Balkan Express - Magic Balkan Gypsy Music Tatcho Drom - Wild yet sophisticated Balkan Party Music, with optional dancer

Balkan Gypsy and folk music and dancing are currently highly popular entertainment choices for special occasions. Tatcho Drom features the vibrant music of traditional rural Balkan weddings, Gypsy Romany festivities, as well as evergreen tunes from Kusturica's movies. The music is performed by violin, vocals, accordion, guitar, and percussion, driven by pure human energy. Occasionally, we play amplified amplified, but electronic elements are intentionally absent.

We carefully select musical treasures from each region, choosing songs and instrumentals that are cherished by insiders yet catchy to newcomers. The experience can be further enriched by our Balkan Romany dancer, who presents Gypsy dance performances and leads Balkan Barn dance like social dancing.

“A Gypsy consommé with a satanic pulse” – Garth Cartwright

“Thanks again for making our wedding very special !”

“Their energy is contagious and that carried across the audience tonight”

Our most memorable events were commissioned by clients and promoters who envisioned "something different" for their event – something not quite as familiar as pop music, not quite as cool as jazz, and not quite as formal as classical music, yet possessing a power similar to rock music. Our entertainment offerings include those elements alongside a uniquely exotic touch.

For receptions and dinners, we provide a warm, feel-good atmosphere with a colorful flair, performing some of our moving ballads and slow dances from Macedonia, Russia, and Hungary. However, on most occasions, clients or festivals are interested in the hot and rhythmic Balkan dance music from Serbia, Bulgaria, and the frantic fiddle music from Romania. During those instances, we play our most vibrant dance pieces with full power

“Bavarian-born violinist Gundula could well have been raised in the Balkans, for her playing imparts the true soul of Gypsy music, full of colour and passion, an explosion of energy…” Vesti News, Serbian diaspora newspaper

“Gruen’s band swirl and flow fascinatingly around her, in obvious thrall to her fearless and commanding playing.” – Froots

Tatcho Drom provides professional entertainment in a variety of settings
· Hot Balkan Gypsy dance music for guests to join in dancing, interspersed with the occasional romantic ballad to catch one's breath and enjoy a drink.
· Charismatic ambient music during receptions and sophisticated dinners.
· A 20-minute surprise show of colorful and vibrant Gypsy music and dance, suitable as a staged performance or on the floor amongst the guests.
· A Balkan Barn dance, with live music and a dance caller, involving the guests actively and providing a cultural experience as well as a long-lasting memory of the event.
· An intimate acoustic performance in a compact 2 or 3-musician lineup.
· Personalized entertainment: Performance sets of flexible length and energy, combinations of music and dance, can be individually designed for your function. Special requests for certain music pieces may be included.
· Performances can be completely acoustic for intimate locations, semi-amplified, or fully amplified for large festivals and functions.

About the performers
Tatcho Drom is a London-based quintet and is considered one of the UK's foremost exponents of Balkan Romany Gypsy music. The ensemble has collaborated for over 10 years, performing at music festivals, arts centers, universities, TV and radio, as well as private and corporate functions.

Tatcho Drom is led by virtuoso violinist, singer and ethnomusicologist Gundula Stojanova Gruen. Described by Songlines Magazine as ‘a shining star in the UK’s Balkan music scene’, she has extensively travelled, researching Balkan Gypsy Romany music, and transcribing melodies firsthand from Romany and folk musicians. Gundula’s unique performance style showcases her technical ability acquired through intensive conservatoire training along with her in-depth understanding of musical traditions.

“ … most of all I loved her playing and singing: unaffected and full of life… with her musicality and lifelines she is giving out something so precious and important in this muddled world!”

“Huge musical talent and impressive energy"

Alexandar Ivanov, Tatcho Drom’s accordionist, brings along a huge bag of energy and experience from his native Bulgaria, where he performed Eastern European, Balkan and Russian music for more than 15 years. The line-up is completed by Jeremy Halliwell (guitar), Sass Hoory (Balkan percussion) and Fraser Parry (cello, vocals), all are highly acclaimed musicians, boasting qualifications from prominent institutions throughout Europe.

Balkan Romany dancer Linda Gjogieva Toteva is London’s only Gypsy dance performer with authentic roots. She has learned her first dancing from her Grandmother in Bulgaria, and since then studied and performed various Eastern dance styles around the globe. Linda delivers exciting and exotic dance performances and is known for her infectious leading of Eastern European and Balkan line and circle dances.

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