Besh o droM

"Large, energetic Hungarian band Besh o droM seems to have drawn a lot of interest on its recent UK gigs, including London and Glastonbury… a splendid flight of wildness and joyous exuberance that rarely pauses for breath, is ... plenty high-energy... The band, which continues to expand and evolve, first came together in 1999. They're a bunch of Budapest-based Hungarians playing - on reeds, brass, violin, guitar, cimbalom, accordeon, oud, ney, kaval, bass and percussion - music that excites them, not learnt at their father's knee but picked up here and there and from records. It is yet further proof of the power of middle and eastern European and Gypsy music to spread and metamorphose, gathering up whatever sticks to it to make modern wide-audience music of dazzling drive and colour." Andrew Cronshaw, fRoots, review - Andrew Cronshaw/fROOTS

"An urban wedding band, Besh o droM's sound is ethnic tradition with the unique sound of the cimbalom with jazz improvisation, a fantastic Balkan brass section with locked-down funk grooves. A 1000mph musical mayhem, a real audience pleaser with very strong musicianship. World music at its best - an absolute must. Dance shoes recommended." - Jonathan Walton, JaD

Fiery and fleet-footed wedding music from Budapest
If your notion of a wedding band involves The Birdy Song and bass players wearing mullets with no sense of embarrassment, then let Budapest's Besh o druM redress the balance. Formed in the Hungarian capital ten years ago, they deliver wedding music that's fiery and suitable joyous - as they themselves trumpet, it's "1000mph musical mayhem". And they don't limit themselves to the traditions of their home country, either. As well as slipping in a little jazz improvisation, they're also happy to include tunes from all over the map ¬(Romania, Greece, Egypt, Armenia, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Afghanistan...). Neither do they constrain themselves to traditional, steam-powered instruments - electric keys and bass provide a hard-backed funk foundation. fRoots reviewer Andrew Cronshaw was one to marvel at their untrammelled ways, praising their "splendid flight of wildness and joyous exuberance that rarely pauses for breath". The name? It means 'ride the road', apparently. Saddle up!
(Biography by Nige Tassell 2009) - Nige Tassell