Taraf de Haidouks

• Genre: Gypsy

About

An almost impossibly virtuosic group of musicians ranging in age from mid-20s to late-70s, Taraf de Haidouks are a musical phenomenon without parallel. They were a simple, unpretentious Romanian village band with chops to spare when two intrepid Belgians discovered them in 1990. They impressed the Belgians so much that they began booking concerts for the group. Taraf made a raucous performance debut at a Womad festival that bowled the audience over and cemented their reputation as an incredible live act. But don't expect electronic pyrotechnics; the group plays what they know best: wedding and christening songs, dance tunes, Medieval numbers, and traiditional Gypsy tunes. They featured prominently in the film Latcho Drom and can be found playing at village functions when not on the road.

- Sarah Bardeen