DakhaBrakha, Ukrainian folk-punk

DakhaBrakha was created in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art (DAKH) by avant-garde theatre director Vladyslav Troitskyi, and given a name that means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language. Theatre work has left its mark on the band's performances; their shows are always staged with a strong visual element.

After experimenting with Ukrainian folk music, the band added rhythms from around the world into their music, creating the bright, unique and unforgettable sound of DakhaBrakha. The group strives to bring Ukrainian melodies to the hearts and consciousness of younger generations in Ukraine and the rest of the world.

Accompanied by Indian, Arabic, African, Russian and Australian traditional instrumentation, the quartet’s astonishingly powerful and uncompromising vocal range creates a trans-national sound rooted in Ukrainian culture. At the crossroads of Ukrainian folklore and theatre, their musical spectrum is at first intimate then riotous, plumbing the depths of contemporary roots and rhythms, inspiring cultural and artistic liberation.

In March 2010, DakhaBrakha won the prestigious Grand Prix prize named after S.Kuriokhin, in the sphere of contemporary art, and confirmed its place in the culture. In March 2011, DakhaBrakha was discovered by Australian WOMADelaide and began their ascent in the international music scene. They have since played more than 300 concerts and performances and have taken part in major international festivals throughout Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, Asia, Australia and North America. DakhaBrakha has collaborated with international musicians such as Port Mone (By), Kimmo Pohjonen Cluster (Fi), Karl Frierson (DePhazz) (Ge), Steve Cooney (IRL), Inna Zhelannaya (Ru), Kievbass (UA), Djam (UA-Iran) and David Ingibaryan (Hu).