From the heart of tradition...
Wassailing with Lunatraktors at Compton Verney
I was invited to take part in a wassailing event at Compton Verney on 8 of December 2023. Led by a broken folk duo - Lunatraktors, and together with other musicians from Birmingham representing different cultures, we created a spectacular performance filled with somatic sounds based on songs representing our different cultural backgrounds, i.e. Poland, Ukraine, Iran, and Roma.
Czech ceremonial bread-making workshops with Tereza Bušková
Throughout November and December I had the pleasure of supporting Tereza Bušková's traditional Czech ceremonial bread making workshops at Nash Dom CIC in Walsall, UK supported by the Walsall Council. The workshops were open to all women from different backgrounds, but we all made wonderful connections through this beautiful tradition, folk music and singing. We will be doing more of these workshops focused solely on singing and dancing in January and February 2024!
Moseley Folk Festival 2023
Had fantastic time playing at Moseley Folk Festival this year. This time I performed as part of the Adults band, a Birmingham (UK) based indie-pop / alternative rock group set up by Alex Townend - Band. I also had the pleasure to meet a Birmingham legend, professor Carl Chinn who was interviewed by The Blind Boy during the festival.
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24 August, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
Together with my band, I will have the pleasure of supporting an amazing traditional Romani band from Slovakia, Julia Kozakova & Manusa at Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park on Thursday 24 August; doors open at 7:30pm. My 5-piece band are some of them best musicians in Birmingham, so come and enjoy this fantastic Eastern-European blast of exciting music!
Book your tickets at: https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/celebrating-sanctuary-j%C3%BAlia-koz%C3%A1kov%C3%A1-and-manusa-project-support-from-karolina-wegrzyn
Migration Matters Festival 2023, Sheffield - singing workshop
As part of our day at Sheffield’s @migmat festival this year, I have led a traditional Eastern-European singing (with a bit of dancing) workshop. With assistance of my wonderful violinist, Ann Jones, our workshop included: voice and body warm-up (good for beginners as well as pros); improvisational sing-shouting and movement (in style of Eastern European shepherds); learning traditional Eastern-European songs (a bit of history and folklore here) and easy barn style dancing, that just gets everyone jolly and cheerful! So if you wish having something as amazing as that at your event, accessible to anyone, doesn’t matter the age, gender nor ability, we’re available for bookings! :)
Beautiful photographs by Nadjet Ben Maghnia @nadjetben.m
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