Ukrainian ethno-chaos band DakhaBrakha to perform in Tallinn this December

DakhaBrakha, one of Ukraine’s best-known and most distinctive ensembles, will perform at Paavli Kultuurivabrik in Tallinn on December 5. The concert is part of the tour presenting their album “Ptakh”, released late last year.

Emerging from Kyiv’s experimental Dakh theatre, world music band DakhaBrakha has become a symbol of contemporary Ukrainian culture - free, brave and independent. In their performances, DakhaBrakha skilfully combines theatre and music, striking visuals and a rich sonic landscape. Enhanced by the work of Ukrainian video artists, their concerts create an immersive and emotional experience.

The band blends authentic Ukrainian folk songs with rhythms and instruments from around the world and has performed at prestigious festivals and concert venues worldwide, including Glastonbury, Sziget, Pohoda, Bonnaroo, Roskilde and GlobalFEST. Their music has taken them to countries from Mexico to South Korea, and this December they will return to Estonia for a concert at Paavli Kultuurivabrik.

On their European tour, DakhaBrakha will present their latest album, “Ptakh” (“Bird” in Ukrainian), which the band spent the past couple of years working on at Kaska Studio in Kyiv and released last December. The album features 14 tracks, with most of the recording and mixing handled by musician and producer Lesyk Omodada (Pyrih i Batih, Tik Tu). Acclaimed Ukrainian writer and musician Serhiy Zhadan also contributes to the album. The songs draw inspiration from Ukrainian resistance, the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian spirit, and the unwavering support of people around the world. “Ptakh” is more than an album title: it is an important symbol in the band’s work, a metaphor for freedom and Ukraine’s powerful voice.

“‘Ptakh’ is a chronicle of how our lives have changed,” the band explains. “Some of these songs were born long before the full-scale invasion began, but during the years of the war they have acquired new, at times almost prophetic meanings. The album reflects the stark contrasts of our time, intertwining the indescribable pain of loss with an unwavering belief in the future.”

“The album is diverse in style and genre, perhaps even a little chaotic. But chaos as a starting point for something new has never frightened us,” the band adds. “We believe this music will become a source of inspiration for some, hope for others, and for others still, a space for reflection or the beginning of a new journey into our musical universe.”

The album’s cover artwork was created by DakhaBrakha member Marko Halanevych. The bird motif, which appears repeatedly in his work, became the album’s central image, symbolising freedom and the return home.

The Tallinn concert will feature both material from the new album and songs from DakhaBrakha’s earlier repertoire. The programme includes audience favourites such as “Sho z-pod duba”, the hauntingly beautiful “Vesna” and “Ptakh” - a spiritual anthem of contemporary Ukraine, with lyrics by acclaimed writer Serhiy Zhadan. An emotional highlight of the concert will be “Plyve choven”, a moving tribute to Ukraine’s defenders and to those who will never return home.

DakhaBrakha’s concerts are accompanied by powerful video art, including works by Ukrainian artists. Every performance is more than a concert - it is an immersive and emotional cultural experience and a call for solidarity.

DakhaBrakha will perform at Paavli Kultuurivabrik in Tallinn on December 5.

Watch and listen:

DakhaBrakha - Monakh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFJ717atqaw

DakhaBrakha - Baby (Live at KEXP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1KdGDEkj_U

DakhaBrakha - Yanky (Live at Glastonbury)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGW7lLbx8kE