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GYPSY, KLEZMER & BALKAN BEATS

A fusion of horns, strings and drums blended with contemporary dance beats... A trip in the music of the Balkans.

THE EVENTS

The Gypsy, Klezmer & Balkan Beats is a Project that started a year ago and is managed by Backbeating Sounds. This series of events features artists, bands and DJs whose music is inspired by the folk and Roma traditions of the Balkans, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The music of these events may take a variety of forms - from its pure “folk” form to its fusion with western styles (ska, jazz, punk, dub) & and from acoustic to digitally remixed electronic beats.

The majority of our events are hosted in venues in Aberystwyth (Mid-Wales) and are supported by our DJ collective (Backbeating Sounds). Until today we hosted some brilliant bands from all over the country (The Baghdaddies, Paprika Balkanicus, Alejandro Toledo, The Tragic Roundabout) as well as some local bands (Chocolat. Inca, Goulashed).

THE MUSIC SCENE

Gypsy music is stirring audiences around the world. Top bands from Central Europe are playing upwards of 100 foreign gigs a year. Filmmakers are hungry for their scores. Critics have likened the outpouring to the birth of jazz in the U.S. in the 1920s.  "The music does what music should do. It tears at your heartstrings and gets your blood racing."  READ MORE...

THE BACKBEATING SOUNDSYSTEM

The Backbeating Soundsystem is a DJ collective that voluntarily contributes to the projects and makes an effort to cultivate and promote this type of music in the area. We introduce in the area a new and exciting music scene (or better: a blend of music scenes) and we encourage the people to enjoy, dance and express themselves in an atmosphere without age and race borders but with strong cultural elements.

The Backbeating Soundsystem are Yannis Tome, Sam Burkill and Andy Hamilton but our events often get richer with the contribution from our friends from Bristol: Andykissaragi (Untimely Sound) and Vlad (BalkaXpress). In addition to them a few other members/djs contribute to the Ska, Reggae and Dub project of the collective (Economy Tom, Subtronix & Colin the Chef)..