DakhaBrakha
Ukrainian band DakhaBrakha to perform at Palladium in December
Ukrainian quartet DakhaBrakha, one of Ukraine’s best-known musical groups internationally, will perform at Palladium in Riga on 6 December. The band’s European tour will introduce its new album, “Ptakh”, alongside songs loved by its audiences. Ukrainian folk music, rhythms from around the world and a theatrical stage performance will come together in an emotional story of freedom, resilience and modern Ukraine.
Tickets are already available to L Tips Agency newsletter subscribers. General ticket sales begin on Friday, 25 September, at www.bilesuserviss.lv and all Biļešu Serviss outlets.
Founded at Kyiv’s experimental Dakh Theatre, DakhaBrakha describes its sound as “ethno-chaos”. At its heart are Ukrainian folk songs discovered through field research and archives, which the group combines with instruments and rhythms from different cultures and bold musical experimentation. Powerful voices, percussion and unexpected shifts in genre have given the quartet a distinctive sound and taken them to the stages of Glastonbury, Sziget, Roskilde, Bonnaroo, Pohoda and other major festivals around the world.
The new album, “Ptakh”, meaning “Bird”, is DakhaBrakha’s first full-length studio recording in five years. Across its 14 tracks, the pain of loss meets an unwavering belief in the future, while the bird becomes a symbol of freedom, Ukraine’s voice and the journey home. The title track was created in collaboration with acclaimed Ukrainian writer and musician Serhiy Zhadan, while the album artwork is by band member Marko Halanevych.
“This album is a chronicle of the changes in our lives. Some songs were written long before the full-scale invasion, but during the war they acquired a new, at times almost prophetic meaning,” the band members say. Despite an intensive international touring schedule, DakhaBrakha chose to record the album in their home city of Kyiv, at Kaska Studio, working with musician and producer Lesyk Omodada. The record spans a wide range of moods, from ritual-inspired chants and poignant lyricism to the driving rhythms of “Trypilske techno” and the humorous song “Yanky”. The album is available on major music streaming platforms.
Alongside songs from the new album, the Riga concert will feature “Sho z-pod duba” and “Vesna”. A particularly emotional moment will be “Plyve Choven”, a tribute to Ukraine’s defenders and to those who will never return home. The music will be accompanied by video art, including works by Ukrainian artists, giving the concert a striking visual dimension.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the band’s concerts have also become an opportunity to speak to the world on behalf of their country. “We express our gratitude for the support, ask for what Ukraine needs to survive, and share our pain. At the same time, we show a small part of our rich culture,” says Marko Halanevych. A DakhaBrakha performance is both a call for solidarity and a testament to the creative strength of a free, courageous and independent Ukraine.