Bio:

Aistaguca (eyes-ta-gucha) is a 15 piece horn band based in Nottingham whose music is styled around that of the Balkan ‘Trubaci’ bands such as Fanfare Ciocarlia, Boban Markovic and Goran Bregovic and leans towards more contemporary influences such as Gogo Bordello, The Apples (Tel Aviv) and Oi Va Voi. Trubaci music incorporates high energy Romanian and Klezmer folk music with brass band instruments which are mixed with contemporary rhythms and arrangements. Balkan music is really finding its feet now in the UK with assistance from the unlikely source of Sacha Baron Cohen, aka Borat, whose sound track to the Borat Movie includes several of Aistaguca’s repertoire. Aistaguca - live @ The Off The Tracks Festival 2009
The music is highly interactive and is performed as a show to engage the audience on every level with songs such as Hava Nagila (Hebrew folk song), Paint it Black (The Rolling Stones), Cosmic Girl (Jamouriqui) and Kalashnikov (Goran Bregovic). The group is just as happy marching through streets or a festival creating excited mayhem en route or as a stage performance band and have never failed to induce spontaneous dance and screams for more! Aistaguca, who have been together for nearly two years, was established in the UK by Robin Hevness after five years living and travelling in the Balkans. In that time they have generated a committed following with collaborations with the Nottingham School of Samba, Muzika (Gypsy Jazz promoters) and have had several guest pro and semi pro musicians involved with performances. It is intended in the coming year to put Aistaguca well and truly on the folk, dance, underground and festival scene and stretch out further through both gigs and directed promotion. Aistaguca will be in the studio in February recording an album to support both promotion and accessibility to our music. Muzika! march 2008
The line up of Aistaguca consists of 15 musicians dedicated to the realisation of exciting, high energy, original music and are drawn from active members within the Nottingham music scene and include: Trumpet, soprano sax x 2, Clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax x2, trombone, Baritone saxophone, Bb and Eb tubas, guitar, mandolin, walking bass drum, darabouk. The ages of band members range from 18 – 82 years old. Concert venues include: The Maze, Nottingham (as part of the Muzika nights) BluePrint , Nottingham (in collaboration with DEMO promoters) Stuff of Life Festival, Sherwood Bar One, Derby The Hub, Nottingham Over the next year, efforts will be made to appear at several popular festivals and to support larger acts around the UK. Aistaguca currently have bookings (unconfirmed) in Devon, Wales and Uterect and are constantly looking to spread the Balkan madness. Aistaguca have their own minibus and are able to travel anywhere in the UK.

Member Since:

September 26, 2008

Members:

Robin Hevness Tracy Beeby Craig Stevenson Tim Block Belinda Burnard Rich Kirton John the tuba player

Influences:

Boban Markovic, Goran Bregovic, Fanfare Ciocarlia, GoGo Bordello, Bomango, Ivo Popasov, Katelena, Pedro Rui Oliviera

Sounds Like:

Live t the New Arts Exchange - Nottingham

Aistaguca | MySpace Music Videos