‘Mahala Rai Banda’

Originating from a Romani ghetto close to where Taraf De Haïdouks have their origins, Mahala Rai Banda will also be paying homage to Stephane Karo, a great friend of the festival who passed away at the end of last year. It was he who discovered this now famous brass band who have already performed across North America and Europe. Firmly rooted in the 21st century, their music is created where the traditional music of the Balkans, dub, reggae and soul come together, with the added ingredient of Arab and Turkish intonations.  Their performances have a rare power, born of the spontaneous complicity that inspires the musicians. As The Independent so rightly put it: "With marvellous trumpets, riffs on the clarinet and voices transported by the savage beauty reminiscent of that of the Haidouks, they give a new and intoxicating meaning to the explosion of the ghettos." Enjoy their concert but also their participation in the animations!