Babra Presented by Liszt Academy

Founded in 2004, Babra are reviving the multifaceted musical traditions of the Balkan and South Slavic peoples in Budapest, the East European point of intersection between East and West and the melting pot of vibrant traditional and resurgent urban cultures. The five-member band are joined to the music of southern Slavs settled along the Danube by their enthusiasm for Balkan culture and, not least, through family ties. Retaining the originality and temperament of this music, they create new musical forms from traditional melodies, endeavouring to fashion a unique sound and style. The band not only spend time touring, but they are at home in the Balkan cultural communities that still exist around Budapest, where through their music they are active participants in the dance house scene. The Babra ‘personality’ is defined by the combined sound of the tamburas, the clarinet and accordion. They feel their principal mission is to bring to the stage this wealth of musical tradition and its individual, value-creating interpretation.