Faith i Branko

'Musically a delight..these virtuosic performers are a major discovery this year' The Guardian 'Moving, breathtaking and virtuosic' Lopa Kothari, BBC Radio 3 'Set to become one of the leading Roma Violinists of the century' Froots 'Totally Amazing' Lily Allen 'One of my favourite new Balkan ensembles' Emir Kusturica Faith i Branko have 15 years of experience of playing at Weddings, Birthdays, Festivals, Concerts, Corporate Events and many other venues including: - Emir Kusturica's Birthday Party; Anthony Gormley Birthday Party; Fundraising function with Lily Allen; BBC Radio 3 Heritage Roots Live; Picadilly Casino; Novi Jazz Fest; Notting Hill Private Members Arts Club New Years Eve; Le Quecumbar Gypsy Jazz Club; Kate Moss private function. - The Royal Festival Hall; Bristol Old Vic Theatre; Sydney International Festival; Guca Festival; Wilderness Festival; Vienna Arts Festival; Giffords Circus; The Southbank. They perform with the following lineup: Quintet - Drum; Bass; Guitar; Accordion, Violin Quartet - A four piece selection of the above Trio - Bass; Violin; Accordion OR Guitar; Violin; Accordion Duo - Violin and Accordion BIO Branko Ristic, described by BBC Radio 3 as a violinist ‘whom Paganini would be proud of’ has joined with Faith Ristic - a UK performer who’s ‘nimble accordion playing provides a beautiful bedrock’ The Guardian. From a foundation of ‘Serbian-Roma’ music, they have created a style that draws from both of their musical heritages and expresses their unique personal connection. Recent highlights include The Royal Festival Hall, Kustendorf Film Festival & Edinburgh Festival; WOMEX award winning album ‘Gypsy Lover’ - produced by Emir Kusturica/ Nicholas Hooper is 11th in the European World Music Charts; radio play includes BBC Radio 3 Heritage Tracks. The duo met in Branko’s Serbian Roma village of Gornja Grabovica, and - with music as their only tool for communication - began a journey that would lead to the creation of their WOMEX award-winning album ‘Gypsy Lover’, their marriage and their success in international touring and media. Branko taught himself the violin, which became a way out of the extreme health, social and economic problems through which he lived in Serbia; he created his own music - intuitively combining sounds of Jazz, Indian, Turkish and Classical music with his Roma traditions. Now based in London, the duo are currently touring with their quartet and quintet. They appear regularly on Balkan/Roma TV and their biographical documentary ‘Duo’, is due to be released in 2018; they are recording artists on Emir Kusturicas' latest film with Monica Belluci; toured Australia and Europe – including Enlighten Canberra, The Basement (Sydney), The Homestead (Tasmania), Vienna Roma Fest, Guca Festival and Kustendorf Film Festival; recently completed a tour of the UK, including the Royal Festival Hall, The Southbank Centre, Echo Founders Festival with Anthony Gormley, The Caves (Edinburgh), SOAS Concert Series, The Arts Centre (Glasgow), and are the composers and producers of their WOMEX award winning album, ‘Gypsy Lover’ - recorded at Serbian film Director Emir Kusturica’s Studio, mentored by Nicholas Hooper (Composer/Harry Potter) and released with Riverboat Records/World Music Network. Recent radio play includes BBC Radio 3 Heritage Tracks, World Service with Stephen Fry and 6 Music. 'Gypsy Lover' is placed in 11th position in the European World Music Charts. How do they sound?: Faith and Branko Ristic form the core of their high-energy live performance, combining the accordion, violin, effects pedal and tabor pipe to take the audience on a journey from melancholy Roma violin laments to storming ‘kolos’ and explorations into jazz improvisation, swing, Gypsy Rumba and Turkish and Indian influenced violin solos. These styles form a set, which – for the majority – is joyous, passionate, boisterous, fiery and spirited. Branko, predicted by UK Froots to become ‘one of the leading Roma Violinists of the century’, soars at break-neck paces whilst Faith’s ‘nimble accordion accompaniment provides a beautiful bedrock’ [The Guardian]. Branko – a self-taught virtuosic Roma violinist with a painful personal history - opens his heart in their slower compositions, revealing at times the sadness and darkness beneath the frantic virtuosic revelry. They source musicians from all over the world and currently perform as a quartet and quintet with collaborating Roma and non-Roma artists. How they would perform at your event: They can cater their performance around your needs: for intimate occasions they can perform their acoustic duo of violin and accordion - with optional piano if required. This can be styled around the sounds of vibrant and soulful Gypsy, Jazz and Balkan music, or can include a repertoire with known jazz standards and favourite classical pieces. For concerts, events and art projects, they work with a number of top-musicians; this can range from a trio with double bass or guitar, to a fully amplified 5-piece line-up with additional percussion, cello, 2nd vocals, to entertain large crowds: all is possible. For events and functions, Faith i Branko have a variety of programs in their repertoire: * A 'mixed repertoire' of music from eastern Europe and the Balkans, from mellow, mournful songs to fast and virtuosic dance and show pieces. * 'Specialised sets', themed to one tradition or to one specific occasion: Russian, Hungarian, Serbian, Macedonian; or Wedding, Funeral, Christening and Birthdays. * 'Standard sets', same as the above with some standards / popular pieces of your choosing. Prices: We charge per musician - so there are different prices for the duo, trio, quartet and 5 piece band. Please email us to discuss the budget for your occasion.