Founded in Istanbul in 2006 Baro Banda (aka GeckoRomanProject) has created a sound which truly represents the bridging of East and West. From heavy Turkish Romany grooves to drum’n'bass, dub, funk, jazz, hip hop and other influences Baro Banda specialize in the unexpected…

The band is collaboration between 6 Romany, Australian and Turkish musicians playing Underground Gypsy Roots Music combined with modern electronic sounds.

Vocalist/guitarist Murat Yucel (Australia/Turkey);
Gypsy clarinet master Savas Zurnaci (Turkey);
and saxophonist Alisha Brooks (Australia) – are joined by their rhythm section, together with various electronic devices to create a new dimension in world roots music.

“…the hottest new addition to the gypsy music playground…these genies of Istanbul will grant your musical wishes…”

BARO BANDA - Istanbul

DJ CLICK - Paris

MOULDY LOVERS -  Brisbane

Polymorphic artist DJ Click has long been an accomplice of the most ebullient projects: with the extravert Rona Hartner for tsigane traditions as well as the gnawas of Essaouira, pending his Zuco 103 brasileiro or African mixes with Issa Bagayogo. His field of predilection: moisture-filled dance floors where his mixes ardently pulsate a range of Mediterranean musical styles. Incorporating tsigane, oriental, klezmer, flamenco or gnawi rhythms, DJ Click delivers techno, drum'n bass on another mode, and in another time zone... Those of the future! A universal, communicative and festive language, with tonic accents and over- energized tempos, making bodies talk...

He produced a dozen cds in his studio, numerous remixes like those of Warsaw Village Band, Mahala Raï Banda, Burhan Öçal, Boogie Balagan or Rachid Taha, and his no visa music was released on prestigious compilations. DJ Click is an adventuresome alchemist who infuses rural with urban and extracts living music from electronic mechanics.

He realized a radio broadcast for several years on the indie Férarock network, and organized famous parties, booking trans-European artists to shake the venues and clubs in Paris. His worldtronica touch has paved the way for a truly international league of cultural diversification. On stage, he invents a new kind of digital folk, inviting the musicians he has met to play on his machines. Booked on main festivals, clubs and international fairs, from South Korea to Brazil, from Balkan to North Africa, he spreads his style all over the world zone.

Bubbling up from the crevices of West End, The Mouldy Lovers came together quietly and brewed to a loud menagerie of exuberant gypsy junk. With their unbridled enthusiasm and transcontinental influences, The Mouldy Lovers make that subtropical gypsy sound that makes even the manliest men soil their pants and start to dance!

From folky beginnings in early 2010, The Mouldy Lovers have expanded their musical horizons taking inspiration from all parts of the world and in turn gained a dedicated following in the Brisbane music scene, having carved out a niche for crowd engaging performances that have youngsters dancing and migrant old-timers flash- backing to the good old days. Well known from regular busking in local spots around brisbane such as Queen St Mall, Southbank and the West End Green Flea Markets, The Mouldy Lovers have developed strong roots amongst Brisbane street folk, market dwellers and weekend leisure seekers.

The Mouldy Lovers have had shows in a wide array of venues around east coast Australia including The Zoo, The Globe Theatre, Soundlounge, The Tivoli, Treehouse on Belongil and The Shire just to name a few. Having only recently broken into the festival scene The Mouldy Lovers have already played at a number of high caliber festivals including Caloundra Music Festival, Yamba’s Surfing The Coldstream Festival and Island Vibe Festival, leaving them hungry for more in 2012.

Featuring a collective of young musicians from a varied global lineage and distinct euphonic tastes, The Mouldy Lovers blend an assortment of exotic and vintage instruments; such as piano accordion, banjo, banjolin, trumpet, violin, saxophone, guitar, piano, bass and drums; to produce a one of a kind sound that keeps feet moving and hearts beating.

MZAZA - Brisbane

The six-piece’s unusual take on Mediterranean traditional sounds has been turning heads for a while, but it was the release of their album Journey Over Skin in 2011 which saw the band gain exposure around the country and overseas. The audience should expect to be treated to Mzaza’s distinctive twist: French vocals on a Bulgarian rhythm served just after a traditional Spanish love song.

French-Moroccan front woman Pauline Maudy sings in French, Spanish, Ladino and Turkish. The band features violin, kamanche tarhu (a spike-fiddle of Persian ancestry), guitar, accordion, kaval and ney (Balkan and Turkish end blown flutes), double-bass, darabuka (Turkish hand percussion), cajon and bendir (frame drum).

THE BAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH - Melbourne

The Band Who Knew Too Much are a bona-fide foolproof floor-packing band. For over a decade they have branded their sound around the world; a highly energetic act that is at home singing on the festival stage, busking unplugged on the city streets, or anything inbetween!

Washboard/Accordion driven anthems about spending the rent, hard rubbish nights and of course, the immortal BEER O’CLOCK!! It's happy hour, energetic party music for everyone.

The Band Who Knew Too Much embrace the brattiness and flaws of everyday life and turn them into material for an intoxicating party of endless energy- like being stuck in the exact moment of winning the AFL premiership cup and feeling the pain and tears of every losing season drift off your shoulders and disappear in the air.’

‘ After 15 years of proving it, The Band Who Knew Too Much are a truly classic Australian band with an undying spirit for the complete abandon and joy we feel when we throw our fines out the window, slam the rent down on the bar and decide there’s no tomorrow- all night long.’

The Band Who Knew Too Much only know one way, and that’s UP! An energy packed, floor jumping music experience that can inspire a mosh, a shimmy, a pogo or even an impromptu Charleston. Whatever your vice, The Band Who Knew Too Much can scratch the itch.

KARAVANA - Melbourne

KARAVANA plays a potent mix of rumba flamenca, (Spanish Gypsy ) flamenco and Cuban music. 

Singing in his native Spanish/ Romani (Gypsy) languages Miguel Antonio Ovejero, leads Karavana in its authentic and passionate gyspy style. Three guitars, double bass and percussion drive the rhythm. This is gutsy gypsy street music danced with bare feet and played with a bare soul. The Turkish, South American and Spanish/ Gypsy backgrounds of the musicians shine through in this band that makes any occasion a true Gypsy fiesta. 

   Karavana explores the Spanish gypsy tradition to its roots playing songs by Jose Reyes, (Gipsy Kings founder and father of 4 of its members) Ketama, Gitano Familia, and Camaron de la Isla and creating an original  fusion driven by the outstanding talents and Middle Eastern, Latin and Spanish backgrounds of the band members.

Miguel Antonio Ovejero plays guitar, composes and sings in his native Spanish. His vast experience across the world makes him a “maestro” of reading an audience, flamenco guitar and his “mystical” and greatly admired flamenco vocals,  “the words don’t matter when Ovejero sings” one reviewer exclaimed. His partner Lisa Ovejero plays a variety of percussion instruments and does backing vocals. Marcos Pacheco is a brilliant talent on the flamenco guitar. Tamer Taskaya, a professional Oud player from Istanbul excels in demonstrating the Arabic roots of flamenco and also plays guitar. Nicolas Lyon contributes his vast experience on double bass and violin to the band. The talent passion and versatility of this group of musicians makes Karavana’s spell work.

The band has reformed and renamed recently. Our previous incarnation had many years experience playing at local and national festivals, private and corporate functions, restaurants and cafes, dance venues charity gigs etc (see below). Karavana has reformed as circumstances changes, some band members left and others went overseas. The new energy and talent is inspiring.