center
6:00PM  
Jan 13, 2016 Venue Info
Hanover, NH USA Hopkins Center for the Arts
7:00PM  
2015
Oct 2, 2015 Venue Info
Gateshead, UK The Sage Gateshead
8PM  
Oct 1, 2015 Venue Info
London, UK Village Underground
9PM  
Sep 29, 2015  
,
 
Sep 29, 2015  
Maidstone, UK Maidstone Studios
 
Sep 27, 2015 Venue Info
St. Albert, AB CANADA The Arden Theatre
7:30PM  
Sep 26, 2015 Venue Info
Seattle, WA USA Neptune
8:00PM  
Sep 25, 2015 Venue Info
Los Angeles, CA USA Royce Hall
10:30AM  
Sep 25, 2015 Venue Info
Los Angles, CA USA Royce Hall
8:00 PM  
Sep 22, 2015 Venue Info
Oakland, CA USA New Parish
10:15 PM  
Sep 21, 2015 Venue Info
Pullman, WA USA M.G. Carey Senior Ballroom Compton Union Building
7:30M  
Sep 19, 2015 TBA Festival  
Portland, OR USA Portland Institute of Contemporary Art
8:30PM  
Sep 17, 2015 Venue Info
Reno, NV USA Nightingale Concert Hall
7:30PM  
Sep 16, 2015 Venue Info
Reno, NV USA Northwest Reno Library
6:30PM  
Sep 15, 2015 Venue Info
Reno, NV USA UNR music students, in performance hall.
12PM  
Sep 13, 2015 Venue Info
Santa Fe, NM USA Skylight
7:30PM  
Sep 12, 2015 Venue Info
San Antonio, TX USA La Villita Historic Arts Village
6:30PM  
Sep 12, 2015 Venue Info
San Antonio, TX USA La Villita Historic Arts Village
8PM  
Sep 11, 2015 Venue Info
Albuquerque, NM USA National Hispanic Cultural Center - Journal Theatre
7:30PM  
Jul 26, 2015 Flaunt Venue Info
Toronto, ON CANADA Harbourfront Centre - WestJet Stage
4:30 PM  
Jul 26, 2015 Hillside Festival Venue Info
Guelph, ON CANADA Guelph Lake Conservation Area
TBA  
Jul 25, 2015 Hillside Festival Venue Info
Guelph, ON CANADA Guelph Lake Conservation Area
8:55 PM  
Jul 24, 2015 Calgary Folk Festival Venue Info
Calgary, AB CANADA Prince's Island Park
4PM  
Jul 23, 2015 Calgary Folk Festival Venue Info
Calgary, AB CANADA Prince's Island Park
6:30PM  
Jul 19, 2015 Stern Grove Festival Venue Info
San Francisco, CA USA Stern Grove
2 PM  
Jul 17, 2015 World Fest Venue Info
Grass Valley, CA USA Nevada County Fairgrounds
7:15PM  
Jul 14, 2015 Festival D'ete de Quebec Venue Info
Quebec, QC CANADA Place d'Youville Square
9:30PM  
Jul 12, 2015 TD Sunfest Venue Info
London, ON CANADA Victoria Park
5:45PM  
Jul 11, 2015 Concert of Colors Venue Info
Detroit, MI USA Max Fisher Music Center
3PM  
Jul 10, 2015 TD Sunfest Venue Info
London, ON CANADA Victoria Park
10:00 PM  
Jul 8, 2015 Venue Info
Havre-Aubert (Iles-de-la-Madeleine), QC CANADA Au Vieux Treuil
 
Jul 8, 2015 Scene Rideau Venue Info
Havre-Aubert (Iles-de-la-Madeleine), QC CANADA Au Vieux Treuil
8:30PM  
May 10, 2015 Venue Info
Brighton, UK Brighton Dome Corn Exchange
8:00PM  
Apr 26, 2015 Festival International de Louisiane Venue Info
Lafayette, LA USA Downtown Stages and Venues
3:45PM  
Apr 25, 2015 Festival International de Louisiane Venue Info
Lafayette, LA USA Downtown Stages and Venues
9:45PM  
Apr 23, 2015 Alverno Presents Venue Info
Milwaukee, WI USA Pitman Theater
8 PM  
Apr 22, 2015 Venue Info
Appleton, WI USA Harper Hall - Lawrence University
8 PM  
Apr 21, 2015 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
7:00PM  
Apr 21, 2015 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
8:00PM  
Apr 20, 2015 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
8:00PM  
Apr 19, 2015 Venue Info
Chicago, IL USA Mayne Stage
6:00PM & 8:00PM  
Apr 16, 2015 Venue Info
San Francisco, CA USA Miner Auditorium
8:00PM  
Apr 15, 2015 Venue Info
Stanford, CA USA Bing Concert Hall
7:30PM  
Apr 13, 2015  
Santa Cruz, CA USA Kuumbwa Jazz Center
7:00PM  
Apr 11, 2015 Venue Info
Los Angeles, CA USA W.M Keck Children's Amphitheater (Disney Hall rooftop)
11:00AM  
Apr 11, 2015 Venue Info
Los Angeles, CA USA W.M Keck Children's Amphitheater (Disney Hall rooftop)
12:30PM  
Apr 10, 2015 Venue Info
Santa Ana, CA USA Yost Theatre
8:30PM  
Apr 7, 2015 Venue Info
Mexico, DF MEXICO Palacio de la Escuela de Medicina
8:00PM  
Apr 6, 2015 Venue Info
Mexico, DF MEXICO Palacio de la Escuela de Medicina
8:00PM  
Apr 4, 2015 Savannah Music Festival 2015 Venue Info
Savannah, GA USA Ships of the Sea Museum & Garden
9:00 PM  
Apr 2, 2015 Venue Info
Washington, DC USA Sixth and I Historic Synagogue
8 PM  
Apr 1, 2015 Venue Info
Lewisburg, PA USA Campus Theater-Bucknell University
7:30 PM  
2014
Dec 7, 2014 Venue Info
Los Angeles, CA USA Theatre Raymond Kabbaz
7:30PM  
Dec 6, 2014 Venue Info
Tucson, AZ USA Rialto Theatre
8:00PM  
Dec 5, 2014 Venue Info
Phoenix, AZ USA Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
 
Dec 3, 2014 Venue Info
Socorro, NM USA Macey Center
7:30PM  
Dec 2, 2014 Venue Info
El Prado, NM USA Taos Mesa Brewing
8:00PM  
Dec 1, 2014 Globalquerque Venue Info
Albuquerque, NM USA The Dirty Bourbon
7:30PM  
Nov 30, 2014 Venue Info
Chicago, IL USA City Winery
8:00PM  
Nov 28, 2014 Venue Info
Toronto, ON CANADA Aga Khan Museum Auditorium
8:00PM  
Nov 27, 2014 Venue Info
Toronto, ON CANADA Aga Khan Museum Auditorium
8:00PM  
Nov 24, 2014 Venue Info
Portsmouth, NH USA The Music Hall Loft
7 PM  
Nov 23, 2014 Venue Info
Portsmouth, NH USA The Music Hall Loft
7 PM  
Nov 22, 2014 Venue Info
Cambridge, MA USA First Parish Unitarian Church
8 PM  
Nov 18, 2014 Venue Info
Sherbrooke, QC CANADA Centennial Theatre
7:30PM  
Nov 16, 2014 Venue Info
Richmond, VA USA Modlin Center for the Arts
7:30 PM  
Nov 15, 2014 Venue Info
Reston, VA USA CenterStage at Reston Community Center
8 PM  
Nov 14, 2014 Venue Info
Arden, DE USA Arden Gild Hall
8:00 PM  
Nov 13, 2014 NC State University - Center Stage Venue Info
Raleigh, NC USA State Ballroom, Talley Student Union
8 PM  
Nov 11, 2014 Venue Info
Gainesville, FL USA Curtis M. Phillips Center - U of FL
 
Nov 9, 2014 Venue Info
West Palm Beach, FL USA Rinker Playhouse - Kravis Center
7:30 PM  
Nov 8, 2014 Venue Info
Cutler Bay, FL USA South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center - Backyard Concert Lawn & Plaza
8:30PM  
Sep 7, 2014 Venue Info
San Francisco, CA USA Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
1:50 PM  
Sep 6, 2014 Venue Info
Folsom, CA USA Three Stages
7:30 PM  
Sep 5, 2014 Venue Info
Los Angeles, CA USA Grand Performances
8 PM  
Sep 1, 2014 Venue Info
Seattle, WA USA Bumbershoot
2:45PM  
Aug 31, 2014 Venue Info
Vancouver, BC CANADA Rio on Broadway
9:00PM  
Aug 29, 2014 World Fest  
Louisville, KY USA Louisville Belvedere
9:30PM  
Aug 28, 2014 Venue Info
Madison, WI USA Capitol Theater
8:00PM  
Aug 27, 2014 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
7:50 PM  
Aug 26, 2014 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
7:50 PM  
Aug 24, 2014 Venue Info
Chicago, IL USA Mayne Stage
6PM & 8PM  
Aug 22, 2014 Venue Info
Cleveland, OH USA Music Box Supper Club
8:10PM  
Aug 21, 2014 Venue Info
East Meredith, NY USA West Kortright Centre
7 PM  
Aug 20, 2014 Venue Info
N Bethesda, MD USA Gudelsky Concert Gazebo at Strathmore
7 PM  
Aug 17, 2014 Philadelphia Folk Festival Venue Info
Schwenksville, PA USA Martin Guitar Main Stage
5:40 PM  
Aug 15, 2014 Festival Internacional Chihuahua Venue Info
Chihuahua, CHI MEXICO Teatro de los Heroes
8:00PM  
Aug 13, 2014 Festival Internacional Chihuahua Venue Info
Ciudad Juarez, CHI MEXICO Teatro Victor Hugo Rasocn Banda en el C.C.C.P.N
8:00PM  
Aug 10, 2014 Regina Folk Festival Venue Info
Regina, SK CANADA Victoria Park
12:45PM  
Aug 10, 2014 Regina Folk Festival Venue Info
Regina, SK CANADA Victoria Park
4:15 PM  
Aug 10, 2014 Regina Folk Festival Venue Info
Regina, SK CANADA Victoria Park
7:05 PM  
Aug 9, 2014 Edmonton Folk Music Festival Venue Info
Edmonton, AB CANADA Edmonton Folk Music Festival
11:00 AM  
Aug 9, 2014 Edmonton Folk Music Festival Venue Info
Edmonton, AB CANADA Edmonton Folk Music Festival
3 PM  
Aug 8, 2014 Edmonton Folk Music Festival Venue Info
Edmonton, AB CANADA Edmonton Folk Music Festival
6:00 PM  
Jun 16, 2014 Venue Info
New York City, NY USA Brookfield Place New York
8:30PM approx  
Jun 13, 2014 Venue Info
Manchester, TN USA Bonnaroo
3:30 PM  
Jan 19, 2014 Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Cedar Cultural Center
7:30 PM  
Jan 18, 2014 A Prairie Home Companion  
Saint Paul, MN USA Fitzgerald Theater
5:00PM  
Jan 17, 2014 Venue Info
Phoenix, AZ USA Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
7:30PM  
Jan 16, 2014 Venue Info
Chicago, IL USA Mayne Stage
8 PM  
Jan 15, 2014 Venue Info
Philadelphia, PA USA Ukrainian Hall
7:30 PM  
Jan 14, 2014 Venue Info
Washington, DC USA Millennium Stage - Kennedy Center
6 PM  
Jan 12, 2014 GlobalFEST  
New York, NY USA Webster Hall
8:35 PM  
Jan 10, 2014 Festival Centro  
Bogota, Colombia Fundacion Gilberto Alzate Avendano
5 PM  
2013
Oct 13, 2013 Venue Info
Kirkland, WA USA Kirkland Performance Center
8:00 PM  
Oct 11, 2013 Venue Info
Winthrop, WA USA Methow Arts
7:00 PM  
Oct 6, 2013 Venue Info
Toronto, ON Canada Revival
9:00PM  
Oct 5, 2013 Venue Info
London, ON CANADA Aeolian Hall
8:00PM  
Oct 4, 2013 Friday Night Live Venue Info
Detroit, MI USA Rivera Court-Detroit Institute of Art
7 and 8:30 PM  
Oct 3, 2013 Venue Info
Somerville, MA USA Johnny D's
8 PM  
Sep 28, 2013 Lotus Festival 2013 Venue Info
Bloomington, IN USA Ivy Tech/Old National Tent
10:30 PM  
Sep 27, 2013 Lotus Festival 2013 Venue Info
Bloomington, IN USA Ivy Tech/Old National Tent
10:30 PM  
Sep 25, 2013 Landfall Festival of World Music Venue Info
Cedar Rapids, IA USA CSPS Hall
8:00 PM  
Sep 24, 2013 Global Roots Festival Venue Info
Minneapolis, MN USA Cedar Cultural Center
7:30 PM  
Sep 22, 2013 Chicago World Music Festival Venue Info
Chicago, IL USA Chicago Cultural Center - Claudia Cassidy Theater
5:30 PM  
Sep 21, 2013 Madison World Music Festival  
Madison, WI USA Willy St Stage - World Music Fest
3:30 PM  
Sep 20, 2013 Globalquerque Venue Info
Albuquerque, NM USA National Hispanic Cultural Center - Journal Theatre
8:30 PM  
Sep 19, 2013 Live@365 Venue Info
New York, NY USA Elebash Hall
7:30 PM  

Videos




 

News

  • Photos: Kyiv musicians bring soul to NiagaraPhotos: Kyiv musicians bring soul to Niagara

    Ukraine world-music quartet DakhaBrakha entertains FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre audience

    Wed., March 1, 2023

    DakhaBrakha, an ensemble from Kyiv, Ukraine, brought their eclectic style of world music to the stage at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines Wednesday night.

    Original Article

  • DakhaBrakha Wins globalFEST’s Artist AwardDakhaBrakha Wins globalFEST's Artist Award

    globalFEST presents a series of annual awards that celebrate those that excel in the underrecognized but crucial global music field in the USA.
    The awards are presented to artists, professionals, and organizations who have been instrumental in making significant, long-standing contributions to the field through risk-taking; addressing cultural diversity and diplomacy; activism; helping to keep, transmit, ...

  • DakhaBrakha’s Ukraine Update: Dec 2022DakhaBrakha's Ukraine Update: Dec 2022
    Excerpt from interview in the Greek journal Hellas: Posts English
    When the war started were you in Ukraine? What is happening in the country right now?

    “When the war started we were all in Ukraine. At that particular moment we had started our tour of Ukraine. In fact, we had to travel to another city in the ...

  • DakhaBrakha, a Band From Kyiv, Saw a War ComingDakhaBrakha, a Band From Kyiv, Saw a War Coming
    “We can’t make any music,” the singer and cellist Nina Garenetska said. “This is our life now: An air raid siren goes off.”

    By Laura van Straaten – New York Times
    March 3, 2022, 12:55 p.m. ET

    For years, the Ukrainian band DakhaBrakha has ended its shows chanting, “Stop Putin! No war!” What they had protested has now ...

Press

“One of the most inspiring sets of the entire festival [New Orleans JazzFest 2022] came on day two, when hundreds of festers crowded into the Cultural Exchange Pavilion to watch the rousing Ukrainian band DrakhaBrakha celebrate the spirit and determination of Ukraine against a backdrop emblazoned with the credo of New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians: Won’t Bow Down.” — DOWNBEAT


“We start with a brief brush with greatness. Tonight’s headliners first came across my radar a few years ago at Womad.

Your humble reviewer was helping out in the records and merch tent at the festival when approached by a customer. “Have you heard this lot next door? Absolutely amazing.” I popped my head out of the tent to see the large Siam Tent next door going absolutely crazy. The cause of this mania: Dakhabrakha. The knocked out customer: Robert Plant. If they’re good enough for a casually passing rock god I thought, they’re good enough for me.” – BRISTOL24/7


“But the new(ish) kids on the block are DakhaBrakha who attracted a huge crowd to the Siam stage and had the longest queue for merchandise after the show that anyone could ever remember. DakhaBrakha are a quartet ­– Olena, Iryna, Nina and Marko – from Ukraine. They’ve branded themselves with their incredible polyphonic singing and stovepipe hats. The short opening song in their set started with super-clashing vocals and then two of the ladies hammering on a thunderous drum. The magic is the vocal power and the theatricality.” review at WOMAD 2019 – SONGLINES


“That mesh of ancient and contemporary is DakhaBrakha’s mission. DakhaBrakha — which means give-take in old Ukrainian — has researched rural folk songs across Ukraine, then reshaped them: first as the house band for a theater company in Kyiv, and now on the international circuit.” — NY TIMES


“Ukrainian folkdrone Björkpunk quartet Dakhabrakha went into Bonnaroo as unknowns but ended up with one of the most receptive crowds of the weekend. They got cheers for mournful accordion and apocalyptic cello sawing. Animal noises and bird whistles and howls got the audience to return favor, turning the tent into a happy menagerie.” — ROLLING STONE


“The group mixes everything from punk-pop to traditional Ukrainian songs in cool yet beguiling textures, often with the close harmonies usually associated with Balkan music. But it’s really the live shows that take DakhaBrakha beyond mere curiosity to utter brilliance.” — NPR


“All that’s left to do is pick up our jaws from the ground, for DakhaBrakha’s diapasons and vocal ranges are second to none. And all I can do is convulse in the ecstatic rhythm of ‘Carpathian rap’.” — WNUR 89.3 FM


“With their otherworldly singing and self-described ethno-chaos sounds, this Ukrainian quartet mesmerized for a magical 90 minutes, while adding messages of peace and solidarity. A truly remarkable experience.” — Star Tribune


Download KQED Arts article on DakhaBrakha’s soundtrack for the Soviet-era Ukrainian film classic, “Earth”.

Download Feature Article from ‘Mouthing Off’ with musical analysis.

Download transcript of PBS News Weekend piece on April 2022 tour during Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Testimonials

“The band were absolutely brilliant, the perfect ending to the festival and the biggest most engaged crowd I have seen on a Sunday night.”

        — Roberta Quincey-Jones, Festival Coordinator, Port Eliot Festival, Cornwall, UK


“People always ask me, “What’s your favorite Tiny Desk Concert?” Well, right now it’s the one recently performed by DakhaBrakha. The creative quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine make music that sounds like nothing I’ve ever heard, with strands of everything I’ve ever heard. (…) I want the world to see this Tiny Desk Concert more than any other right now. It’s refreshing to hear the power of acoustic music and the many worlds of sound still waiting to be explored.”

— Bob Boilen, Host and Creator, Tiny Desk Concert, NPR


“Damn it was amazing, sublime, beautiful.  Audience went crazy. They are just spectacular.  My 5th show with them.  It was a true pleasure.  Magnificent.”

— Isabel Soffer, Globalfest, Live Sounds, New York City 


“Dakhabrakha delivered a truly transcendant set…….folks were levitating after the show. ”

— Barnett English, Director, Joshua Tree Festival, CA


“It would be an understatement to say it will be the highlight of our season. It might be one of the highlights of my entire presenting career.”

— Caitlin North, Programming Presenter, Arden Theatre, City of St. Albert, Canada


“Because our membership bought up those tickets so fast after we announced it last year in June, we moved the show to our big hall.   Blew our minds. So glad we made this happen!”

        — Valerie Hiller, Director of Programming, The Fredericton Playhouse, Fredericton, NB, Canada


“One of my top 5 best and proudest moments of my professional life. Audience was amazing mix of our regular “PAC” patrons and Portland hipster scene. And EVERYONE loved it.”

       — Aimee Petrin, Exec. Director, Portland Ovations, Portland, ME


“DakhaBrakha has left me speechless. This was an experience of a lifetime, not only as a concert, but as a fully-realized evening of theater. I was completely mesmerized, enchanted, and moved, as was the audience. The spouse of a faculty member (who could not attend) brought their young daughter, and this professor wrote to me to say that her husband reported “that it was the best performance he has seen in his life! They had a wonderful time and came home dancing in the streets!”

The musicians were also incredibly generous with their time and insights that they shared with 35 students of our Music 103 – World Cultures class. The professor was greatly appreciative and felt the lec/dem was enormously valuable to these impressionable young people. Marko, especially, delivered a succinct history of the country and where they are today politically.

DakhaBrakha brought in many, many first-time attendees to our hall (I extended a special rate for parishioners of the two Ukrainian Catholic churches in our area, too), some audience traveled from significant distances, and ranged in age from 5 to 91. A professor from a college 70 miles away attended, bemoaning that her college did not have the group on campus, as it would have been so useful to the course she is teaching on music and war. Donations and sales of merchandise raised over $2,650 for Razom.

Please extend my admiration and appreciation to the artists, as well as [manager] Iryna Gorban, for sharing their music, artistry, and beautiful spirit in Easton.”

    — Hollis Ashby, Artistic and Executive Director, Williams Center for the Arts, Easton, PA


“I wanted to thank you all for bringing DakhaBrakha to Port City Music Hall last weekend.  My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance (we are mid-50’s, for demographic purposes).  It was so different and unexpected.  The first few pieces were so new to our ears – the close harmonies and odd style of the vocals, and the bending notes of the instrumentation – that it took a little bit, but I could feel myself being drawn in.  When they got to the bird-call number, I was hooked.  I absolutely loved the rap number, whatever the lyrics were; the rhythms were so totally recognizable and the attitude so familiar, it was delightful.  The young woman standing next to me and I could not suppress giggles, it was so weird that the crowd was completely mesmerized when we had no idea what they were actually saying.  The whole thing was a hoot.  Also it was  a GREAT venue for that kind of show.  I hope you do more there.  We had a fantastic time.  Thank you!”

— Audience member letter to Aimée Petrin, Executive Director, Portland Ovations, Portland, ME


“They were fabulous. It was an exceptional concert; we sold out; and the audience LOVED them! Additionally, we had a pretty large student walk-up that night, which doesn’t always happen for us. All in all, it was a great success!”

— Sharon Moore, Center Stage Director, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC


“I just wanted to write to let you know what an incredible show we had with Dakhabraka on Friday. I invited five other promoters along to see them who all raved about them. Among their comments back to me today they said:

“This was without doubt one of the most unexpectedly brilliant gigs I have heard in a good few years!”

                             — Nick Reed, Chief Exec, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, UK

                         “They were extraordinary – the best live band I’ve seen in a very long time.  They absolutely knocked everyone out at the Sage – they are the type of band that, within about 2 mins of them starting, you want to round up everyone you know and bring them to hear the them play.”

                             — Nick Hallam, Marketing & Communications Director, West Yorkshire Playhouse, UK

 — from Tamsin Austin, Sage Gateshead, UK


“We LOVE LOVE LOVE DakhaBrakha! (…) We had to make a security line to get them through in order to sign merch. Thank you for them!”

— Paul Douglas Michnewicz, Arts and Events Director, Reston Community Center, Reston, VA


“The show was AMAZING! I have received so much positive feedback about the show. One of the most roaring standing ovations I have seen in our room.”

— Libby Brickson, Program Director, City Winery, Chicago, IL


“They sounded great and our crowd adored them. (…) We need to talk about a return!”

— Tom Frouge, Co-Producer/Curator, Globalquerque, Albuquerque, NM


“They earned rave reviews– everyone was in awe. They are such talented and creative artists. We would like to bring them back anytime.

— John Henderson, Presenter, Roots and Wires Presents, Taos, NM


“It was fabulous!!!!! (…) It was one of those concert experiences that no one can stop talking or thinking about. (…) The audience interrupted a few songs with applause before they ended and gave them several standing ovations–even for individual songs. Thanks so much for your part in getting DakhaBrakha here. We’ll have them again ANY ole time.”

— Martha Van Burek, Executive Director, West Kortright Center, NY


“They were simply great! I was blown away by their versatile and intriguing presentation. It was indeed one of the highlights of the festival.”

— Ken Clay, Presenter, World Fest, Louisville, KY


“I wanted to get in touch and let you know that I went to the performance by DakhaBrakha last night at The Port Theatre in Nanaimo. Wow! I loved them the first time I saw them at WAA in Seattle, but they far exceeded my expectations last night. It was an incredible experience and the three others I took with me all said it was the best concert they had ever been to, which is saying a lot since they are avid music lovers. I was kicking myself for not having brought them to the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre.”

— Kirsten Schrader, Cowichan Theatre, Duncan, BC, Canada


Download pdf of audience comments after concert 5/1/16

— Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, AR

Downloads/Media

Technical Riders:

DakhaBrakha Rider: Download (pdf)


Press Photos (high resolution):

 

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