DAKHABRAKHA

«The best team in the sphere of world music through the former Soviet Union» (Afisha Magazine)
Minimal ethno, psycho-folk, hip-hop, trance, acoustic trip-hop

Country: Ukraine

Marko Halanevych -- vokals, darbuka, tabla, didgeridoo, accordion, trombone
Iryna Kovalenko -- vokals, djembe, bass drums, accordion, percussion, bugay, zgaleyka
Olena Tsibulska -- vocals, bass drums, percussion, garmoshka
Nina Garenetska -- vokals, cello, bass drum

The name is original, outstanding and authentic at the same time. DakhaBrakha means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language.DakhaBrakha was created in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art “DAKH” by the avant-garde theatre director –Vladyslav Troitskiy. Theatre work has left its mark on the band performances – their shows have never been staged without the scenic effects.“We decided to create a new style of music that consists mainly of our native Ukrainian folk motifs, with some African-styles added in. We also combine Arab, Bulgarian and Hungarian ideas. Dakha Brakha collects the components of its repertoire during our expeditions. We go out to villages, pitch our tents and visit local babushkas and ask them to sing their folk songs. We record them and use them in our compositions,” -- says the band.Dakha Brakha is still somewhat of a cult phenomenon in Ukraine, appealing to a discerning audience of knowledgable fans who like their aggressive sound, which involves a lot of ritualistic tribal rhythms and frenzied, sometimes caterwauling, vocals.

They believe that Ukrainian culture has enormous potential that should be explored and retained.As well as performing gigs as a band in their own right they are also the ‘house’ band for the Dakh Theatre company . Dakh Theatre is known throughout Europe as one of the leading production houses of avant-garde theatre combining live music from DakhaBrakha with theatre and dance to create some intense productions. Their series of Shakespeare interpretations has brought them to many of Europe’s leading venues including London’s Barbican in January 2007.DakhaBrakha are unique in their versatility – they could play both at small clubs, little theatres and in front of one hundred-thousand-strong audience.The music of DakhaBrakha is used in more than 10 films and is in the new film of famous Iranian director Mohsen Makmalbaf.

DakhaBrakha performed more than 300 concerts and performances and has taken part in numerous international festivals in Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Hungary, Poland, France, Great Britain, Austria, Slovenia, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Finland, Slovakia, Italy, Chine.A list selected of festivals:  WOMADelaide (Australia 2011), CINARS (Cabada 2010), Oslo World Music Festival (Norway 2011), TFF Rudolstadt (Germany, 2011), MED (Portugal 2011), Festival Aux heures d’ete (Nantes, France 2011), Ethno Port ( Poznan, Poland 2011), City of Women (Ljubljana, Slovenia 2010), Helsinki festival (with Kimmo Pohjonen, Finland 2010), Pohoda Festival (Slovakia, 2010), Mundial Festival (Tilburg, The Netherlands 2010), The Festival of World Cultures 2009(Dublin, Ireland), The Festival of World Cultures 2008(Dublin, Ireland), The first International Music Festival “The Creation of Peace”(Kazan, Russia 2008), The International Ethnic music and Landart festival “Sheshory at Podillia” (Ukraine 2008), The “Sayanskoe Koltso” world music festival (Russia 2008), The second international festival of contemporary arts “GogolFest” (Ukraine 2008), DakhaBrakha with Theatre “Dakh” played 10 performances “Prologue to “Macbeth” at the Barbican Centre (London, UK, 2007) , The days of Ukraine in Georgia (Tbilisi, Georgia, 2006), The International Music Festival “JazzKoktebel” (Koktebel, Ukraine 2006), The Summer Festival (Budapest, Hungary 2006), The International Art Festival “Bulwar sztuki” (Torun, Poland, 2006), The World Culture Festival “Ethnolife” (Moscow, Russia, 2006), Shakespearian Theatre Festival (Diula, Hungary, 2006), “Brave festival” “Magic voices” (Vrotzlav, Poland 2005), The City Theatre Season Opening (Debretzen, Hungary 2005), Shakespearian Theatre Festival (Gdansk, Poland, 2005), Shakespearian Theatre Festival (Diula, Hungary 2005), “The Winged Dragon” Street Theatre Festival (Nyirbator, Hungary 2005), “Ethnic Style” Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia 2005).

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