Concrete Playground

For a little while, after seeing some great photos of insane looking parties in New York and London where brass bands and gypsy-punks like Gogol Bordello were all downing Wodka and getting rowdy, I thought gypsy was going to be the new black. It looked like it could take off... A few years later and it seems to have never quite gotten to that point here in Oz (though there has been a steady growth in gypsy influenced bands touring in their caravans and not washing much).

We are lucky to be getting a visit and a lesson in authentic gypsy music from one of the finer proponents of the genre. The London based Paprika Balkanicus (not sure why they named themselves after the capsicum derived spice), with members from Slovenia, Serbia and Romania, are virtuosic performers who have graced almost every major world music stage. They have whipped up frenzy and furore at Edinburgh Fringe, Womad and Glastonbury and even picked up a BBC World Music award along the ride.

Their music is lead by Bogdan Vacarescu who could be the East European equivalent of Slash with some serious violin shredding. The Crooked Fiddle Band will do their best to not get out-shredded in support. If you suddenly feel like you are in a Tony Gatlif movie then you'll be ok on the night because they have taken out the tables, so bring your dancing shoes.