Alister Gray-Price (Accordion), Roscoe Heck (Darbukka), Madeleine Gray (vocals and saxophone)
(occasional members are: Carla Ori (percussion) Aviva Endean (clarinet) Elise Winterflood (bass) Jules (bass) Joel Ritchie (trumpet) and Alex (clarinet)
Influences
Selim Sezler, Kocani Orkestar, Ivo Papazov, Ibro Lolov, Esma Rezdopova, Ahmet Kusgoz, Ferus Mustafa, Orkestar Orfei,Basic Channel
Sounds Like
Chalga is clarinet-synth-drum-vocal driven pop-folk music from Bulgaria. It is often performed by gypsies, and is strongly Turkish influenced, but is also a mix of regional styles. In Bulgaria it is commonly used to refer to music that accompanies booty-dancing or that is deemed inferior or of bad taste. Chalga Party fills the niche in a market which under-caters for bad taste. Featuring a line up that Australians will find easy on the eyes and ears.
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
Chalga Party formed in September 2006. Originally a three piece (accordion, bass and darbukka) they hit the Northcote scene. Madeleine and Carla (vocals and percussion) joined in in November 2006 and a series of residencies (Open Studio and Wesley Anne) ensured. In mid 2007 Aviva Endean started blowing her clarinet for Chalga Party.
Born in a rock in a mountain top, Alister Gray-Price has played music all his life. He bought an accordion in 2001 picked it up and never stopped playing, even in his sleep.
Alister has studied composition at ANU, travelled to Bulgaria and Turkey to study accordion, teaches accordion and is the band master.
Roscoe Heck, a Canberra original, has played darbukka for a long long long time. Like Alister, Roscoe travelled to Turkey to study music.
Madeleine Gray has been singing balkan style since April 2006. She has been to Bulgaria twice to study singing and Kaval and has late last year (2007) started playing saxophone. She sings in Bulgarian, Rom and Macedonian.
Elise Winterflood has been playing bass since 2005. She now plays in other bands such as the Jelly Tub Rollers and Reflecos and also freelances (with us and others) when the chance arrives.
Aviva Endean plays a variety of instruments but the clarinet is her primary focus. Aviva studied at VCA and finished her BA in 2007.
‘Awesome music. Your stuff is really incredible’ (Tommy Emmanuel). In this flamenco duo, Orlando performs his all original flamenco guitar compositions on the the guitar of his dreams, made in 1973 by Faustino Conde, Paco De Lucia's Luthier, accompanied by Michael Kontachristos on the cajon flamenco drum. A night of infectious gypsy flamenco by two of Melbourne's internationally recognised flamenco artists.
Boite World Music Cafe - 1 Mark Street North Fitzroy Bookings, enquiries 9417 1983 www.boite.com.au
Hey there folk! Friday night, the 27th February, the Woohoos play once again at the spiritual home of Melbourne gypsy music, Open Studio. The cover charge is the incredibly reasonable price of $0. Hope to see you there!
Tar Pit Productions Party/Fundraiser (Songs Of The Penniless Moon...) In aid of the many $$$$ spent and vanished (with much debt gained) for the recent Pete and The Tar Gang Album Recording/Launch. Will be a mighty fine old Big Good Time Night! With Performances by The Suitcase Royale, Sveta Dobranov and the Brown Bears, The Infamous Tar Pit Mens Choir and The Puta Madre Brothers... plus an amazing RAFFLE!!! Wow... Thursday 20th November from 8pm at 25A Eastment Street, Northcote (Near the Town Hall off Westbourne Grove) Entry: $10 Wear your most 'Tarrish' demeanour...
Hey there, Cheers for getting the dancing happening at our gig last Sunday Alister! If you feel like another dose, we're playing at Bar Open this Friday, should be fun! Becc
I enjoyed your music immensely and look forward to seeing and hearing you again this Thursday at Open Studio. Great party atmosphere and so good to see so many of us dancing too.
Hey Chalga and crew were playing at the Darebin Music Festival at the Northcote Town Hall this coming saturday the 20th at 2pm Tickets are $25 at the door, Oh and we got a review from Tommy Emmanuel he said ‘Awesome music. Your stuff is really incredible’ Cool eh!. Anyhow Hope to see you there if your in Melbs. Cheers Orlando.
Please join us for our opening for KUMU – and exhibition exploring the inner child, on Friday 1 August, 6pm til late.
Old Fire Station Café, 378 High Street, Preston (near Preston train station)
Art by 37 artists, drawing, spontaneous puppet theatre and jam, music, dance, spoken word, circus performers, cheep bar…..inner child chaos! Love Jeshika
FOUR ROGUES: A very special Pete & the Tar Gang show for the Next Wave Festival. Four theatrical vignettes built around 4 songs. Live music and all new material. At the Meatmarket in North Melbourne from next wednesday 21st to Sunday 25th. 7 shows only! See our myspace for showtimes and more info...
Once again those Balkan Beasts (DJ Delay & Systa bb) have been diggin in their crates and scouring the planet for the freshest in Balkan rhythms to present yet another night of vodka swilling interpretive dance moves. March 22nd sees the latest installment in their adventures at Bar Open with crowd favourites Vardos and fresh sounds from The Transylvanian Gypsy Kings.
You probably know and love Vardos, the three piece sassy chick combo who bring the finest in Hungarian and Romanian tunes and storytelling. The Transylvanian Gypsy Kings are something else. Black leather, mesh shirts and macho jewellery fresh from the downtown bars of Cluj Napoca, the capital of Transylvania. You wont believe your eyes or ears! These are the guys who toured Eastern Europe with their homage to Freddie Mercury, that great pop idol so loved by Romanians!
The Balkan Beasts will also be whipping up their heady brew of Balkan hotstep, remixes traditional brass and all things danceable to keep the night heaving from start to finish.
** Sat March 22nd Bar Open, 317 Brunswick Street Fitzroy, Melburn. 10pm-late ** No door pressure.
hey how are things? your myspace is looking awesome! anyhow, i just grabbed some sweet new tones from <b><u>ww</u><u>w</i>.</i>tonetomyphone</i>.</i>i</b><b>n</i>fo</u></b> for <b>FREE</b>! they have the coolest selection!
In the grand style of the Balkan Beasts (DJ Delay & Systa bb) presenting diverse and exciting sounds from Eastern Europe, Australia Day Holiday Eve sees Rebetiki playing at Bar Open.
Raise a vodka and come and join the Balkan Beasts with their mix up of traditional, electro Balkan, and Balkan hot step sounds and Rebetiki
Sun Jan 27th Balkan Beasts (Systa BB + DJ Delay) + Rebetiki Free Entry 10pm til late @Bar Open 317 Brunswick Street Fitzroy!
heylo people. just dropping by to let ya know we're heading to melbourne town. if you wanna come say hi (and it'd be loverly to see you folk) we'll be at soco cargo on friday the 18th, The Old Bar Sat 19th at 4pm, and 8pm sunday at the empress. hope to see ya round :)
While Melbourne's favourite DJ team The Balkan Beasts (DJ Delay & Systa bb) have been presenting several Balkan parties over the last 2 years, European producers and musicians have been honing their talents to come and join them in Australia...Come witness the first of many collaborations with the arrival of [dunkelbunt], as he launches his new album Morganlandfahrt at Bar Open - 22nd December 9pm-late
[dunkelbunt] LIVE! is going to be a very special gig. Members of Vardos, Unified Gecko, Heartical Hifi, Curse Ov Dialect and The Reefers will be joining him on stage for a unique performance of Balkan mayhem and sweet collaboration. This is not to be missed - and fuelled by vodka, dancing and the Balkan Beasts in tow - will be a gig to remember!
The Good, The Bad & The Balkan - Proslava II Featuring:
Balkan Beasts Dunkelbunt Shljivovitz Orchestra Vodka Shots You!
Thursday December 6th, Horse Bazaar, $7. 9pm-late, 397 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne.
Who would have thought 2 years ago that The Good , The Bad & The Balkan would be celebrating its second birthday at Horse Bazaar Thursday December 6th with Shljivovitz Orchestra and international Balkan Beatmeister Dunkelbunt?
DJ Delay & Systa BB - the mighty Balkan Beasts, that's who!
To help celebrate this momentous occasion Viennese Balkan Beatmeister Dunkelbunt will be in the country & is taking to the dex. With his brilliant album Morgenfahrt (Chat Chapeau/Creative Vibes) receiving airplay and now available, he is no stranger to our audiences with his mixture of traditional, dub, Balkan Hotstep and flat out dance numbers. As the first of the electronic originators of this sound to grace us with his mixing presence, it is an honour to roll out the red carpet.
Shljivovitz Orchestra is well known to local audiences with an authentic sound (just how we likes it) and a presence that makes people go crazy. 10 band members .....playing music from Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia.... guaranteed for phat dance moves.
