Courtesy photo.
Arrive early to participate in a cultural celebration of Ukraine as part of Downtown Santa Barbara’s 1st Thursday Arts Walk beginning at 5 p.m. in front of The Granada
SUMMARY
- UCSB Arts & Lectures Presents DakhaBrakha, self-described “ethno-chaos” band from Kyiv
- Thursday, October 6 at 8 p.m. at The Granada Theatre
- Arrive early, the concert will be preceded by a celebration of Ukrainian culture on the 1200 block of State Street from 5 to 8 p.m. as part of Downtown Santa Barbara’s 1st Thursday Art Walk
- DakhaBrakha, which means “give/take,” is a world music quartet blending traditional Ukrainian songs with intense theatricality and driving percussion
- Tickets are $36 – $51 : General Public (Includes facility fee) / $16: UCSB Students and Youth (Current student ID required)
- Tickets & Info: www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu, (805) 893-3535; or The Granada Theatre: www.GranadaSB.org, (805) 899-2222
- Patrons can take advantage of discounts to see DakhaBrakha as part of the World Arts & Music Series. For more info, visit: www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/subscribe-save/
“From the first moment the group starts performing, it’s hard not to get caught up in the magic it weaves… utter brilliance.” NPR
SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) is proud to present an evening of Ukrainian culture featuring DakhaBrakha. From Kyiv, DakhaBrakha creates a world of unexpected new music, weaving ancient folk melodies into a subversive musical tapestry that embraces indie rock, pop, hip hop, the avant-garde and traditional instrumentation from around the world. At the crossroads of folklore and theater, DakhaBrakha has honed an evocative musical approach that “brings a beguiling blend of music from an anguished nation” (The Boston Globe). Prepare yourself for a sonic feast that celebrates the spirit and determination of Ukraine.
DakhaBrakha are:
Marko Halanevych, vocals, darbuka, tabla, didgeridoo, accordion, trombone
Iryna Kovalenko, vocals, djembe, bass drums, accordion, percussion, buhay, zhaleika, piano
Olena Tsybulska, vocals, bass drums, percussion, garmoshka
Nina Garenetska, vocals, cello, bass drum
Vladyslav Troitskyi, director, ideologist and founder
About DakhaBrakha
DakhaBrakha was created in 2004 at the Kyiv Center of Contemporary Art “DAKH” by avant-garde theater director Vladyslav Troitskyi and given the name that means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language. Theater work has left its mark on the band’s performances – their shows are always staged with a strong visual element.
After experimenting with Ukrainian folk, the band has added rhythms of the surrounding world into their music, thus creating the bright, unique and unforgettable sound of DakhaBrakha. They strive to open up the potential of Ukrainian melodies and to bring them to the hearts and consciousness of the younger generation in Ukraine and the rest of the world.
Accompanied by Indian, Arabic, African, Russian and Australian traditional instrumentation, the quartet’s astonishingly powerful and uncompromising vocal range creates a transnational sound rooted in Ukrainian culture. At the crossroads of Ukrainian folklore and theater, their musical spectrum is at first intimate then riotous, plumbing the depths of contemporary roots and rhythms, inspiring cultural and artistic liberation.
In March 2010, DakhaBrakha won the prestigious Grand Prix prize named after Sergey Kuriokhin, in the sphere of contemporary art, and confirmed its place in the culture once again. In March 2011 DakhaBrakha was discovered by Australian Womadelaide and began their ascent in the international music scene. They have since played more than 300 concerts and performances and have taken part in major international festivals throughout Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, Asia, Australia and North America. DakhaBrakha has also collaborated with such international musicians as: Port Mone, Kimmo Pohjonen Cluster, Karl Frierson (DePhazz), Steve Cooney, Inna Zhelannaya, Kievbass, Djam and David Ingibaryan.
About the Artists
Marko Halanevych is the only representative of the countryside in the band. He was born in the village of Krushenivka, in the Vinnitskiy region, into a family of village intellectuals. He graduated from the faculty of Ukrainian philology, but came into the theater, became an actor of the Centre of Contemporary Art, “Dakh Theatre,” and then accidentally found himself working with the band. Halanevych is fond of design – he creates the visual images of DakhaBrakha and also for the Dakh Theatre where he continues to perform on stage as an actor.
Iryna Kovalenko has played Ukrainian ethnic music since her early childhood. Moreover, she has graduated from the faculty of folklore. She is fond of yoga, yachting and rowing. Kovalenko is responsible for the brass section of the group, as she easily gets the feel of different musical instruments. She also performs at the Dakh Theatre as an actress.
Olena Tsybulska is a specialist at the folklore department of the National University of Ukraine. When she has some time off, she works on preparing her candidate’s dissertation about traditional Ukrainian wedding songs. She is fond of driving, sewing and interior design.
Nina Garenetska professionally studied folklore and is a self-taught cellist. She is the most artistically open-minded member of the band and is always up for collaborating with other musicians. Garenetska is fond of traveling, photography, fancywork and adornment creation.
DakhaBrakha Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, 2021
About UCSB Arts & Lectures
Founded in 1959, UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) is the largest and most influential arts and lectures organization between Los Angeles and San Francisco. A&L annually presents more than a hundred public events, from critically acclaimed concerts and dance performances by world-renowned artists to talks by groundbreaking authors and film series at UCSB and Santa Barbara-area venues. With a mission to “educate, entertain and inspire,” A&L also oversees an outreach program that brings visiting artists and speakers into local classrooms and other venues for master classes, open rehearsals, discussions and more, serving K-12 students, college students and the general public.
DakhaBrakha is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures in association with Direct Relief, UCSB Department of Music and UCSB Multicultural Center. Tickets are $36 – $51 : General Public (Includes facility fee) / $16: UCSB Students and Youth (Current student ID required)
For tickets and more information, call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535 or visit www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu; or the Granada Theatre at www.GranadaSB.org, (805) 899-2222
UCSB Arts & Lectures gratefully acknowledges our Community Partners the Natalie Orfalea Foundation & Lou Buglioli for their generous support of the 2022-2023 season.
DakhaBrakha Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, 2021