'Moving, breathtaking and virtuosic’ BBC Radio 3

‘Their music is the language of the soul’ The Guardian

‘Sends shivers down your spine…this duo are beyond talented’ ABC Australia

‘One of my favourite bands from the Balkans’ Emir Kusturica

‘F****** amazing’ Lily Allen

WATCH live: WOMAD UK 2023

Leading Serbian Romani violinist Branko Ristic - ‘a performer that Paganini would be proud of’ [BBC Radio 3], and English ‘passionate nimble-fingered accordionist’ Faith Ristic [ABC Radio, Australia] perform virtuosic original Roma-influenced music with their international ensemble. Their last album release [World Music Records / Riverboat] hit the Top 10 World Music albums - and their previous album features on The Rough Guide to World Jazz. They have played multiple tours of Australia, New Zealand and Europe; have an International Award Winning Documentary that opened Aljazeera Film Festival; have presidential awards in Serbia in honour of their outstanding cultural contribution to Romani music, and have social media views hitting one million. Their 2023 tour included performances at WOMAD UK, Nisville Jazz Festival Serbia (Saban Stage), Sabor Violine Festival (Headline) Serbia, BBC Radio 3 & 4 (Live from Womad/ Front Row / Sounds), Suleczyno International Festival Poland, Shambala UK, Brecon Jazz Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, The Royal Festival Hall UK - and The Royal Albert Hall performing for Brian May. It all began 16 years ago - without even a shared language - in a chance meeting in a small village in the middle of Serbia.

WATCH: OFFICIAL VIDEO RELEASE [WORLD MUSIC RECORDS]

SABOR VIOLINISTA FESTIVAL, SERBIA

WATCH: ALZAREERA FILM TRAILER

WATCH - NISVILLE JAZZ FESTIVAL, SERBIA

LISTEN: BBC LIVE SESSIONS 2023

 
 
                                           Instagram Feed
Posted @withregram • @soasconcerts Whatever your instrument, here's a chance to play some authentic Roma music from virtuosic Serbian Roma Violinist Branko Ristic, and accordionist Faith Ristic. The course will look at melodies, improvisation, trills and rhythms within different pieces. All levels and instruments welcome - arrangements and tuition will be customized to the instruments present. Branko Ristic, 'a performer that Paganini would be proud of' [BBC Radio 3], is one of the few Roma Violinists performing in the UK, and is recording artist on Emir Kusturica's films. He and Faith are releasing their next album with assistance from The No Smoking Orchestra [Riverboat Records], and have a hands on, authentic approach to teaching the specific elements of this music. @brankoviolin @faithibranko @faithaccordion
@brankogypsyviolin and @brichobeat - you two were on high high form in Brighton Festival with @failbetterproductions. Our next one after Serbia will be with @nestfolk in London. Then looking forward to a long summer of festivals to be announced (Womad, Nissville Jazz, Lindisfarne, Brecon Jazz, Romania… watch this space) @worldmusicnetwork
The guys were killing it last night. Branko.. you were on top form, amazing ❤️ more videos to come, or: come and see us for round two at @caravanseraibrighton at 1pm today - it’s part of Brighton Fringe Festival. Thankyou very very much to @failbetterproductions @caravanseraibrighton @djchristofu @brichobeat @brankogypsyviolin @worldmusicnetwork
Back from Germany, and this week we’re playing at @jamboreevenue on Friday night (5th May); then at Brighton Fringe Festival @caravanseraibrighton @failbetterproductions on Sunday 7th May at 8.30pm, and Monday 8th May at 1pm. @brichobeat @brankogypsyviolin

About

 
 

since 2009…

Leading Serbian Roma violinist Branko Ristic - ‘a performer that Paganini would be proud of’ [BBC Radio 3], and English ‘passionate nimble-fingered accordionist’ Faith Elliott [ABC Radio, Australia] perform virtuosic original Roma-influenced music with their international ensemble.

The duo met in Branko's Romani village in 2009, and - with music as their only tool for communication - began a journey that would lead to their last album ‘Gypsy Lover’ being placed in the top 10 World Music Charts, a successful international schedule and an award winning documentary tour. From a foundation of 'Serbian-Roma' music, Faith i Branko have created a style that draws from both of their musical heritages and expresses their joint conversation. This forms an original set with a storming ensemble which is joyous, passionate, tragic and virtuosic: ‘their music is as colourful, personal and tumultuous as their history’ fRoots

Their Serbian Film Fund sponsored documentary ‘Faith i Branko’ has toured film festivals such as Canada Doc Fest, Aljazeera Doc Fest, Inedit Chile and Guadalajara - with accompanying band performances.

They featured in the Guardian Weekend Magazine, completed a 43-venue tour of Australia and New Zealand - including main stage performances at Port Fairy Festival and The National Folk Festival - and are due to release their PRS sponsored Album with World Music Network (Rough Guides) with recording assistance from Emir Kusturica and The No Smoking Orchestra. Over the last year they have performed at Rosa Sinta Festival (Netherlands); Culture Nomade (Switzerland); The Royal Festival Hall (UK); XX International Sulczyno Festival, Poland; Llangollen International Eisteddfod; The Southbank Centre; Wilderness Festival, Bestival; Guca, for the Serbian President, Boomtown and Glastonbury among others. Online gigs included with Oxford World Music and Canada Doc Fest. Radio play includes Radio 4, BBC Radio 3 Live Sessions, World Service with Stephen Fry, BBC Radio 6 and ABC Sydney. Social Media hits are almost at 1 million, and they have a huge international fan base within the Roma community.

 
 
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dates

PAST DATES

August                      Sabor Violinista Festival, Serbia                  Pranjanje, Serbia          August                      Victorious Festival, Portsmouth                    Portsmouth, UK                   
August                      Gulbenkein, Kent University                        Canterbury, UK
August                      Equator Festival, Marlow Theatre                   Canterbury, UK
July                        Rhythm Tree Festival, Isle of Wight                Isle of Wight, UK
July                        Llangollen International Eisteddfod                Llangollen, Wales
July                        XX International Suleczyno Festival                Suleczyno, Poland
June                        Kite Festival, Oxford                              Oxford, UK
June                        Dartington, UK                                     Dartington, UK
June                        Meadow in the Mountains, Bulgaria                  Bulgaria
May                         Kustendorf International Film Festival             Kustendorf, Serbia

May                         Underline, London                                  London, UK
Jan 2022                    Irish Film Institute, Dublin                       Dublin, Ireland
Jan 2022                    International Film Fest, Buenos Aires (FIDBA)      Buenas Aires, Argentina


17 Dec 2021                 In Edit, Chile                                     Chile, Online
19 Nov 2021                 See The Sound Festival, Cologne                    Cologne
13 Nov 2021                 Doc n' Roll Film Fest                              London, UK
7 Nov 2021                  The Winter Droving Festival, Penrith               Penrith, UK
2 Oct 2021                  Festival Guadalajara, Mexico                       Mexico, Online
Sept 2021                   Aljazeera Festival, Sarajevo                       Sarajevo, Bosnia
Sept 2021                   Beldocs Festival, Serbia (Opening)                 Belgrade, Serbia
Sept 2021                   Astra Festival, Romania                            Sibiu, Romania
12 Aug 2021                 The Jago, Dalston                                  London, UK
13 Aug 2021                 Earth, Hackney                                     London, UK
8 Aug 2021                  The Green Note, Camden                             London, UK
7 Aug 2021                  Wilderness Festival                                Oxfordshire, UK
6 Aug 2021                  London Bridge Festival                             London, UK
Aug 2021                    Sabor Violinista Festival, Serbia (Headline)       Pranjanje, Serbia
Aug 2021                    Docufest, Kosovo                                   Prizren, Kosovo
3 Aug 2021                  Kino Teatre, Hastings                              Hastings, UK
2 Aug 2021                  New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich                        Ipswich, UK
7 July 2021                 Peggy's Skylight Jazz Club, Nottingham             Nottingham, UK
July 2021                   Serbia World Music Festival, Serbia                Gornji Milanovic, Serbia
July 2021                   Galway Festival, Ireland                           Galway, Ireland
July 2021                   Castlemaine Doc Fest (Online), Australia           Castlemaine, Australia
July 2021                   Festival of Tolerance, Zagreb                      Zagreb, Croatia
16 June 2021                In Edit, Brazil                                    Brazil, Online
May 2021                    Krakow Film Festival - Polish Premiere             Krakow, Poland
April 2021                  Seefest (Online) LA                                Los Angeles, US
 
25/26/27 Aug                       Sint Rosa Festival, Sittard                 Sittard, Netherlands
30/31/1 Aug                        Kirk, Croatia                               Croatia
2 Sept                             KC Dunaj, Bratislava                        Bratislava
3 Sept                             Diobar, Barcelona                           Barcelona, Spain
5 Sept                             Cafe du Cours, Reillanne                    Reillanne, France
6 Sept                             Longo Mai, Forcalquier                      Forcalquier, France
8 Sept                             Bestival, Suffolk, UK                       Suffolk, UK
9 Sept                             Rabbit Hole Festival, UK                    Oxfordshire, UK



Jan 25                      The Assembly Rooms, Presteigne                     Presteigne, UK
May 31                      Mondomix Festival, Isle of Wight                   Isle of Wight, UK
June 14                     w/the Major of London Sadiq Khan                   London City Hall, UK
June 15                     Battersea Festival                                 London, UK
June 23                     The Queen Elizabeth Hall, London                   London, UK
July 1 - 5                  Workshops @ SOAS University of London              London, UK
Aug 2                       Wilderness Festival                                Oxfordshire, UK
Aug 7                       Burnett's Hill Chapel w/ Pouya Mahmoodi            Wales                    
Aug 8                       Chapel Arts Centre, Bath                           Bath, UK
Aug 25                      Shambala Festival, UK                              UK
Aug 30                      Our Island, Our World Festival: Isle of Man        Isle of Man, UK
Oct 11                      Arts Out West tour w/ Pouya Mahmoodi               Cumbria, UK     
Oct 16                      Artrix Theatre, UK                                 UK
Nov 8                       Dortjol Festival, Belgrade                         Belgrade, Serbia
 
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