Eastern Soundwaves – Boston’s Mini Music Fest

On Sunday 18th July, Boston’s Market Place will be filled with the sound of live music for Boston’s own Eastern Soundwaves Mini Music Fest.

Along with Boston Borough Council, Boston Town Area Committee, Acoustic Nations and The Guild Sessions, join Transported in celebrating the diversity of culture we have here in Boston and Eastern European music with performances by three bands;

Raka
Tatcho Drom
Marta Hristea and Colin Dudman

Boston’s history has been shaped by its relationships with other European countries. Boston was an extremely important and wealthy town and port in the medieval period with large, busy markets and internationally important fairs. Trade between Boston merchants and the Hanseatic League (from Germany, Scandinavia and the Baltic States) made the town second only to London in economic importance.

This is all thanks to Boston’s location as a port town and its significant access to the sea is the inspiration for the fest’s name ‘Eastern Soundwaves’.

The band Raka are an 8-piece ensemble who play traditional music from the Balkans.
Tatcho Drom stage a vibrant show of beautiful melodies and dancing rhythms from Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
Marta Hristea is a Romanian singer who will be performing Romanian folk songs with Colin Dudman on the piano.

We hope the festival will bring together the communities of the town in a fun, free day out in celebration of Boston’s heritage and its culture today.

The event will take place on Sunday 18th July, between 2pm and 6pm in Boston’s Market Place.

Simply show up on the day, feel free to take pictures and videos and tag us on social! Please remember to adhere to the government’s guidelines for social distancing.

Find out more about the bands below:

Raka

Raka are a 8 piece ensemble who play traditional music from the Balkans. They take name after a traditional Bulgarian dance the ‘Raka,’ full of leg kicks, clicking heels and hands held high, the unmistakable groove of Raka brings everyone to their feet. Their music has a strong focus in the folk traditions of Bulgaria and Macedonia, as well as the Romani music that span far and wide across the Balkans. Their meandering musical tributaries have all led them to one communal river: the love and commitment to understanding and interacting with the music of the Balkans. They do not play ‘fusion music’, and neither do they imitate. They bring to life a genuinely authentic repertoire wherever they are, from sweaty back rooms of North London clubs to concert halls on the banks of the Thames. They took the dance for their name as that’s what they love to do best: to move. A heart rending lament can move the body as much as a pounding Bulgarian Pravo, and in Raka they have made space for both, and everything in between.

“Absolutely magnificent, no one can sit still listening to Raka!” DJ Ritu, A World in London – Resonance FM

“Raka burst with traditional Balkan flair, the group earn their title as the essential act of the weekend.” Eva Hibbs, Nightshift Magazine

Tatcho Drom

Tatcho Drom stage a vibrant show of beautiful melodies and dancing rhythms from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Inspired by the charisma of Esma Redžepova, the virtuosity of Taraf de Haïdouks and the humour of Emir Kusturica, they lure listeners into a world of pain and joy, delivering an exciting and memorable performance.

Tatcho Drom are considered one of the UK’s leading exponents of Romany Gypsy music. Their name translates to ‘True Journey’ from Rromanes, the language of Romany Gypsies. What makes them stand out is that their repertoire derives from band leader Gundula Stojanova Gruen’s research trips to Eastern Europe and the Balkans, where she learned, jammed and performed with Balkan music virtuosos and local musicians alike. This gives Tatcho Drom’s music its deeply authentic touch.

Marta Hristea

Marta Hristea is a Romanian singer who will be performing Romanian folk songs with Colin Dudman on the piano. Marta is a jazz singer songwriter born in Bucharest and Colin is a jazz pianist born in London. Two generations of musicians sharing the same passion for improvised music.