Founded in 2008 in Austin, Texas by the award-winning lutenist and early music specialist Slobodan Vujisic, the Austin Troubadours is an international group of instrumentalists and singers that is dedicated to reviving the beauty of musical masterpieces from Medieval and Renaissance Europe. Seven musicians in period costumes with more than 30 authentic period instruments perform dances and songs of Medieval and Renaissance Europe.
The Flying Balalaika Brothers consists of three famous representatives of Russian Balalaika school. The Original Flying Balalaika Brothers were formed in Los Angeles in 1995 by Zhenya Kolykhanov (a.k.a. Z Rock), the former lead guitarist of the Russian surf/rockabilly group Red Elvises. The group started as a street band and later transformed into the group Red Elvises; which had a large history of performing for clubs, motion pictures, and TV shows in California. After Zhenya set up shop in Austin, he reestablished The Flying Balalaika Brothers. The band represents a blend of traditional world music and original Russian-infused musical pieces. The group has found a perfect home in the musically rich culture of Austin, Texas. They will be performing with our Kids to Concerts series.
The NYC-based Metropolitan Klezmer sextet approaches tradition with irreverence and respect. The soulful, fun-loving powerhouse all-women’s klezmer has toured from Vienna to Vancouver since 1998. Band repertoire ranges from rambunctious to entrancing: neo-traditional folk dance, mystical melodies,Yiddish swing & retro tango, late Soviet-era Jewish drinking songs, re-grooved standards, and genre-defying originals. Isle of Klezbos concert footage has been broadcast internationally on CBS & CNN. Klezbos bandmates were profiled by NPR’s Hey Ladies project. The band also made studio recordings of Klezbos arrangements for double platinum, Grammy-nominated Scissor Sisters, and performed at the special request of artist Kiki Smith for the dedication of her new stained glass window at the Eldridge Street Synagogue.