Haydamaky - Karpaten SKA Ukrainian Dub Machine Hutsul Punk

[http://www.haydamaky.com/en/lives.php] NEWS WE ARE HISTORY DISCOGRAPHY CONCERTS PRESS PICTURES POSTERS VIDEO TECHNICAL RIDER CONTACTS GUESTBOOK applied arts Our button Friends & partners HISTORY From The World Wide Reference Book of The Nation’s Treasures, Europeana, 2008, the virtual edition: "Haydamaky set the new European trend in the Ukrainian music. The band has its own alternative identity, genuine base of Ukrainian folk music and distinct social message formed by high level professional musicians. It is an intellectual ethno-system, an example of bright world music culture with elements of modern Cossack rock, dub, punk, reggae, ska and antique treasures of the Ukrainian and Balkan music. The band was formed in the times of world-changing events and the emergence of the Ukrainian national consciousness. Haydamaky soon left the underground stage, but instead of merging with the Ukrainian music elite or playing for the diaspora, they went further on to gain Europe's favor. Haydamaky’s audience grew from random passers-by in the streets of Berlin to crowds counted in thousands at world’s largest music festivals such as Lowlands, Mundial, and Przystanek Woodstock. The band’s albums are released in Ukraine, England, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia by EMI, one of the four majors, and WOMEX Top Label award winning EASTBLOCK, Germany. Their concert activity spreads from the Black Sea to the Norwegian Sea covering Baltic and Roman-Germanic countries, bringing together the minds and ideas of people from all over the world. " FORMATION Haydamaky lineup as well as its style and philosophy were formed in February 1991 by the students of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. Over the first two years of its activity the new band then known as Aktus recorded two albums, changed its lineup and a vocalist twice, and moved on from trumpet and flute blues to classic art rock. Later on, Ruslan Ovras, drums, was joined by his fellow student Volodymyr Sherstyuk, bass-guitar, to form a permanent rhythm section in the band. In 1993 a new member joined the group and completely changed its outlook. Oleksandr Iarmola had previously sung in folk choirs, played sopilka and Ukrainian percussion instruments. Headed by the new progressive front man and noticeably influenced by the Irish folk tunes, the band released a new album entitled Ranok (The Morning) and prepared concert in seven different languages. In 1995 the band was awarded a prize at Chervona Ruta festival. A year after that Haydamaky’s style was again changed as Ivan Lenyo, accordion, became member of the band. In search of fresh alternative, they turned to the sounds of reggae, ska, punk and by mixing different cultures presented their own style comprising elements of the Ukrainian folk music. It was not only the sounding that attracted Haydamaky in these genres, but also the political effect they had on the society as well as the fact that significant social changes could be achieved with the help of music. Touring around Europe the band recorded another album called No One Comprehends, which was released in 1998 by KOKA label, Poland. TRANSFORMATION The band was noticed by EMI Label, Great Britain, and was soon made an interesting offer. This was the historical moment when Aktus changed its name to Haydamaky. It was inspired by Haydamachyna (a peasant rebellion against foreign oppression in the Eighteenth-Century Ukraine). The neat new name combined music and the ideas of freedom and justice, it tightened the links with the folk culture and taken the band to a new stage. A contract with Haydamaky was EMI’s first deal in Ukraine. The year 2001 saw the release of Haydamaky’s album of the same name. It was the music of the new millennium. HAYDAMAKY AND BOHUSLAV New name, new approach, new possibilities. Oleksandr Demyanenko, guitar, domra and mandolin, was invited to play in the group. In addition to playing solo concerts, Haydamaky received invitations to participate in festivals all around Europe, e.g. Pohoda Festival (2001, 2001, Trencin Slovakia), Viljandi Folk, Parismuusika Festival (2003, Viljandi, Estonia), Litomerzickyj Korzen (2002, 2003, Litomerz, Czech Republic). Still working on the second album, the group released their first video “Polisya” directed by Victor Pryduvalov. While the Haydamaky album featured such outstanding musicians as Vitaliy Pantsyo, cimbalom, Taras Kompanichenko, kobza, Yevgen Horyslavskyi, trumpet, and Oleksiy Kabanov, lyre, the second album Bohuslav gathered even more of the Ukraine's best players. In the song “Legend” (Boguslav album) one can hear some unique sounds of bandura played by Roman Hrynkiv, who is world known for his joint works with Andreas Vollenweider and Al Di Meola. Famous bandura and guitar player Yuriy Fedynskyi specially came from New York to take part in recording the album; back vocals for the album were performed by an authentic Ukrainian choir Bozhychi. Haydamaky immersed themselves even deeper into Ukraine’s folk culture in search of ideas, material and texture for the album. Bohuslav was released in April 2004. A few months after that, a video for the song “Bohuslav” was made under the direction of Oles Sanin. REVOLUTION AND WOODSTOCK Joint Slovakian tour with Asian Dub Foundation, tours around Czech Republic, Romania, Estonia, participation in the Orcestra Swjatecnej Pomochy Festival (Stalowa Wola/Warsaw, Poland, 2004), Ukranie’s Sheshory Festival, Mazepa Fest, Rock Ekzystentsiya etc. In autumn, trombonist Ruslan Trochynskyi and dub-master Vlad Hrymalskyi were substituted by percussionist Serhiy Bravanyuk and trumpet player Yevhen Didyk. In the cold days when people fought for democracy at the Maydan Nezalezhnosti ( the Independence Square) in Kyiv, Haydamaky played on stage to support “the people of Maydan”. Day after day the explosive energy of the “Warriors of Light” warmed and inspired nearly 500 thousand Ukrainian patriots. The year 2005 started with an intense tour around Poland where the band played more than 30 concerts of which 12 were played in January. Haydamaky went on stage at the Krayina Mriy (the Dream Country) Festival (Kyiv, Ukraine, 2005) and other Ukrainian festivals. Haydamaky were the first to represent Ukraine at the Europe's largest stage of Przystanek Woodstock (Kostrzyn nad Odra, Poland, 2005) – the group participated as prime time guest band at the main stage and headlined the folk stage of the festival. Reviews following the event noted a significant increase in the number of admirers of the Ukrainian folk music as interpreted by Haydamaky. The band was nominated for Woodstock Prize at the “Plebiscyt Zlotego Baczka” contest. PERVERZIYA The song “Lystopad” (November) recorded when the Orange Revolution was at its peak, was the first song of the band's third album Perverziya, which was released a year after that. The new album was recorded with the participation of Vasyl Heker, Ukraine’s violin genius, Yuriy Barbenyuk, one of the disciples of folk double-bass play, and cimbalom players Ivan Kavatsyuk and Volodymyr Polyovchyk. One month later, in January 2006, Haydamaky signed a contract with a German recording company EastBlok Music and the new album was re-released in Germany under the title Ukraine Calling. The new release was a milestone in the group’s history. Haydamaky’s popularity skyrocketed. Cooperation with concert agency Agents4music and later with La Candella resulted in first massive tours, presentations and interviews at Europe’s major TV channels, offers, invitations and complimentary reviews. A few weeks after the release, the album appeared at the seventh position in the World Music Chart Europe. In the meantime, the song “Za Nashov Stodolov” (Behind Our Barn) entered the playlist of Charley Gillet, one of BBC’s key world music radio DJs, whose radio program The Sound of the World is broadcasted all over the world. In October 2006, thanks to Ukraine Calling, the German label EastBlok Music got into WOMEX’s top twenty of the Top Label Award 2006. Haydamaky, whose creativity was so highly appreciated, participated in the award ceremony in Sevilla, Spain. Ukraine Calling or Perverziya was to a great extent inspired by the creativity of a post-modern Ukrainian writer Yuriy Andrukhovych. The very work was a tribute to the writer’s talent. In 2007, in addition to solo concerts in Ukraine and other European countries, the band participated in AmsterdamRootFest (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Mundial (Tilburg, Netherlands), Musicas do Mundo (Sines, Portugal), recorded two music videos for “Kohanya” (Love) and and “Bozhestvena Trompita” (Heavenly Trompita) directed by Taras Khymych. KOBZAR A studio high in the hills, unique analog equipment, high moral values and professionalism of the owner of the studio... These were the perfect conditions for gathering new material. Exquisite work by Cezary Borowski at DRStudio (Wisla, Poland), processing and mastering by famous dub-masters Mario Aktivator and Jarek Smok at AS One Studio gave the final touch to the new album. Released in Spring 2008, Kobzar was a mix of rap, dub, reggae, ska, rich authentic sounds of bandura by Ivan Tkalenko, band’s own lyrics and Cossack songs, Ivan Lenyo’s little daughter’s singing (“Malanka”) and sociopolitical spirit (“Message”). An atmospheric video for the song “Message” was recorded at DRStudio with Pidzama Porno’s leader Krysztof Grabowsky and Reggaenerator and Pablopavo, an alternative duo from the Vavamuffin band. The video was directed by Taras Khimych. Three more videos were created later on: “4 Dvory" (4 Courtyards) directed by Anton Khomyakhov, “Rosa” (Dew) and “Efir” (Ether) by Viktor Pryduvalov. Animated video for the song “Malanka” made by Serhiy Melnychenko, the director of the Chervony_Sobaka (Red Dog) Studio for children, won the first prize at the Minianima Talent Contest held within the festival “Open Night. Take 12” and a viewers' award at the 3rd International Festival of Independent Cinematography “KinoLev-2008”. Kobzar European promo tour covered 8 countries: Belgium, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, seven concerts in Germany and a debut in Sweden and Denmark. After it was released in Ukraine the album was presented in Berlin by EastBlock Music label. ‘Kobzar is our reflections, it is the tale of our life. It is nomadic and protected solely by our own angels, just the way it was with any wandering kobzar in the times of Haydamachyna’, said Oleksand Yarmola. The European tour ended on March 7, 2008 with Haydamaky solo concert at the International Center for Arts and Humanities "Zhovtnevyj Palace". Pressmen of the international music journal B EAST Mag and French-German TV company ARTE broadcasting Europe's brightest art and culture news arrived to Ukraine to witness the event. The concert was a hit. That evening Haydamaky created a precedent being the first Ukrainian band with folk elements to rise from the underground scene and cause such a stir in the non-pop culture. The event was highlighted by all major Ukrainian mass media. According to the members of other Ukrainian bands, that was an impetus leading this type of music to a new level of perception by both musicians and listeners. Haydamaky’s large solo concert in the center of Ukraine's capital promoting the new album Kobzar was historic. LOWLANDS and VOO VOO Touring around Europe, Haydamaky played at Lowlands (Netherlands, 2008), one of the world’s largest festivals, headlined a massive music event Ander Art (Munich, Germany, 2008), and were headliners of the day at a large Hungarian club gathering called “Hangfoglalas Soundquest Festival” (Budapest, Hungary, 2008). From October 2 through 11, the band played at closing of each day of the Ukrainian Week (Rust, Germany), a Ukrainian culture festival held in Europe’s largest amusement park, “Europa Park”. On July 19, 2008, joint project by Haydamaky and Polish cult band Voo Voo was presented at the Strefa Inne Brzmienia festival. Voo Voo became a metaphysical fundament, on which Haydamaky built their play and created an incredible music mix. According to Voo Voo, the Polish intellectual music grandees who released over 30 albums, cooperation with Haydamaky encouraged them to learn their own culture more thoroughly. The original idea of the joint program belongs to Voo Voo’s leader Wojciech Waglewski. He admires Haydamaky’s music calling it the work of genius and Haydamaky, in their turn, say it is a great honor to work with Voo Voo. The compilation of their works played together is already recorded and will be released in Poland in February 2009 within music series “Inne Brzmienia”. PROGRESS Today the band is on the move to a new quality level. Work is in progress with a massive live shows producer Kader Kesek on a European tour where, at the beginning of January next year, Haydamaky are to present a world-class concert. Haydamaky's fifth album will be recorded with the participation of Henning Rümenapp, Guano Apes’ sound producer and guitarist. Haydamaky's ethnic tunes will therefore acquire a powerful new basis of unusual sounding of bass, guitar and drums. The band is developing rapidly. Haydamaky are preparing themselves for a number of events that will start a significant new stage in their creative career. © 2004-2007 Haydamaky, дизайн та розробка: web graffiti & design viy