A&E

Fest Focus: DakhaBrakha

by Van McNeil

A mixture of worldly sounds rooted in Ukrainian melodies gives the band a universal trans-national sound that is unique and traditional at the same time.

DakhaBrakha is a bold Unkrainian folk quartet that plays strange, chaotic and dreamlike music. The band’s name is derived from the Ukrainian expression meaning “give/take.” Go ahead and eat your heart out Vladimir Putin, because these theatrical folk artists are about to show us festival-goers what the Ukraine music scene is all about.

Created in 2004 by the avant-garde theater director Vladyslav Troitskyi, the band has strived to be a positive and diverse force in the Ukrainian folk scene. If you don’t know exactly what that would sound like, don’t sweat it. There’s a reason they’re headlining, and that’s because DakhaBrakha is sure to bring a lovely and diverse instrumentation to Festival. Their focus isn’t solely on Ukrainian folk tunes however; the band draws influences from several surrounding regions such as India, the Arabian Peninsula, Africa, Russia and Australia. This mixture of worldly sounds rooted in Ukrainian melodies gives the band a universal trans-national sound that is unique and traditional at the same time.

DakhaBrakha will perform April 25 from 9:45-11 p.m. at Scene TV5MONDE Lafayette.