Eastern European Gypsy Folk
+44 7947746539
+44 7947746539
Balamuc - London’s Global Party Band!
“… guaranteed to get the dance floor whirling.” Songlines
ABOUT
Behind the Music
Balamuc are a unique collective of experienced musicians, with 6 members from countries in Europe, the Middle East and them UK. Their music originates from Eastern Europe but stretches way beyond the usual confines of their genre. They aren’t afraid to step into new territory
(from Romania to Hungary via Transylvania!).
Although renowned for their fierce violin and heartfelt melodies,
Balamuc are best known as their life affirming, uplifting party
spirit and boundless energy. The 6-piece band features Agnes Branner on violin and vocals, Sam Storey on accordion, Jon Clayton on double bass, Chris Mundy on guitar, Semra Bulut on darbuka and Paul Brett on drums.
Balamuc has established itself as
one of the leading Gypsy folk bands on the live scene today.
With the name translating to "House of insane’ don’t expect to stay
in your seat!
Wayfairing Stranger
Balamuc is super excited to announce that the band and its music has been featured in the talented filmmaker, Andrea Luka Zimmerman's new film, Wayfairing Stranger as part of The Wapping Project, which has already been successfully screened in Europe and London! See below a snippet of the scene of the film with Gelem Gelem (Yedi Kedi, 2021)
https://thewappingproject.org/commissions/wayfaring-stranger/
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Have a listen at TARKABARKA! Featured on BBCRadio3 at In Tune!
4 STAR REVIEW ****IVAN ROD MUSIC BLOG, DENMARK:
“Balamuc is an international orchestra that plays the music of the nomadic gypsies – a traditional form of music in many ways, based on the tonal language that originates from the folk songs and dances of the gypsies in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania... And together the seven musicians create a terrific, believable and enthralling form of music. Tarkabarka is thus a complete album…Agnes Branner and Balamuc make a completely solid, technical surplus-oriented and artistically persistent effort for the genre.”
http://www.ivanrod.dk/2023/06/02/balamuc-tarkabarka/
LE CANARD FOLK, BELGIUM
“One knows London has a very high level of cultural diversity. Balamuc did not have any difficulties finding good musicians to interpret songs and dances from Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and others… with a gypsy flavour avoiding cliches… Balamuc, led by Agnes Branner, affirms such a cultural identity.”
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WESTZEIT, GERMANY:
“....With their self-published CD "Tarkabarka", the East London-based multinationals from BALAMUC quite rightly rely on their good taste and avoid any cliché. ... "
https://www.westzeit.de/rezensionen/?id=23538
MOORSMAGAZINE, NETHERLANDS:
"....Balamuc tries to breathe new life into Romani music and as far as I'm concerned they more than succeed. The musical traditions are not only honored, with this album you can also have a party, because no one can sit still. Nice album!...”
https://www.moorsmagazine.com/.../balkan/balamuc-tarkabarka/
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Have a listen at our first album, Yedi Kedi!
Some lovely reviews of our first album, Yedi Kedi:
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Leonid Auskern in JazzQuad in Russia:
"Balamuc... unique in many ways, thanks to the original new arrangements, the brilliant timbre of the sound and the energy that shines through in every note of their music... Motley like a geographical map of Eastern Europe, bright like the traditional outfits of the local girls and invariably positive, like the nature of the eternal gypsy wanderers - this is the Yedi Kedi album, which is difficult for a true lover of ethnic music to pass by."
Marija Vitas in Serbia from World Music Association:
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"....Through eight songs, the young band Balamuc (founded in 2018) takes us on an impressive journey through the traditions of Ukraine, Macedonia, Romania (with an emphasis on Transylvania), Albania, and through the inevitable Roma heritage."
Songlines:
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"...Hailing from Eastern Europe and elsewhere, the members of Balamuc joined forces in London where they have produced this musical tour of the Balkans and surrounding areas. Starting off with a Ukrainian wedding dance, they move through Macedonia, Albania, Hungary and Romania, taking in Transylvania along the way. Throughout the album there is a strong Gypsy aesthetic signposted with a version of the Romani anthem, ‘Gelem Gelem’. ....guaranteed to get the dance floor whirling. "
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Available at ITunes, Bandcamp, Spotify!