Zoë Aqua and her Transylvanian String Band-- live in Santa Cruz

In their very first tour in the United States, Zoë Aqua and her Transylvanian String Band will bring an energetic, powerful and deeply unique program to American audiences.

Fiddler Zoë Aqua studied folk music for two years as a Fulbright grantee in Transylvania, a region in north-west Romania with a strongly multi-ethnic history, as evinced by the Hungarian and Romani flavors in its music. While living there, Aqua started playing regularly with three stars of the local folk music scene: Kálmán Szopos, Károly Dénes and Gergely Réman. Steeped in traditional folk music and dance since childhood, they play instruments not often seen in American venues: the brácsa (chordal viola) and the full-size Hungarian cimbalom, along with the upright bass.

Zoë’s compositions are an outgrowth of her background in klezmer and Yiddish music. Arranged in collaboration with her bandmates, the resulting sound features the raw power and deep rhythmic groove of Transylvanian string band music. It’s safe to say there’s nothing quite like this band in the world music scene today.

This concert will appeal to fans of string band music, whether bluegrass, old-time, or Irish fiddle music, as well as those who love klezmer and Yiddish music. Don’t miss it!

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