Kommuna Lux

Balkan in the iconic Evanston Space, July 1st 2024Join us for a captivating journey through Eastern Europe, from the shores of the Black Sea to the majestic Carpathian Mountains, alongside extraordinary musicians:Experience the enchanting music of Odesa, Ukraine, the Pearl of the Black Sea, with Kommuna Lux. This spirited ensemble brings the cultural heritage of their beloved hometown to life through Klezmer, Balkan, and Urban Chanson, infused with Ukrainian folk melodies. With a high-energy Big Band sound reminiscent of speakeasies and rum runners, Kommuna Lux captivates audiences with their infectious joy. Following a successful 2023 USA tour, the band returns with another fundraising tour to support Ukraine.When Volodymyr Gitin raises that clarinet to his lips, he becomes the only man in the room you cant help but utterly fall into his virtuoso arms. Heavyweight Champion Oleg Vasianovich holds his accordion like its light as a feather, while he develops the foundation of each melody. Layers of complexity are added by the bold, bright trumpet of Andrei Okhramovich and the sassy, playful trombone of Yaroslav Besh. Viktor Kirilov never stops dancing as he plays his acoustic guitar, and you never know when Sergei Poltorak will pause on the percussion to punk the rest of the band with a sly prank. At center stage is sultry powerhouse Bagrat Tsurkan, whose hot buttered voice and nonstop energy compel everyone to the dance floor. These conservatory-trained musicians started out playing flash mobs in the markets, piers, and streets of Odesa, and quickly moved up to local and national stages.https://youtu.be/FYOILIQML4A?si=RlGbuHFeZo6Bgb-RFugu Dugu is a female-led Eastern European gypsy punk rock band inspired by the fields of Moldova, the mountains of Romania, railroads of Ukraine and Russia, with a touch of Klezmer and Americana. Born in Chicago in 2017, Fugu Dugu blends original compositions and timeless Eastern European songs. Led by Grammy-winning violinist Olya Prohorova and singer-songwriter Mark Adkison, the bands style is deeply rooted in Eastern European folk traditions. Performing in Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, and English, Fugu Dugus music has been likened to female Gogol Bordello. Following collaborations with Oleg Skrypka, the God Father of Ukrainian rock music, who called Olya a genius violinist, Fugu Dugu is set to play the main stage at Jetlag festival in 2024 and embark on a USA tour with their debut album Lunatic Parade.https://youtu.be/2gI1JgSAtqE?si=6Vp2hOXoaq1nm2E1