Ukrainian Folk Ritual: Yagódy
Schedule
Fri, 17 Apr, 2026 at 08:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
16 John St , Saugerties, NY, United States, New York 12477 | Saugerties, NY
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Yagódy is one of the most charismatic contemporary Ukrainian folk bands of the past decade. Founded in Lviv, Ukraine, in 2016 by Zoryana Dybovska, Yagody (“berries”) is rooted in Ukrainian and Balkan musical traditions that perform on drums, percussion, guitar, bass, and accordion.WATCH LIVE AT KEXP:
YAGÓDY are on a mission to preserve their culture by both reviving and reinterpreting folk songs while donning traditional clothing and costumes like the ornately embroidered Vyshyvanka. Sometimes heartbreaking and often rebellious, YAGÓDY’s music is a testament to the land, and spirit of the people of Ukraine. They poetically describe their concerts as, “the songs of wild tribes. This is the voice of your ancestors. This is live energy. It is a dance with voices. This is how our nature smells. This is how our blood sounds.”
The self-titled debut album, YAGÓDY, released in 2020 introduced the world to their unique sound, featuring powerful renditions of Ukrainian, Bulgarian, and Serbian folk songs. In 2024, the group won over audiences at the Eurovision Songwriting Contest with their original song “Tsunamia” placing fifth at the national selection finals.
“A concert with Yagódy is a ritual ... there is the breathing of the wind in the field, a sound like the voice of our ancestors. The listeners are enveloped in living energy and musical trance. A dance of voices in the pulse of humanity.” — Internationales Donaufest
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Founded by actress and vocalist Zoriana Dybovska, YAGÓDY emerged as a continuation of her lifelong passion for preserving and evolving Ukrainian music. Having left Donetsk in 2014 due to Russia’s military invasion, Dybovska settled in Lviv, where she gathered a group of talented musicians and fellow educators to create a project that would breathe new life into ancient Ukrainian sounds. The group organically adopted their band name when a concert announcer called them “yagody” or “berries” in English. What began as a small collective of artists searching for their voice has since blossomed into an internationally acclaimed act, known for their intense, ritualistic performances and boundary-pushing interpretations of Eastern European folk traditions.
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Where is it happening?
16 John St , Saugerties, NY, United States, New York 12477Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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