A folk band BURAKY from Wroclaw (Poland) was formed in June 2001. The band members are open to various experiments combining traditional folk music with different styles or sounds.

Their repertoire comprises Polish, Lemko, Ukrainian, Balkan and Gypsy folk songs rearranged in a modern and dynamic way, as well as the group's own compositions inspired with traditional music.

Individually, the musicians collaborated with such bands as: Hurt, Blade Loki, Pidzama Porno, Strachy na Lachy and with legendary British blues hero Tony McPhee (The Groundhogs), who undoubtedly influenced BURAKY to have a creative and original approach to folk music.

In 2007 the band released its first studio album, which was recorded with the financial support of the Wroclaw Municipality under the programme for national ethnic minorities in Wroclaw.

Visit our profile on myspace.com: www.myspace.com/burakyband

Meet us on facebook: BURAKY FACEBOOK

Band members:

OLGA JURCZYSZYN She has inherited her pugnacity and name from Olga - the harsh princess of Kievan Rus. As a child, she dreamt to be a witch. Unfortunately nothing came of it, but many witches could be jealous of her malice and sharp tongue. She is Buraky's lead singer and plays percussion instruments. Olga is keen on everything east of Bug (Wroclaw is one of the few exceptions - for many reasons this city deserves a favourable treatment). Not only passion but also origins, education and professional life influenced her strong attachment to Eastern Europe.

TOMASZ SZAŁĘGA Buraky's drummer.

JOANNA ULATOWSKA Sha plays the violin, viola, double-bass. Few times a week makes a musical ritual that can cause a thrill for a luthier. In a few minutes she deconstructs and changes bridges; she shifts and retunes strings. That way she changes a classical viola into bracsa, powerfully sounding folk instrument. She is a student of Karol Lipiński Musical Academy in Wrocław. At her older sister's, Barbara Ulatowska, instigation she had abandoned her first interests in cello for the violin and later, the viola. She has collaborated with Čači Vorba, Mitlos, Romani Bacht, Kałe Bała (Gypsy music), Bente Kahan (Jewish music), Po Ćmoku, Huc Mi Ta Huc, Wałasi, Semenca, Zbójnicy ((«goral» music). She spends most of her free time in Tatra Mountains, jamming together with native musicians. Her real passions are Transilvanian folk music and a horse ride.

KRZYSZTOF OPALSKI He plays guitar, mandolin, harmonica and percussion instruments. He sometimes sings. He has collaborated with many bands, not only playing folk music. His greatest musical memories are to have been part of KRAKERY BAND (which won the second award in the Student Songs Festival in Cracow) and to have toured with British blues hero Tony McPhee. He has written some articles for Polish music magazines: Tylko Rock, Twój Blues, Opcje, Jazz Forum and Gadki z chatki. He has organized tours for some British artists, such as Tony McPhee, Dany Gillespie, Chris Jagger, Dave Helly, the Blues Band and folk rock legend Fairport Convention. He has graduated as Control & Instrumental engineer. He does not like black pudding or headcheese.

MICHAŁ SOWIŃSKI To the music band "Buraky" lately has joined Michał and he is the youngest, not only in practice. A student of the Academy of Music (Instrumental Faculty). Besides his passion of music, he is keen on informatics and sports. He regards that, there is nothing what is unattainable, there are just things, which are hard to put into effect. "The world is belong to people, who have a courage to dream and risk in order to fill their own dreams and they struggle to do it as best as they can" Paulo Coelho

ANDRZEJ PINDELSKI The newest member of the band. Plays bass quitar. He has collaborated with such bands as: Grass Terror, Bad Trip, Lazy, B'R'O, Areszt, Faza, Hurt, Twist, Sens and Puls. He likes mountains, books and sincere people. Sometimes he drinks a little and sings on his own pitch. Almost with no bad habits...he is partial to…

foto: www.kadr.org.pl®