Babra & Planina – South Slavic Ball
Babra & Planina – South Slavic Ball
Babra
The band was formed in 2014 in Budapest, where the spirit of the West and East constantly meet, and where traditions and modern urban culture continuously influence each other. Their main inspiration lies in the music of the South Slavs along the Danube, which connects them beyond an instinctive shared passion with personal ties. The harmony of tamburas defines Babra's sound world, completed by the increasingly rare traditional singing style. The tambura, which is the centerpiece of the band, is capable of creating the most dynamic and nuanced musical textures—ranging from solid elegance and slow melancholy to refined simplicity or unexpected, almost startling virtuosity that moves the listener with elemental force. In 2019, their first album was released by Fonó Records, which was positively received both domestically and abroad: following the debut, it was among the 10 best albums on the World Music Charts Europe. One of the band’s most prestigious successes was performing as part of the 2020 Budapest (virtual) Womex Showcase on the stage of the Palace of Arts. In January 2022, Babra released a joint album with the Polish Megitza formation titled Razem, and then in 2024, they recorded and released their third, also the anniversary album celebrating the band’s 10th year, titled A Hundred Years of Tambura by the end of the year. With their albums, the ensemble targets musical and cultural mediums of which they are an integral part while showcasing new, more open, and fresh perspectives.
Planina
The Planina band was formed in the fall of 2021 by young musicians from Mohács who had been playing together for many years. Their repertoire mainly consists of South Slavic music, but they also enjoy playing Hungarian csárdás, classical and film music, as well as contemporary hits. The band members are: Miklós Kovácsevics (lead tambura) Levente Magyar (lead tambura) Bence Bayer (bass lead tambura) Damján Kovácsevics (bass lead tambura) Marko Cselinácz (accordion) Márk Turcsányi (tambura bass) Deján Popovics (tambura bass)
Rock Troubadours (US, 70s): CSNY, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, Roy Harper
