DakhaBrakha, Yid Vicious
to
McPike Park 202 S. Ingersoll St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Olga Zakrevska
A torrential downpour fell during DakhaBrakha’s visit to last year’s Central Park Sessions, sending many in the crowd scrambling away from the muddy mess. But those of us who stuck around witnessed one of the most magical performances of the year. The Ukrainian quartet, which dresses in ornate traditional shepherd’s costumes (including enormous woolly hats), moved off the stage and into the crowded beer tent, delivering a jaw-droppingly beautiful and energetic acoustic set to several hundred riveted spectators. The band began as an avant-garde theater project, and their sound is otherworldly. Driving rhythms from powerful drums underlie exquisitely tight harmonies, shrieks, bird calls and throat singing, creating a sound that’s been described as “ethno-chaos.” Seriously, don’t miss it. With an opening set from our beloved klezmer ensemble Yid Vicious.
August 15 The Dakha Brakha Select Session
5:15pm The Yid Vicious Klezmer Ensemble
7:30pm DakhaBrakha (Ukraine)
9:00pm DakhaBrakha (set two)