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[VIDEO: Frank London & The Klezmer All-Stars]
Frank London is a New York City-based trumpeter, bandleader, and composer active in klezmer and world music. He also plays various other wind instruments and keyboards, and occasionally sings backup vocals. He is a member of the Klezmatics, Hasidic New Wave, has performed with John Zorn, LL Cool J, Mel Torme, Lester Bowieπs Brass Fantasy, LaMonte Young, They Might Be Giants, David Byrne, Jane Siberry, Ben Folds 5, Mark Ribot, Maurice El Medioni and Gal Costa, and is featured on over 100 cds. Click to learn more about his projects.
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[VIDEO: Yuri Yunakov + The Grand Masters of Gypsy Music Live]
Yuri Yunakov pioneered “Bulgarian Romani Wedding Music” along with Ivo Papazov and Neshko Neshev in the 1970s and was then catapulted to international fame. Their incredibly thrilling music showcases virtuosic technique, electrifying improvisation, rapid tempos, daring key changes and eclectic musical literacy. This contemporary style of “wedding music”, named for its ubiquitous presence at life cycle celebrations such as weddings, baptisms, and circumcisions where dancing and music are a requirement, was originally played only for, with, and by Roma. While harsh racism in Bulgaria drove this type of music underground in the 70s, Yunakov was one of the leading stars that fought to continue playing for Romani and non-Romani audiences alike. (Source)
His band, the Grand Masters of Gypsy Music, features an incredible lineup of musicians and performers, including Alfred Popaj on keyboard, Sunaj Saraqi on violin, and Gamze Ordulu on vocals.
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Padam Swing melds the spirit of traditional gypsy jazz and french songs with modern grooves, improvisation and east coast attitude. Inspired by the music of parisians Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli during the 30′s and 40’s, they continue the heritage while also showcasing original music written by their members. Featuring: Yvonnick Prene on chromatic harmonica, Michael Valeanu on lead guitar, Robert Cuiellari on rhythm guitar.
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[VIDEO: The Cintron Brothers live]
Passionate, fiery, and electrifying! That is how Los Cintron is described by audiences all over the world. They transport their audiences through a journey that speaks to their souls to dance, sing, and cry and release all poetry within them to continuous standing ovations. This charismatic group is a pleasure to all senses!
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[VIDEO: Alessandra Belloni's Southern Italian Gypsy Music]
Alessandra Belloni is the Artistic Director, Founder and Lead Performer of “I GIULLARI DI PIAZZA”, an Italian Music, Theatre and Dance Ensemble who is Artists-in-Residence at the Cathedral of St.John the Divine in New York City. She is also the designer of a line of signature series Italian tambourines made by Remo, and of special brushes for tambourine with Pro- Mark.. . She is the only woman in the U.S. and in Italy who specializes in traditional Southern Italian folk dances and percussion that she learned from the old people in the fields…”
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[VIDEO: Amour Obscur live at the Japoly Theater]
Amour Obscur is a Brooklyn-based “gypsy punk” band that offers a theatrical performance that draws from the striking visual aesthetics of the Weimar cabaret and American sideshow. Mixing unique instrumentation—vocals, accordion, upright bass, trombone, mandolin, tenor banjo and percussion—and original composition that draws upon such eclectic influences as traditional Romani music, Kurt Weill, Americana, and klezmer… to contemporary dance music—Amour Obscur creates a sound that reflects the experience of the underground for artists, hobos, neo-gypsies and revelers everywhere.
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[VIDEO: The Klezwoods live at the City Winery]
Klezwoods is a Boston-based amalgam of strings, horns, and percussion that melds the spirit of traditional klezmer and balkan music with modern grooves, improvisation and east coast attitude. Every player comes from a different background, which creates the band’s unique sound and style. They originally got their start some years back when local Cambridge, MA haunt, Atwood’s Tavern, asked soon-to-be-bandleader Joseph Kessler to put together a group of klezmer musicians during Christmas time for a “klezmer Christmas” event. Thus, Klezwoods was born, and continues to captivate audiences all over the world.
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[VIDEO: Khaled Dajani live at TEDX Gramercy]
Khaled is a groundbreaking artist whose unique brand of Alternative World Fusion music combines hard rock, Spanish style guitar and Middle Eastern music elements into one explosive listening experience. His new album Luci – an 11-track concept album based on themes of temptation.
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[VIDEO: Liron Peled percussion & throat singing]
Cannibal Animal Machine blurs the line between a rock show and a dubstep dance party by combining organic percussion and Tuvan throat singing with samplers and the thick sound of the electric doumbek, creating a raw and visceral sound that makes you bang your head and shake your ass at the same time.
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[VIDEO: Bella's Bartok perform live in a tree]
Bella’s Bartok started out as a party and became a band. Varied percussion, bright pianos, scratchy guitars, scattered horn sections, and group harmonies give their dancy tunes a distinct bohemian vibe, and their raw sound gives them something of a punk edge. Seven piece, multi-instrumentalist groove-making extra-ordinaires from Northampton, MA.
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[VIDEO: Escarioka live at Fontana's]
Psychotropical-core meets apocolyptic cumbia!! Escarioka is a multicultural collective that has seen many phases, stages, and members. The current lineup is a high-power festive meta-ska-ragga-murgan-tango-dub celebration of border crossing diffusion of culture and flavor via musical composition, lyrics, and dance. A global palette of musicians unite with an honest message and a set to keep you dancing from start to finish. .
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[AUDIO: The SOUL-MUSE - Flying Together]
The SOUL-MUSE was founded by Erkin Oytac and singer Leah Kramer, who writes and sings in English and Russian and is currently working on her first album. The band performed at this year’s Gypsy Tabor festival in May and their sound echos the sentiments and melodies of a wide global spectrum.
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[VIDEO: Balkan Stomp live at Mehanata]
Balkan Stomp represent the music of the Balkans in Ridgewood this summer with sounds from Bosnia, Serbia, and traditional Romany songs. The band consists of Alex on guitar and vocals, Vin on drums and percussion, Yohann on bass, and Joe on Violin. If you caught them the last few times they performed at Mehanata in the LES, you know you’re in for an amazing experience. .
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[VIDEO: Sistermonk - If A Star Should Fall]
The music of NYC-based experimental soul-folk trio SisterMonk probes provocative themes with mystical poetry and storms of rhythmic passion. Adventures on the road less traveled, through wilderness homesteading, zen meditation, tribal musical culture, raw food, and Tai Chi inspire SisterMonk’s songs of epic beauty, mystery, and epiphany. SisterMonk has shared the stage with such notable acts as Zap Mama, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Anoushka Shankar, Karl Denson Trio, On the One, Delta Nove and more.
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[VIDEO: Radio Armada live at Fontantas]
Radio Armada draws inspiration and a blend of sounds from the working class community: Ska, Reggae, Cumbia, H&C and many “undefined” sounds that they have cultivated through the years. Their powerful music both criticizes society and celebrates life. The band has played in venues and festivals across the Tri-State area and continues to hone their message and garner a devoted following. Ther main agenda? “PARTY HARD!!”
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[Video: Big Volcano Live]
Big Volcano is a new band on the New York music scene who debuted at Mehanata’s Hurricane Sandy Benefit concert in December 2012. Listing their origins as “the universe” and their genre as “Magmatic Music Made in Brooklyn”, their sound includes elements of surf, rockabilly, reggae, cumbia, and disco. If you’re intrigued… you should be. They’re about to take the New York music scene by storm.
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[VIDEO: The Red Hots perform Love Makin' Mama live]
Formed in 2012 in CT, the Red Hots are two beautiful and talented ladies who bring life back to many classic jazz standards, old blues tunes and feisty originals with their blend of unique vocals and ukulele/guitar mix. Supported by a driving and organic percussion and touches of harmonica and tambourine this non-pretentious little group will have you stomping and clapping as well as move you with poignant and heartbreaking melodies.
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[VIDEO: Burdel Dali Presents 3-Year-Anniversary Promo]
Two globe-trotting, glass-breaking world citizens hailing from Arequipa, Peru and Bucharest Romania, this is Burdel Dali. Raphlex + Mishto, resident DJs at Mehanata Bulgarian Bar for the past four years, will be providing a non-stop Balkan, Latin, Indian and trans-global soundtrack to get you moving and shaking in the grass.
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Dragata is an enchanting award-winning artist who entices her audience into a magical world of dance and creative costume. Her lifetime passion for dance and costume design began at a young age in Poland where she became fascinated by Roma culture. One of her greatest achievements was performing for Russian government officials at the Golden Chariot Gala at the Kremlin, Moscow in September 2011. In July of this year, Dragata will fulfill a lifetime dream of performing alongside the world’s greatest gypsy bands at the biggest European festival in Ciechocinek, Poland, which will be televised throughout Europe.
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[VIDEO: Lei Pasifika performing at Dance Parade 2010]
“Lei Pasifika is a Performance Group focusing on the music & dances of the South Pacific Islands, mainly Tahiti and Hawaii. Our performances embody the spirit of the islands, taking you through a magical voyage in time, places, and legends leaving you with a Polynesian wanderlust. Our goal is to share this culture and life style that is so dear to us through dance classes, costume making workshops, and entertaining performances.”
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Tatianna Morales
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Tatianna is trained in Bollywood afro-carribean, samba, salsa, and traditional bellydance. Her love for many cultures and regions is combined in her performance. She will dance an improv Afro-Caribbean Rom-inspired set with our festival musicians as well as perform in the body painting experiment on Saturday afternoon.
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[VIDEO: The Kandake Dance Theatre for Social Change: Come Undone Teaser]
The Kandake is a dance-theatre collective that combines social activism and philanthropy with folkloric, modern, theatrical and experimental movement. The original Kandake were the queens of ancient Ethiopia, Sudan, and parts of Egypt who were the political, military, and spiritual leaders of their societies.
The women of The Kandake aim to continue the legacy of their predecessors with modern relevancy by generating active community leaders and joining the front lines of diverse humanitarian efforts as part of their collective higher purpose. Thus, a percentage of every Kandake-run production is donated to a humanitarian cause. The Kandake is also active in the community constantly hosting free shows, street art, and workshops. Though love and radical social change is the ultimate goal, sometimes the girls just want to dance for fun!
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[VIDEO: See Anna Leah in action]
Anna Leah is a stunning tribal belly dancer who has performed at nearly all of Mehanata’s festivals and outdoor events in the past few years. She possesses her own unique, sultry style of dance combined with breath-taking fire dance technique that will have you captivated. Anna will be dancing with Liron Peled & the Cannibal Animal Machine on Friday evening.
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