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

CROOKED FIDDLE BAND - Melbourne

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.

“The Crooked Fiddle Band are completely surprising. The music is original and quixotic, and yet has the strength of some deep and strong roots. I can't say I've ever heard anything else like it!.” Brian Eno

The Crooked Fiddle Band have built a reputation as one of Australia's most intense live music experiences. Gearing up for their third tour to Europe and UK in 2012, with their high octane performances compelling audiences into a joyous frenzy of dancing and revelry in response to the dark, ecstatic energy and medieval battle-like climaxes.

Their first full-length album, “Overgrown Tales” was recorded in Chicago in early 2011 with legendary engineer Steve Albini in his Electrical Audio studios. Whilst the worst snowstorms in 15 years blanketed the city, Albini (Joanna Newsom, Nirvana, The Pixies, Gogol Bordello) captured the band live and raw – with a set of tunes that roam across a wide range of styles and influences whilst maintaining an intense yet cinematic energy. Driven by the beautiful and furious fiddling of Jess Randall, and underpinned by a rhythm section featuring Gordon Wallace (bouzouki, guitar, banjo, mandolin), Mark Stevens (double bass, Appalachian dulcimer, charango) and Joe Gould (drum kit, hand percussion, garbage bin, vocals) the Crooked Fiddle Band sound blasts, rocks and grooves to the point of dementia.

Combining stunning musicianship with a rhythm and energy aimed straight at romantic hearts and dancing feet, the Crooked Fiddle Band intertwine folk traditions with modern evolutions and have impressed all who have encountered them such as Damien Dempsey who they have supported and Brian Eno, who invited the band to participate in his Luminous Festival at the Sydney Opera House.

“For us, there is a direct link between folk traditions and blast beats: it is the unstoppable energy, that intensity that hits you in the chest and forces you to move,” says The Crooked Fiddle Band’s Gordon Wallace. “Chainsaw folk” is our attempt to craft a new beast from these influences – coherent but mutated and we can’t wait to hit Europe hard this summer.”

Overgrown Tales roams across a wide range of styles and influences yet maintains an intense, vivid energy and Gordon Wallace from the band describes the new album as “Like finding a folk tale deep in the forest, rooted in tradition but with the newest of shoots and a few thorns.”

VARDOS - Melbourne

Led by extrovert Alana on violin, chased by accordion and double bass, VARDOS bring you the latest Balkan and Baltic hits, legends, village wedding tunes and burning laments.

Formed late last century, VARDOS have travelled through Eastern Europe on horse-drawn carts in the quest of Roma (gypsy) musicians, played in every state of Australia, toured to Europe, Britain and the Pacific and showcased in the U.S.

VARDOS performed at the West Meets East Roma and Traveller Festival (London), Museum of the Bohemian (Amsterdam) and Szent Ivan Folk Festival (Hungary).

They have also  been featured on "Spicks and Specks" ABC TV with their extreme folk versions of poprock, appeared at the Forum Theatre with. Supports include "The Cat Empire", "Paprikus Balkanicus" "Besh o Drom" and "Antal Szalai Gypsy Band" (both from Hungary), Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club (Cuba), and the Gipsy Kings (France) .

Vardos have just released their fourth album , "Until it's time to go".

"With stagecraft that is equal parts formation dancing, martial arts and Keystone Cops, the violin-accordion-double bass trio play with formidable panache, spinning the tunes into a dizzying procession of crescendos and false stops. ...Vardos don´t hold back."

**** Rob Adams, The Herald, Edinburgh

"Alana Hunt’s soaring violin… slapped double bass … supple accordion combine on a collection of 17 Hungarian and Romanian tunes and songs that show us that their frequent visits to Eastern Europe have made them a truly exciting band."  Lucky Oceans, The Planet, of VARDOS CD "Wild Side of the Village"

"a ...traditional and acoustic sound, with the wild fiddle of Alana Hunt.. The virtuosity is just faultless, making it a joy to listen to."   Geoff Burton, fROOTS magazine, UK, of VARDOS CD "Entertaining Countess Dracula"

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.