Khamoro Festival Quick Guide

This is the 10th year anniversary of one the best, and least known, music festivals in Prague. The festival brings in Roma music from all over New and Old Europe and often from further east, such as Kazakhstan and India. There is also cinema, seminars and flamenco dance workshops during the week.

The range of styles and musical approaches is wide and varied, everything from Djagno Reinhardt style Gypsy Jazz to the deep emotion and spectacle of Russian Roma groups.

The week starts off with Gypsy Jazz concerts at Reduta. The groups playing all follow the Django Reinhardt tradition (Django was the legendary two-fingered Gypsy Jazz guitarist who still remains a major influence on modern jazz guitar players,)

The first group on Monday, fronted by Yorgui Leoffler is not be missed. He is classically trained on the guitar and mixes this with lighting-fast Django style runs. The band is equally adept and enthusiastic.

The two other groups are well known and popular in Europe, Angelo Debarre and Basilly. Basily usually has a 6 or 7 piece band. All three groups should be outstanding though.

Note to festival organizers: It really is time to find a new venue for the Gypsy Jazz shows. Reduta is too small and way to smokey!

On Thursday there is a street parade where the groups that will perform Thursday, Friday and Saturday dance through Mustek to Starometska. Again get there early and start with them at the Mustek staging area. By getting there early you may see some impromptu jamming and dancing. Bring your camera!

Thursday and Friday night are concerts at Roxy. Again get there early to get a good place.

On the Thursday bill is Bengas, Prague´s acoustic guitar answer to the Gypsy Kings (and maybe better too). Puerto Flamenco will offer passionate flamenco dancing and music.  Romas from the Ukraine will offer more of a theatrical show with swirling skirts and rollicking dance. Then comes Esma, the Macedonian Roma diva. When she played a few years ago she rocked the house, the woman has a voice that could fill a stadium.

Friday brings a more Balkan and Russian influenced night. Arbat is from France but the members are Russian and will give a soulful performance. Loyko plays a very Russian style of Roma music with amazing violin work.

Oluja is a young Serbian Brass band group. If you have not heard one of these bands live, it is a treat. A mixture of Ottoman Military music, combined with Gypsy rhythms and scales, with a dash of New Orleans brass band thrown in.  My guess is that Ferus the King from Macedonia will close the show. He is a fiery performer with a great band.

This is held at Congress Center and most of the groups that played the previous two nights will play here. If you can´t get to any of the Roxy concerts then go see this one. The ambiance is not quite as conducive as the Roxy, but the excitement and passion still come through.

All in all, one of Prague´s lesser known treats, but once you go you will be hooked. It is often rare here in the Czech Republic to see the intensity and passion that many of these Roma performers bring to their music.