ALPINE MUSIC DAVOS 2025 | New Balkan Folk

Open-air stage on the Arkadenplatz | Entrance free.

MUSIC | FOLK MUSIC

A daring mixture of odd rhythms and modern sounds: The formation New Balkan Folk makes splendid music and touches hearts with its melodies.

A colourful formation from Switzerland deals with the musical traditions of the Balkans and today's influences. Among them: the Lucerne violinist and bandleader Janina Fink, the Obwalden clarinetist Roland von Flüe, the Bernese dulcimer player Nayan Stalder, the Lucerne tambura player and singer Roko Jurcevic, the French-speaking Swiss accordionist Valerie Dupertuis, the Lucerne double bass player Jakob Falz and the Glarus percussionist Luca Dällenbach.

The unique soundscape of this septet mixes traditional folk songs from the Balkans with jazz and experimental influences. Odd rhythms and contemporary sounds take you on a musical journey that has its roots in Balkan music, but also integrates other musical forms of expression.

With New Balkan Folk, Janina Fink realized her childhood dream of having her own band and with the somewhat unusual instrumental line-up she succeeds in creating an exciting new interpretation of this musical genre. "Our music should bring people together, touch hearts and promote exchange. We want to share our own joy of this music with the audience and generate a musical experience that will not be forgotten so quickly."

.

The debut album ?elem, ?elem by the band New Balkan Folk will be ceremoniously christened in February 2025 in the atmospheric Kulturmühle Horw. This album release celebration marks the beginning of an exciting tour through Switzerland, where the band will present their new work live in various locations and at festivals.

The album was recorded at the renowned Gabriel Recordingsin Stalden and includes the first arrangements that the band around Janina Fink has worked on since its founding in 2022. Since then, New Balkan Folk has continuously expanded its repertoire, and the new pieces express the range of the Balkan musical tradition with their diverse sound.

Musically, the audience can expect a varied mixture, ranging from melancholic, profound improvisations to virtuoso, swinging and rousing melodies. The instrumentation is just as versatile: violin, clarinet, tambura, guitar, dulcimer, accordion, double bass and percussion together create a unique sound spectrum that enriches each composition.

Particularly impressive are the vocal contributions of Roko Jurcevic and Nina Leonor, who make the music of New Balkan Folk even more intense with their expressive voices. The album features beautiful melodies in pieces like "Djelem, djelem" and "Marjanja", which is filled with longing and passion