Mahala Raï Banda

• Venue: Newtownsmith Main Stage
• Saturday
  16:30 - 17:30 | Free
• Music Events

From the heartlands of Bucharest and Moldavia, Mahala Raï Banda fuse Balkan brass, Romanian gypsy, oriental pop, rumba, reggae and manele (Roma pop) for a high-speed, kick-a**, take-no-prisoners, no-remix-needed session that reminds you why Romanian gypsy music is the new punk rock!

Formed by eminent violinist and composer Aurel Ionitsa, relation to several members of Taraf de Haïdouks, Mahala Raï Banda, along with Fanfare Ciocarlia form the holy trinity of Romanian gypsy music currently taking the world by storm.

Their latest album Ghetto Blasters was shortlisted by Songlines Magazine as one of the Top Ten Recordings of the Year. With their furious violins, fat horns and a stomping rhythm section, this gifted and wild gypsy ensemble are hot property and source of inspiration to many electronic producers, having been remixed by Nouvelle Vague and Felix B of Basement Jaxx, amongst others. Recently replacing Fanfare Ciocarlia on the Legendary Gypsy Queens and Kings stage production featuring Macedonia’s Esma Redzepova, the dlr Festival of World Cultures is honoured to present their first-ever Irish appearance.