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Dear Friends,
We are pleased to announce some upcoming events this summer, including our next bacchanal featuring two new eclectic and original bands from the local Balkan music diaspora.
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3101 Shattuck St. Berkeley, CA
Show at 8 pm; Doors open at 7 pm
All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm.
Tickets: $20 general/$15 students
Join Facebook Event
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Kaimera (10 pm) is a thoughtfully crafted ensemble, led by Ryan Feldthouse on oud and violin and Jesse Torre on flamenco guitar with special guests TBA. Their music is a fusion of Balkan, Flamenco, Greek, and Turkish influences, creating a layered and beautiful soundscape. With a balance of precision and spontaneity, Kaimera offers an immersive musical experience—perfect for special events, where their performance invites the audience to listen closely and connect.
kaimeramusic.com
Bela Ruino (8 pm) – “beautiful ruin” in Esperanto – is the captivating Romany-inflected goth rock-n-soul project led by dynamic violinist, singer, and songwriter Lila Sklar. With her background in classical violin and training in diverse musical traditions, Lila weaves together influences from the Middle East and the Balkans with traditional popular song structures to create a sound that’s both haunting and electrifying. The band’s performances blend sensuous, dark ballads with stirring torch songs. You’ll hear everything from a soul-stirring Nina Simone song in the 9-count meter of a Macedonian traditional, a Tom Waits tune reimagined with an Armenian folk melody, and Lila’s evocative eastern-flavored originals. The ensemble includes top-flight musicians including Max Baloian on guitar, Safa Shokrai on acoustic bass, Michael Pinkham on drums and Jill Rogers on guitar and backing vocals, each adding their own magic to this dynamic and eclectic sound.
instagram.com/bela_ruino
youtube.com/@BelaRuino
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Save the dates for more bacchanals at the Starry Plough this summer:
July 18: Ensemble Meraklii + TBA
August 16: Orkestar Seyir + TBA
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Summer Music Camps in Mendocino Woodlands
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Featured teachers and performers include Dromeno, Fanfare Zambaleta (performing June 27), Janetta Redžić (balkan folk dance), Ivan Varimezov (gaida), Ali Yağız Şen (bouzouki/maqam), Ari Langer (Greek violin), Carol Silverman (romani singing), Benji Rifati (trumpet) and John Morovich (Croatian singing).
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Featured teachers and performers include Ismail Lumanovski (clarinet), Jill Parker (bellydance), Georges Lammam (violin), Prof. Dr. Scott Marcus (nay), Ali Paris (Arabic qanun), Sendogan Karadeli (Turkish saz), Faisal Zedan and Dror Sinai (percussion).
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Lark Camp 2026: July 31 – August 8
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Lark Camp is where musicians, singers, and dancers learn traditional styles from all over the world. Produced by Lark Traditional Arts. Enjoy idyllic days and nights in the redwood forest of the Mendocino Woodlands. Take as many or few workshops as you like, join jam sessions 24 hours a day, dance every night, and enjoy good food, seeing old friends, and making new friends.
Featured teachers and performers include Greg Jenkins (Rebetika and Balkan tunes), Sue Willard (Balkan dance), Sean Tergis (Balkan percussion), Natalie Nayun (Middle Eastern and Persian dance), Elizabath Strong (Middle Eastern dance) Dan Cantrell (Balkan Ensemble), Lilly Storm (Balkan and Georgian Singing), Khatchadour Khatchadourian (Armenian and Arabic singing)
Register and learn more. |
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If you are interested in coming to any of these camps for the first time as a result of seeing these listings, please share with the camp registrars that you were referred by Peter Bonos (and let me know too- I will be attending all three!).
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