Balkan Beat Box ia a New York-based, eight-piece group known for their live shows. Expect a mix of raga, hip hop, Balkanoid horns, Arabian and Bulgarian guest singers, Greek guitars and more, all coming together in the form a rhapsodic sound system that will force your feet to dance.
Perhaps best known locally after the inclusion of their track Sunday Arak on the "Balkanology Volume 1" compilation, they've appeared at major international festivals including Bonaroo (US), Roskilde (Denmark), Paleo (Chile) and Glastonbury (UK). Balkan Beat Box is centered on its two founders: saxophone player Ori Kaplan, who was once a member of gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello, and drummer/programmer/producer Tamir Muskat. But it was when charismatic MC Tomer Yose joined them that the Balkan Beat Box was truly born.
Party people can also see a set from the man whose name has been synonymous with Balkan beats since the scene first took root in Cape Town, Toby2Shoes. Rounding off the line-up in the Mother City will be the Nomadic Orkestar, and Deadpi9 in Jozi. Doors open at 9pm.
Tickets are R200 at the door or R180 pre-sale from a range of outlets including www.webtickets.co.za, Ska, Truth Coffee Cult and Gypsy in Cape Town and Ska and The Street in Joburg. For more info, go to www.webtickets.co.za, email az.oc.ygolonaklab@roam or az.oc.ygolonaklab@niala. or call +27 (0)72 211 5563, or +27 (0)79 891 6083.
To check them out, go to www.balkanbeatbox.com, www.myspace.com/balkanbeatbox or www.facebook.com/balkanbeatbox.
