Art and crafts to present at International Romani Art Festival 2012

The 6^th edition of International Romani Art Festival (IRAF) will take place inBucharest between 7-10 June, bringing a diverse program that gathers over 80 artists and artisans from eleven countries of the world. IRAF gathers in four days over 30 diverse activities: representations of all main art & crafts forms from music, dance, theatre, book releases, film, photography, fashion to street performances. These are supplemented by informational and social involvement activities (informing sessions, debates, presentations, workshops etc) and activities for children.

The line-up for the International Romani Art Festival includes: UFE (groove on) – Romania, JO.E (groove on) – Romania, SUKAR Nation – Romania, Romafest – Romania, Gypsy Hill – UK, DJ Kobayashi – UK, AD-HOC – Romania, Slivo Electric Klub – France, Mario Bihari and Bahtale APSA – Czech Republic, DJ Pushit – France, DJ Vasile – Romania, Vojasa – Hungary, Antwerp Gipsy Ska Orkestra – Belgium, DJ Jahvolo – Germany and Lulu Reinhardt Latin Swing Project – Germany.

Several highlights from the program bellow:

Romafest – Romania

One of the most acclaimed Roma dance ensemble inRomania, Romafest came out as the result of The Transylvanian Roma Song and Dance Festival organized in Gornesti (Romania, Mures region) in 1997. Since then, their carrier has rapidly grown as the artists gained world recognition for their sensational performances that blend rapid and extremely complex rhythms that charmed both the national and the international public. Among others, Romafest takes pride in successful collaborations as the one they had with the renowned Cirque du Soleil.

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Dedicated supporters of tradition, the artists hold as their objective to contribute through their music and dance to the conservation of the Transylvanian Roma folk culture. Within IRAF Romafest will be presenting the show “Verbunk”, bringing in front of the audience no less than 16 dancers (eight girls and eight boys) backed by four musicians.

Antwerp Gypsy Ska Orkestra – Belgium

On June 9, Antwerp Gypsy Ska Orkestra come to the stage of IRAF with a fresh program promoting their latest album ‘I LUMIA MO KHER’ (The World is My House) produced by Michael Zimmerling, a recognized name in the music industry, having collaborated with artists such as Madness or Depeche Mode. Gipsy Ska Orchestra gathers seven musicians from different parts of the globe, each one having a different musical background. One may say that this band has it all: a charismatic lead singer, incredible energy on the stage, a variety of rhythms and styles pushing the normal limits of ska music, the ability to improvise of a jazz player, and, most importantly, an unique sound so rich and natural that anyone that listens.

Lulo Reinhardt – Germany

Guarding the standards of excellence with which the festival has accustomed its audience, the 6^th edition of IRAF announces as first headliner of the event no other than Lulo Reinhardt, a master of acoustic guitar in an exceptional jazz project that truly honors the legacy of the famous Django Reinhardt- whose direct descendant the artist is. Scheduled for the evening of June 10^th, Lulo Reinhardt Project arrives for the first time inRomania, bringing on the stage of IRAF a musical experience that one rarely encounters.

In the  spirit of tradition and family, Lulo has devoted his life to music. He first showed an interest during his formative years. By the age of five Lulo was already being handed down the guitar tradition through his father Bawo. By the time he was 12, he was performing with his cousins in the Koblenz-based Mike Reinhardt sextet. Over the years, Lulo expanded his musical horizons as he delved into the music of other cultures. Today, Lulo continues to explore and perform a fusion of styles, including flamenco, Latin, and Brazilian jazz. He combines these with his own artistic stamp, and always with a nod to his Gypsy influences.

Gypsy Hill – UK

Gypsy Hill is the latest project to come from London DJs / producers: DJ Kobayashi and Herbert Newbert. In Gypsy Hill they bring together the balls and the brass from the Balkans, surf-rock Mediterranean guitar lines, Arabic & Jewish melodies, massive bass-lines and a whole heap of electronics, scratching and beats.

Starting out as a producer duo, the Gypsy Hill live band soon grew to a 7 piece beats and brass extravaganza – the band have a fast-growing reputation for their high energy shows with big screen visuals and dancers also thrown into the mix. Though fresh on the scene as a full live band, Gypsy Hill has already toured all over Europe, being invited at some of the biggest festivals of the genre as Fusion Festival, Bestival, Fantastik Balkan, Balkan Circus, Portobello Festival, Emigrantski Disco, not to mention their acclaimed performance within the 5th edition of IRAF.

Recently the artist took on a number of remix projects for big names including Balkan Beat Box, Al Jawala and Boom Pam. Work also begins on a new album of original material, penned for 2012.

The International Romani Art Festival was awarded inPragueat the ERSTE Foundation Social Integration Gala 2011, IRAF being the only cultural project to win this international recognition, while the other 36 winning projects (out of a selection of over 1800 major European applicant projects) came strictly from the social sphere.

You can find the entire program of the International Romani Art Festival here.

Oana Vasiliu