Featuring:
Fanfare Ciocarlia
Esma Redzepova
Jony Iliev
Mitsou
Florentina Sandu
Kaloome
Aurelia and Tantzica

Fanfare Ciocarlia are Balkan master musicians whose concerts are always a party.

Winners of the 2006 BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music, they are the world's foremost Gypsy brass band. This explosive ensemble creates a furious Balkan funk that excites a fan base stretching well beyond world music.

The music Fanfare make is relentless in tempo and ferocious in delivery. The 11-piece orkestar initially came to prominence in 1995, when German music lover Henry Ernst stumbled across their tiny village Zece Prajini. The band members were peasant farmers and factory workers; men who played at weddings, funerals and baptisms. Ernst was impressed enough to sell all his possessions and book some concerts for the orkestar he had named Fanfare Ciocarlia.

For their Sydney dates, the orkestar will be joined onstage by very special musicians and dancers from Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Hungary and France, representing the very best of the Gypsy music tradition.

Fanfare Ciocarlia line-up includes:
Dan Ionel Ivancea - Saxophone
Oprica Costel Ivancea – Saxophone & Clarinet
Laurentiu -Mihai Ivancea - Horn
Radulescu Lazar - Trumpet
Monel Trifan - Tuba
Costica Trifan - Trumpet
Costel Ursu - Drums
Calin Constantin - Horn
Nicolae Ionita - Percussion
Constantin Cantea - Tuba
Paul Marian Bulgaru - Trumpet

Guest Singers:
Esma Redzepova
Jony Iliev
Mitsou
Florentina Sandu

Kaloome:
Antoine 'Tato' Garcia – Guitar & Vocals
Sabrina Romero – Cajon & Vocals
Christ Mailhe – Guitar & Vocals

Guest Dancers:
Aurelia Sandu
Tantzica Ionita

Fanfare Ciocarlia & Special Guests also appear at The Gypsy Queens & Kings - Festival Jazz and Festival First Night.

PHOTO: © LUDWIG OLAH

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WHAT THE PRESS SAID

“…exuberant sound and infectious energy…” – The Daily Telegraph – 19 January

“For this year’s festival the musical charge will be lead by Fanfare Ciocarlia, a mega ensemble of gypsy music sure to inspire some fabulous booty shaking.” - The Drum Media

"Pumping out the hardest, hottest Balkan brass in the world ... more" – The Independent

"The ballsy, brassy oompah sound of every kind of party you could ever imagine ... more" - Evening Standard

"A band of speed daemons laughing its way across the bumpiest musical terrain ... more" - The New York Times

"Open with a wild, orgiastic climax and then work their way up from there." - The Times

"One of the great Gypsy bands, they match furious rapid-fire drumming and brass with exuberant songs that would surely topple over if attempted by lesser players...more" - The Guardian 

"Join Fanfare for a turbo-charged, highly danceable performance." - fineMUSIC

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COMMENTS

jack shit 16/12/08

despite what it says above i can find no mention of fanfare on the first night page. could you please clarify when and where they are playing that night? ta

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Sydney Festival 18/12/08

Hi there, Fanfare Ciocarlia perform as "The Gypsy Queens & Kings" on Festival First Night, at the Hyde Park Fountain from 7pm. This info is on the Festival First Night section of the website. Hope that helps!

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Richard Acheson 22/12/08

Hi I've tried 4 shops in Sydney today in an attempt to pick up a Fanfare Ciocarlia CD without success. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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KH 01/01/09

Try itunes online ... they have a few albums.

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Fynn 08/01/09

try www.birdland.com.au

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Bill Smith 09/01/09

Best & fastest solution to buy Fanfare Ciocarlia CD's and DVD's as mail order directly from the bands label Asphalt Tango Records: www.asphalt-tango.de. Entire catalogue is distributed in Australia through Planet/MGM Distribution (http://www.thegroovemerchants.com/).

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lukaas 11/01/09

seen the show last night and it was great!!! so much fun!!!

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Minerva 16/01/09

Wash my mouth out but this was even better than Buena Vista all those years ago. Vote one for the Hungarian singer with the voice like a Middle Eastern accordion and the horns were triumphant. An entire State Theatre foyer crammed with a middle-aged dance party. The best so far this Festival.

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Ken McIntyre 17/01/09

Brilliant, the sound was awesome the singing was powerful and the timing exquisite. This show epitomises the festival, great entertainment and a hell of a lot of fun. The foyer was turned into another concert which I thought would end up marching down George Street. Bring them back next year

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tatamata 21/01/09

I missed their concert. Do they have any other gig in Australia this Summer? Thanks!

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Asphalt Tango Records 22/01/09

Upcoming Fanfare Ciocarlia concerts dates on www.asphalt-tango.de

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