DakhaBrakha

Line-up:
Marko Halanevych – accordion, cajón, darbuka
Iryna Kovalenko – keyboard, djembe
Olena Tsybulska – drums
Nina Garenetska – cello

DakhaBrakha is returning to Cosmopolite! After an electrifying and sold-out concert with us in 2024, the Ukrainian quartet comes back with their uncompromising “ethno-chaos” – a powerful fusion of folk music, theatre, activism, and boundless creativity.

The band was founded at the legendary Dakh Theatre in Kyiv and has since become a global symbol of a new Ukraine: free, bold, and fiercely independent. For more than 20 years, they have shaped a sound that is both ritualistic and modern, wild and refined – an artistic signature that has made them an international phenomenon.

“An insurgent explosion of color and reinvention” – Hackney Citizen

Their music is rooted in authentic Ukrainian folk songs collected during travels to small villages, where they meet local babushkas and learn their traditions directly from the source. These songs are then reimagined through influences from African, Arab, Bulgarian, and Hungarian musical styles – resulting in a sonic universe no other band could replicate.

“Perhaps Ukraine’s most popular orchestra!? (…) A musical revelation” – Puls.no

DakhaBrakha blends pounding drums, resonant cello lines, hypnotic vocals, and the striking visual identity that has made them iconic: wool hats, raw scenography, and a stage presence that captivates both eyes and ears.

“A delight for ears and eyes” – Boston Globe

Their performances can shift from ceremonial and meditative to explosive and dance-inducing. It’s not uncommon for audiences to rise to their feet – even in the most formal concert halls.

“People actually got up and danced! At Barbican. A rare and beautiful sight.” – Hackney Citizen

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, DakhaBrakha has also taken on a new role as a cultural force and artistic voice of resistance. Band member Marko Halanevych puts it this way:
 “Since the invasion, we have felt a particular responsibility… Our very existence refutes the Russian propaganda of ‘one nation.’”