ARTIST: Otava ё
COUNTRY: Russia
GENRE: Contemporary Russian Traditional Music
MORE ABOUT: Otava ё (pronnounced “Otava Yo”) is a new folk project from St. Petersburg. Otava ё mostly plays Russian folk songs and tunes which were popular when their parents were young. Bagpipes, Russian gusli, fiddles, guitar and percussion – Otava ё plays powerful dancelike music which could be called Russian Beat. At times the music of Otava ё can make you laugh, even if you aren’t a Russian speaker.
MUSICIANS AND INSTRUMENTS:
Alexey Belkin: bagpipe, gusli, zhaleika, vocal
Alexey Skosyrev: acoustic guitar, vocal
Dmitry Shikhardin: fiddle, vocal
Natalia Vysokikh: violin
Petr Sergeev: darbuca, bass drum
Timur Sigidin: bass guitar
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
- “Once Upon A Time” (2009)
- “By The Pharmacy” (2006)
SELECTED VIDEOS:
SELECTED PRESS REVIEWS AND QUOTES:
“Otava Yo is our Russian miracle this year. That group from St. Petersburg is memorable for their especially good state of mind. They use folk songs very attractively and can take great concert halls by storm with their Slavic temperament and fire. They also perform such tricks that they play tunes known from Russian cartoons and children movies of their own arrangements. They look gorgeous on stage.” (www.finugor.ru)
“Otava Yo from St. Petersbourg were sweating in their ‘ushankas‘ and old t-shirts together with the audience; they played and danced in the ‘night club’ from midnight until 4am, speaking English, Russian, Estonian and Finnish (especially by showing their ‘great ability’ of counting until four). Their music mixing Russian folklore, punk, rock, film, cartoon, and world music all of a sudden allowed to leave behind all the ‘propaganda war’ or any other problems between Estonia and Russia because people were able to just enjoy the music and have a good time together.” (Estonian Free Press)
SELECTED PERFORMANCES:
- Folk Festival “Les Traversees Tatihou”, France (2010)
- Laba Daba Festival, Riga, Latvia (2010)
- Wegorapa Festival, Wegorzewo, Poland (2010)
- Spotkania Folklowe Festival, Czeremcha, Poland (2010)
- Viljandi Folk Festival, Estonia (2010)
- Wild Mint Festival, Moscow, Russia (2010)
- St. Patrick’s Day International Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
- Ethnomechanic Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia (2009)
- Wild Mint Festival, Moscow, Russia (2009)
- Knights Castle Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia (2009)
- Russian Fortress Festival, Priozersk, Russia (2009)
- Ollin Kan Festival, Mexico City, Mexico (2009)
- Fountain Club, Liepaja, Latvia (2009)
- Midsummer Festival, Viborg, Russia (2008)
- May Tree Medieval Festival, Priozersk, Russia (2006, 2007, 2008)
SONGS:
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