News and Events

BALALAIKA

2008: the year began with a flurry of bookings, including providing the entertainment at the Royal Shakespeare Company's London Season Party, celebrating the Russian New Year at the Monkey Island Hotel in Bray (well, in the middle of the Thames actually) and a 60th birthday party at the sumptuous Luton Hoo hotel. On 27th January we gave a Holocaust Memorial Concert at Ruskin House in Croydon: as the poster said "their spirits live on through our music.....".

The last two years have provided us with a rich variety of bookings, with the band playing at Penge, Ruskin House and the Black Horse festivals, the Carshalton Environmental Fair, a number of private parties, concerts at the Sunbury Arts Centre and Walton on the Hill, a wedding or two, garden parties, book launches, a week's residency at Brown's Hotel (reputed to be the setting for an Agatha Christie novel), fundraising gigs for the NSPCC, the Baranovo Project for Russian orphans, and the launch of a foundation in memory Roddy Scott, the cameraman slain in Georgia, plus the London Business School Annual Tattoo (next time please let us know if there will be a gypsy dancer who has never had the chance to rehearse with us!), a welcome return to the Foyer of the National Theatre, and a range of corporate events including one so exclusive we are not even allowed to use their name in publicity....

......oh, and if you are ever fortunate enough to see the promotional film for the Russian town of Sochi's successful bid for the Winter Olympics 2014, you will maybe recognise the distinctive musical style of the prima balalaika player.

In recent months the band has made serious investments both in amplification - allowing the band to operate in both large and small venues - and in instruments, acquiring one of those rare beasts, a bass Balalaika, as well as a four string domra and a number of classical guitars (though why he needs so many when he can only partially play one at a time, remains a mystery even Ms Christie could not solve).

Our award for the most participative audience goes to the wedding guests of the Ukrainian bride, who sang along to numbers we never knew had words, and danced to tunes we thought we undanceable!

Our award for the most energetic audience is unanimously given to those who provide back office facilities for MP's. Clearly sitting behind a desk all year does not reduce the ability to get up and boogie.

Our award for best food provided for musicians must go to the Belvedere, a restaurant owned by Marco Pierre White, who spoiled the band and the evening's other performers with an amazing variation of a Beef Wellington. Although Napoleon, with his concept that 'an army marches on its stomach' invented both tinned food and the French Baguette (yes, designed to fit down a soldier's breeches - remember this at your next pub quiz) somehow we think the English came out tops in more ways than one.

So, that's what we said about you. What you said about us was:

"People were waxing lyrical at the end, and you've added a lot of people to the Balalaika fan club."

"Your musicians deserve gold medals all round, the sounds were well appreciated by everybody ... Special thanks to the trumpeter, but really she does need to have at least a box of tissues to hand for the audience. (Those Russians do soulful like nobody's business)".

"You were all obviously enjoying it: it showed, and it was infectious, you had the crowd dancing."

"It was a fantastic night and your band went down a storm."

"The dynamics and rhythmic phrasing had a truly professional quality."

"Played with real passion...a natural musician.....real feel and understanding of his instrument."

"Just a note to let you know that Balalaika were a great success and we had a wonderful evening. Would you be very kind and let them know that we were thrilled with their music and thank them very much."

"You really made the evening, Thank you."

Thanks again for a good evening - my Russian colleagues were very complimentary on you all! You should take this as a big compliment as they are not normally so forthcoming!"

Our thanks are extended to our agents and promoters:

Emma Boardman of Boardman Bookings Ltd
Clare of Classical Music Associates
Function Junction
Jenny Braby at London Music Agency
Louisa Kingston at Elevation Events Plc