Wed 4/2 @ 7:30PM
The invasion of their country by a hostile superpower didn’t deter Ukrainian folk band YAGODY. In fact, it made their work protecting their country’s unique cultural traditions even more important.
The six-musician ensemble was founded in Lviv in western Ukraine near the Polish border in 2016 by vocalist/singing bowls player Zoryana Dybovska to build on Ukrainian and Balkan musical traditions with more modern sounds. The ensemble features multiple vocalists, including Sofia Leshishak, who plays djembe; percussionist Valeria Mocharska-Lyulchyk; and Tatiana Voitov on bayan (a form of accordion). The group also includes percussionist Timur Gogitidze and bassist Vadym Boitovych. The group released its self-titled debut album in 2020 and represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song competition in 2024.
They’re playing at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Gartner Auditorium. Go here for tickets nd more information.