Гайдамаки (Haidamaky) A band creating unique Ukrainian music

Take two parts traditional Ukrainian folk music, add 1 part rock-n-roll, then 1 part ska: mix well and you’ve got a musical stew something close to Haidamaky. Of course, combining traditional with modern music is not a novel idea. The ethno-rock approach has been successfully employed by Irish and Scottish bands for years and years. Think of groups like Wolfstone, Great Big Sea, The Pogues, or Flogging Molly, but throw a Ukie spin on the sound. Intrigued? I was. Yes, England’s The Ukrainians have used a similar musical combination, but Haidamaky have added the element of ska, and somehow, it works. A year or so ago I purchased the group’s self titled, 2002 CD - Haidamaky. I was challenged but not disappointed. The disc contains 12 songs of varying tempo. Whether you’re fluent in Ukrainian or not, each song blends a variety of instruments to create its own sense of energy to pass along emotions to the listener. (You can read English translations of the lyrics on the Haidamaky web site.)

Some of the instruments played by the members of the band include:
Accordion
Drums
Drymba (jaw harp)
Electric bass
Guitar
Sopilka (traditional flute)
Trombone
Tsymbaly (hammered dulcimer)
Voice

I get a combination of playful, yet somber feelings when listening the disc. Стара Румунія (Ancient Romania) begins with a quickly walking tsymbaly line laced with trombone. The opening sequence does remind me of something from a Tarif de Haidouks disc. Two third of the way through, an organ solo speeds up the song even more to reach a frantic pace that leads to the crescendo. A cheerful melody played on sopilka opens the song КарпатенSKA (KarptenSka), but soon trombone and accordion are added and it becomes a rockin’ piece of ska. Ecstatic mono-syllabic vocalizations and trills top off the package. “Ha, hup – hey!” My favorite number is the last song Нехай, нехай (Let It Be) which starts with a child slowly singing about St. Nicholas, accompanied only by a lira (hurdy-gurdy). It’s a bit eerie, but very interesting. The song turns into a feel-good, bouncy little tune.

Read more about Haidamaky and their music on the following sites:
Haidamaky web site
Write-up on MORE ZVUKOV booking agency web site
Welcome to Ukraine magazine interview/article by Svitlana Abakumenko (link does not always work)