Live music for folk dancing by SIX hot local bands specializing in traditional and contemporary music from Eastern Europe. Many of the dances are easy enough to learn on the spot. Not a dancer? Not a problem; the Avalon has plenty of room to sit and watch.

The bands are: The Bitovniks, Barbelfish Balkan Band, Gora Gora Orkestar, Klezmerize, Planina - Songs of Eastern Europe and Sherefe.

In Eastern Europe, live music and dancing are always accompanied by food . . . and with five and a half hours of dancing, we will need refueling! So roll up your sleeves, make a great dish to contribute to the heavy hors d’oeuvres and dessert potluck (Eastern European cuisine appreciated but not required) and come celebrate!

Live folk dance music starts at 5:30pm and continues until 11:00pm. From 6:00 till 10:00pm, heavy hors d’oeuvres and dessert will be served. ALL GUESTS AND PERFORMERS are strongly encouraged to bring a dish to share.

The dance music program will feature tunes from Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Roma (Gypsy) traditions. While the majority of dances will be line dances, a few waltzes and other couple dances will also be included.

Join us in celebrating Eastern European traditions of live music, dancing, and food. Don’t know what to bring or don’t like to cook? Please contact Mary Ann, the food coordinator, at maesaussotte@comcast.net for ideas.

Volunteer for the Bash - If you’d like to exchange a couple of hours of work for free admission, we have a limited number of volunteer work-exchange positions. Please contact Lyn Mead, lyn_mead@msn.com, 303-579-4222 (c).

This is one of Boulder’s most exciting music and dance events and, for Balkan music and dance aficionados, THE event of the year (or two years)! Your buying tickets in advance really helps us plan and there is a discount for advance purchase.

Hope to see you there!

TICKETS

Advance Purchase Prices

Adults - $25
Students - $20
Seniors (65+) - $20
Child - $10
At the Door Prices

Adults - $28
Students - $24
Seniors (65+)- $24
Child - $12
QUICK REFERENCE:

Avalon Ballroom (6185 Arapahoe Rd, Boulder, 80303)
Potluck, food, and beverage info: maesaussotte@comcast.net or 720-936-5055
Event and ticket info: venturewestjim@gmail.com or 303-329-6242.
Please buy tickets in advance if you possibly can to help us estimate the food/beverage needs.

ENSEMBLE LINEUP

Sequence of performances TBD - check back for updates!

ABOUT THE ENSEMBLES

Barbelfish

Barbelfish (named after a freshwater fish to which a pretty girl is likened in some Macedonian songs), plays soul-stirring music for dancing from Eastern Europe and beyond, especially from Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece. Village and urban music from the Balkans offers some of the most exquisite melodies, soaring harmonies and driving rhythms on the planet and Barbelfish expertly delivers them. Jesse Manno (percussion, vocals), Steve Mullins (tambura, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin), Amy Self (clarinet, kaval, vocals), James Hoskins (gudulka, cello, zurna, vocals), Julie Lancaster (accordion, tambura, vocals), Loren Uecker (vocals). https://www.facebook.com/BarbelfishBand/

The Bitōvniks

Although all the members of the Bitōvniks are experienced multi-instrumentalists in a variety of traditions, this band features traditional Bulgarian village instruments only (no modern instruments). The repertoire consists of exciting dance tunes, often in uneven rhythms, such as 5/8, 7/8, 9/8 and others. Brett Bowen (tapan / bass drum), Mark Brissenden (gajda / bagpipe), James Hoskins (gudulka / folk fiddle), Steve Mullins (tambura / long-necked lute) and Amy Self (kaval / wooden flute).

Gora Gora Orkestar

Gora Gora Orkestar, a brass band powerhouse, has been bringing the sounds of the Balkans to the Rockies with high-energy performances, infectious rhythms, and feel-good music since 2009. Think of Dixieland Brass Band with eastern modes, and you have an idea: it's hot and smoky party music for line dancing or your global groove. Tung Pham, Alice Hansen (trumpets); Leah Concialdi, Stephen Angus (saxes); John Jonas, Jon Kenney (trombones); Ben Fausch (tuba); Adam Loudermilk, Vic Stauffenberg (drums); Kelly Maxwell (vox).
http://goragora.org

Klezmerize

Klezmerize is Meg York's Bulgarian wedding-style ensemble: Meg York (clarinet), Florin Alexandrescu (Romanian accordion), Ben Cohen (bass and percussion contraption), and Pascal Diez (tambura and banjo). https://megyork.com/klezmerize/

Planina - Songs of Eastern Europe

Planina (the word means “mountain” in several South Slavic languages) is a mixed chorus of 16 members. The group has been performing in Colorado since 1988, presenting a cappella and accompanied music from many parts of Eastern Europe, including the Balkans, the Baltics, the Caucasus, Poland and Russia. Members are: Valerie Brown, Rose Fuller, Christmas Gainsbrugh, Jenny Gubrud, Sharon Kermiet, Julie Lancaster, Laura Osterman, Jenna Palensky, Maitreyi Prajna, David Quesinberry, Thorn Roby, Galina Siergiejczyk and Olga Spiridonova. The group will be joined by guest instrumentalist Paul Brown (bass). www.planina.org

Sherefe

Sherefe, named after the Turkish drinking toast, "to your honor," is a group of mostly Boulder-based musicians dedicated to performing traditional music from the Balkans and the Middle East. At the Bash they will play dance tunes from Greece, Turkey and elsewhere in the Balkans. Brett Bowen (doumbek, tupan), Paul Brown (bass), James Hoskins (cello, gudulka, bouzouki, guitar, vocals), Jesse Manno (baglama, bouzouki, saz, oud, flutes, vocals), Julie Lancaster (accordion, vocals), Dexter Payne (clarinets, saxophone). http://sherefe.org