Author: Varga Emese

The members of Czéczó Banda were recruited from different areas along the river Tisa in Vojvodina, where the term “cécó” (former spelling: “czéczó”) was used for private balls, and occasional entertainments. On these music-dance events, a few tamburas could do such a charming moment into the everyday routine that is unforgettable for many participants until today. The aim of Czéczó Banda is to revive these old days in the sense of music style, and lifestyle as well.

The members of the band consider their vocation to disseminate and promote the unworthily neglected and untouched folksong collections from Vojvodina, specifically from alongside the river Tisa. Nevertheless, in this region tambura was not only used in the countryside and small towns, but also at coffeehouses in cities, where the tambura bands formed, following the example of gypsy music bands, and entertained the guests.

CONTACT: czeczo.banda@gmail.com

Fokos was formed in 2010. The first big success came in 2012, when they took place on the talent scout competition named Fölszállott a páva that was organised by the television channel Duna, where they reached the semi-final. As the result of that they got nominated and won the prize of the town Óbecse for making their hometown more famous. Later in 2018 the band won the competition Fölszállott a páva Döntők döntője (Final of the finals) in it’s category. Until now they have published five albums and participated in making of many more CD-s. Beside that they were part of composing for others and making music for dance-performances. They have the most appearances on the territory of the Carpathian Basin, but they also had performances in a lot of big cities around Europe. In 2018 they organised their first European tour, in 2019 they went to an USA tour as well.

The main goal of the band is to perpetuate the traditions of their region. They want to show that folklore is not the past, it’s not for the museums. It’s alive, it’s the part of our everyday’s life making us what we are.

Members: Cseszák Zsombor, Jovánovity Péter, Keszég Ákos, Szabó András, Szerda Ákos és Szerda Balázs

Discography: Kiskoromtól nagykoromig, Jókedvemben, Törökkanizsa község népzenei hagyatéka, Óbecse község népzenei hagyatéka, Zengető

CONTACT: fokoszenekar@gmail.com

The Dobroda Band was born in 2007 and was named after a small stream in the county of Nógrád. This stream, with its ever renewing water and meaning (good water) represents the philosophy and the mission of the band.The authentic folk music of the Carpathian Basin similarly means a drainless source for the band, which selects its repertoire from this repository. The studying and playing of Hungarian folk music made it possible for us to meet and work with the most prominent people in folk dance and music, and by this, to contribute high value to revive Hungarian folk music traditions on stage and dance floors, from village days to the most exquisite places through Europe.In our repertoire one can find almost the entire scope of the folk music of the Carpathian Basin. An exhaustive knowledge though seems unattainable, since time and again emerges a hidden treasure, whose performance is a real challenge as well as an exciting task. Our mission is not however simply and fully completed by the performance of a specific piece. We also wish to impart our knowledge, entertain others, deliver and show values, and feel that with our intellectual principles we are able to create a more valuable ambience for some holy moments.

CONTACT: dobroda@dobroda.hu

The six-member formation was established in 2007, in Budapest, Hungary. The word “Góbé” means “a man with a twisted mind”. Over the last 15 years the band has travelled half of Europe. At the same time, they have appeared on almost every Hungarian popular music platform during their more than 1000 concerts. The members of the band have generated novel but ethnic sound images by means of challenging the technical limits of their acoustic instruments.  They have created a kind of folk pop music that is entertaining and contemporary but at the same time preserves its traditional nature. This is the undefinable, elaborate Góbé style that is the characteristic attribute of the band.

CONTACT: gobezenekar@gmail.com // Mátyás Egervári +36 30 375 7556

An accomplished composer, singer, pupetteer and street theatre artist, Lilla Fehérváry has been actively performing for 25 years. She is a member of Hattyú Dal Színház (Swan Song Theatre), and currently performs with Ládafia Puppet Theatre and her own independent shows. She is one of the founder singers of the musical group Madárdal Zenekar. She has played on countless festivals in Hungary, in the Hungarian diaspora, all over Europe, in China and in the United States. In her musical projects, she is often joined by the members of Szigeti Veszedelem Zenekar. 

Musically, her compositions display an experimental streak with deep roots in folk music, characterised by the fusion of diverse styles and periods. Her main influences are traditional folk music, sacred music, world music and improvisational music. Over the years, she has created and performed multiple children programmes and interactive storytelling concerts and also composed and arranged music for over 40 theatre/puppet theatre performances. In addition, poetry has been an essential element of her career, and has been the composer of several performances of poetry reading.

CONTAKT: puszilla@gmail.com // szarvasildi@pillanat.org 

The members of the Terebes band joined to set out their path in 2014 with the intent of expressing their musical desire and emotions along Hungarian folk melodies.

Their repertoire is folk music for the most part, but, in addition to authentic arrangement and performance, they are more and more open to world music as well. Moving ahead in a widening path they have reached their characteristic “Terebes-style”, which enriches traditional folk melodies with polyphony and nature-inspired sound effects.

The first Terebes record was released in 2019 with the title “Mondd meg nékem …” (“Tell me …”). Their second record followed shortly, in January 2021, titled “Wandering along”. Its content and title perfectly reflect the musical journey of Terebes in the past years.

CONTACT: terebes.zenekar@gmail.com // +36 30 160 0338

Tarsoly band was founded in 2010 by students of the Váci Bartók-Pikéthy Secondary School of Music.  The band has earned many awards and accolades during its 10-year existence – in the year we were  founded, we received a special prize at the Folk Music Competition in Tápiószentmárton and a Nívó  Prize in Bonyhád. In 2011, we won the 4th prize out of 50 bands at Folkbeats Folk Music Talent  Competition, in 2016, we received our second Nívó Prize, and in 2019, our band leader, Mátyás  Bencze won Junior Prima Prize. 

Our first album, Szombaton este, was released in 2011. After that Patakparton-Rákosmente  népzenéje(2017), Mindenkié (2018) and then Nyírségi muzsika (2019) albums were published.  

We featured in Fölszállott a páva tv show in 2013 as a semi-final band, and in 2018, we got into  Fölszállott a páva – Final of Finals show. 

Over the years, we have been guest performers with the State Folk Ensemble and the Fitos Dezső  Troupe, later working with the Szilas and Forrás Folk Dance Ensembles and gaining outstanding  qualifications. Since 2015, we have been a constant accompaniment with Bartina Folk Dance  Ensemble, with whom we have represented Hungary several times throughout Europe and beyond,  including in Borneo, China and Kyrgyzstan. Since its inception, the band has been a regular  accompanist in domestic solo dance and choreography competitions, and in the summer, the  audience will meet us as the host of the highly successful Music Island Stage at EFOTT Festival.

CONTACT: tarsolyband@gmail.com

“Traditional village rock’n’roll or ageless dance music with violin, viola, double bass and voice.” The young musicians from a small town, Pápa, have learnt to play folk music in the company of an old-timer, Mesics György. They have been together since 2017, played at many festivals and frequently hold dance houses. Their first CD, “Békeucca” was released at Gryllus Records in May, 2019. Their playlist is selected from the most beautiful tunes of the folk music traditions of the Carpathian Basin.

Members of the band: Mesics György „Mesó” – violin, vocal, Milinszki Emma – vocal, Pusztai Boglárka – violin, Kiss Rafael – viola, Győry Dániel – double bass

CONTAKT: bandasomlo@gmail.com // mesicsgyorgy@gmail.com

Julcsi Laposa is a Hungarian folk musician/music-mediator; the owner of the Junior Prime Award for the Folk and Public Person of the year 2017.
Julcsi has been a passionate musician since her childhood. Her earliest memories date back to the age of four years when her grandparents regularly sang folk songs typical for the region she originally comes from — the Zala county. Her first real contact with the Hungarian Folk Music — an essential and unique space in the country’s life — was in 2007. Since then, she gained valuable experiences at home and abroad. Her mission is to make folk music, traditions, and art more attractive to the general public and future generations. So far, she has published 4 singing books with CDs. Throughout her concerts, she introduces and disseminates a wide variety of folk traditions, grouped by the seasons of the year. She believes that involving the audience makes the learning experience joyful, rich, and rewarding.

Musicians: Julcsi Laposa – voice, violin; Zoltán Szabó – bagpipe, flutes, tambura; Károly Horváth – voice, alto, hurdy-gurdy; Márton Timár – contrabass; Máté Vizeli – alto, lut

CONTACT: szervezes@laposajulcsi. eu