The Ukrainians - John Peel Centre, Stowmarket
Schedule
Sat, 11 Apr, 2026 at 07:00 pm
UTC+01:00Location
John peel Centre | Stowmarket, EN
LIBERATION - New Album and Tour ‘26In Spring 2026, the international roots rock band, The Ukrainians, will be performing their final tour. After almost forty years of touring, they will bring their unique style of Ukrainian roots and Western rock to Europe for one last time.
Beginning in 1989, the band were the first group to fuse Ukrainian folk styles with Indie western backing and present this to the music world. In the time before Ukraine was an independent country, the band were bringing Ukrainian language and musical themes to enthusiastic audiences around the world. With many tours in the UK, Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Netherlands, Canada, and performances at many of the world’s most prestigious festivals, The Ukrainians have been the forerunners in bringing Ukrainian musical culture to the world.
With eight studio albums spanning 38 years, their music reflects all the changes that have been happening to Ukraine. From struggles for independence, western cultural influence, the problems of migration and more recently, the Russian invasion, The Ukrainians write songs cataloging the people’s and the nation’s journey.
Most of the band's material is self composed, but they also are known for their unique cover versions. Over the years, they have produced dynamic versions of traditional Ukrainian folk songs, and Ukrainian language versions of western rock classics. The Smiths, The Sex Pistols, and Motorhead are just some of the groups whose songs have been re-interpreted by The Ukrainians.
Some of the bands achievements are listed below:
The first Ukrainian language album to appear in the UK charts
Topping the Berlin indie-music charts in 1993!
Performing the first tour of Ukraine by a western band.
Playing to 50.000 people in Kyiv’s independence square to celebrate independence
Performances at Glastonbury, Womad & Rudolstadt festivals.
Writing music for a Nike advert for the athlete Segeri Bubka
Having their music played in the International Space Station
‘From Kyiv to the Kosmos’ a book written about their career
The album ‘Liberation’ features new songs mixed with the best of their back catalogue. The title is inspired by Ukraine’s recent struggles to remain free of the domination of its old enemy. ‘Liberation’ also acknowledges the need for all people to be able to express themselves through their own culture without interference by outside agencies - something that the people of Europe have struggled for and benefitted from for generations now.
The album is due for release in March ‘26
The live show will be in the form of 2 x 1 hour sets, featuring a selection of the best songs from their back catalogue.
“The image chosen for the album is the statue of ‘Berehynia’ from Kyiv. Before independence, the most dominant statue was of Lenin, overlooking October Revolution square. With Ukrainian independence, the Russian statue was removed, and the square renamed ‘Independence Square’. A new statue to replace Lenin was that of Berehynia - a pre Christian Slavic goddess who was the protector of the family. In her hands she holds a branch of the viburnum bush (chervona kalyna) - symbol of Ukraine’s resistance to oppression. Protect the family and resist oppression, such a different message from the one idea for all of Lenin.”
Where is it happening?
John peel Centre, Stowmarket, United Kingdom
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