The Golden Festival has Balkanized!
The annual Zlatne Uste Golden Festival has overflowed the confines of the Grand Prospect Hall, with a handful of Balkan band-related events taking place all over Brooklyn before and after the official fest. Here are some of those highlights:
Soul men
Dive into slavic brass music by dancing to nine-piece band Slavic Soul Party, playing at Park Slope’s Barbes bar on Jan. 14. The American-Balkan jazz band combines klezmer music — expressive instrumental music by Eastern European Ashkenazi Jews — with funk and New Orleans jazz influences. The group has become a staple at the Park Slope bar, where it has recorded albums and drawn fans of Balkan music for more than 15 years.
Barbès [376 Ninth St. between Sixth and Seventh avenues in Park Slope, (347) 422–0248, www.barbesbrooklyn.com]. Jan. 14; 9 pm–midnight. $20.
Turkish delight
A Turkish band will be joined by two new singers for a concert of folk music and contemporary songs at a Clinton Hill eatery on Jan. 14. Istanbul Trio, which explores the overlap between Turkish and Armenian, Byzantine, Jewish, and Middle Eastern music, will play in the American restaurant’s back room for an hour, followed by an hour-long open jam session.
Sisters [900 Fulton St. between Washington and Waverly avenues in Clinton Hill, (347) 763–2537, www.sistersbklyn.com]. Jan. 14; 8 pm–11 pm. $10.
Party all the time
If the two-day festival was not enough for you, swing by the Golden Fest’s unofficial after party on Sunday! The family-friendly party at the Jalopy Theatre will feature five bands from the festival, and will raise money for the European Folklife Center, which hosts Balkan music and dance workshops.
Golden Fest After Party at Jalopy Theatre [315 Columbia St. between Woodhall Street and Hamilton Avenue in Red Hook, (718) 395–3214, www.jalopytheatre.org]. Jan. 19; 5–9pm. $10 suggested donation.
