Steaming out of St Petersburg in white vests, peasant dress, and
ushankas on head with ear-flaps akimbo, Otava Yo bring the abandoned traditions of Russian folksong to the 21st century. They offer a glimpse into life in an old Russian village, replete with romance, melancholy and merrymaking, a fierce sense of pride and a good dose of surreal humour. With lyrical
gusil, global guitar, wailing bagpipes, expert fiddle-scraping, pumping bass and pounding drum, their songs of rural passions, heroic sailors, goats and pancakes are delivered with casual wit playful imagination. They don’t care much about convention:
“if you find that you hear something you do not expect to hear, that's exactly what we wanted.” They have performed at major European folk festivals and as far afield as Mexico and India, and received an award from the Bratislava Humour Academy; it only seems natural to take on charming British audiences next.
Surreal, humorous and danceable – if you liked the Yiddish Twist Orchestra you’ll love this!
