Ahead of the folk session, we explore DakhaBrakha's "ethno-chaos" — a unique method that grows from the deep roots of Ukrainian folk song.
DakhaBrakha's art cannot be mistaken for anything else. The band defines its style as "ethno-chaos" — a fusion of authentic Ukrainian folk song with the rhythms and instruments of cultures around the world. At the heart of this sound the Ukrainian tradition always remains: ritual songs, polyphony, and archaic melodies gathered from the living heritage of the Ukrainian countryside.
The quartet took shape in Kyiv within the artistic environment of the Dakh theatre, and that theatricality is still felt in its performances — from a striking stage presence to the group's signature tall lambskin hats. It is precisely this synthesis of a folk foundation and contemporary thinking that has made DakhaBrakha recognizable on every continent.
The musicians work extensively with primary sources — melodies and texts passed down through generations. Rather than turning these songs into museum pieces, they give them new breath, showing that the Ukrainian tradition is alive and able to speak to a modern audience.
The folk session on July 18 is a fine opportunity to hear this method up close and to sense how deeply the roots of Ukrainian folklore nourish contemporary art.
