Ukrainian 'punk-folk' act DakhaBrakha plays Dakota Jazz Club, August 26, 27
The Dakota Jazz Club in Downtown Minneapolis hosts DakhaBrakha this Tuesday and Wednesday, August 26 and 27. Hailing from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, the group is a four piece ensemble created in 2004 at The Kiev Center of Contemporary Art by the avant garde theater director, Vladyslav Troitskyi.
While the music is thoroughly rooted in the folk tradition of their native Ukraine, outside influences have been melded onto the existing artistic template to produce a hauntingly rhythmic and melodic sound, totally unique to those hearing it for the first time. Using Indian, Arabic, Russian and indigenous Australian instruments, in addition to home-grown, traditional fare from the Carpathians and Urals, the sound has been variously described as "sonically mesmerizing" by Broadway World, while New York Music Daily even went as far as inventing a new genre for them, dubbing the outfit a "four-piece punk-folk-circus-rock band".
Previewing their Chicago shows, Chicago Reader critic Peter Margasak seemed similarly mesmerized by the band's unique synthesis of sounds and stage presence. He noted:
".. when I saw the group perform this past January in New York, I realized there was more to its game. Various Carpathian threads intertwine with dub, electronic music, and even African grooves, and the band accomplishes this energetic, moody fusion almost entirely with acoustic instruments—mostly melancholy cello, woozy accordion, twangy jaw harp, and loose percussion. (All three women play as well as sing, aided by a fourth member who stays out of the spotlight.)"
No mere newcomers to the global stage, nor token, glib "world" musicians - their sonic concoction has seen them play over 300 concerts throughout Europe, the Americas and Australia. Although they fuse influences from across the continents, such as beats which come courtesy of Brazil and Senegal, their essential core is resolutely Ukrainian. This extends to stage dress, too, where the girls sport traditional bridal dresses and hats made of black lamb-fleece. While their homeland experiences such turmoil, thoughts can never be far from Ukraine. As band accordionist Marko Halanevych remarked when interviewed in The Chicago Sun-Times recently:
"We got our independence 20 years ago, but now we have to struggle to keep it. But Ukrainians are united as never before. [For our part], we want to share our music, culture and roots with Western audiences to show the depth and beauty of Ukraine. We want people everywhere to know about our corner of the world."
For tickets to the Minneapolis performances, prices range from $25-32 and are available on the Dakota website or by phoning the box office at 612-332-5299.