Every year there is a special feeling of excitement for us – we love to share what we've heard and seen and this year is no different in that way!

In January, at the Celtic Connection festival in Glasgow, we've met Martin Swan's STOBO VILLAGE BAND. A band full of great musicians who actually played there for the very first time as a band! You will surely enjoy their fresh version of Celtic tunes! Although SVB is a new band, Martin Swan's musical career dates way back including work with Mouth Music, a band who hit the top of the international charts in the 1990's. Swan is also music producer and his latest work inlcudes cooperation with Nuru Kane & Bayefall Gnawa from Senegal, as well as Croatian band Kries who he now also plays with as a regular member.
  

Another new discovery was ZUZANA NOVAK whose magical voice we had heard for the first time on one of the fRoots compilation CDs, then we saw her performance in London where she mesmerized everyone and we were certain she is a perfect choice for the magical Gradina in Solin, as well! Several years ago, Zuzana discovered mbira, a Zimbabwean instrument that took her beyond any experience she had ever felt and prooved that quest for roots may take someone deeper than can be explained in words. It takes open heart and mind during her performance to become enriched with the message she is transferring.
  

So far we've never had a band from Portugal performing at EA and the course of events lead us to discovering a special band – MANDRAGORA. This year they will tune us into traditional melodies of their country. Like most of the musicians we invite to celebrate the beauty of cultural diversity with, this group of musicians got together in order to explore the folklore heritage of the land they live in, bearing in mind the modern musical expressions they are inevitable in a touch with every day. For their endevour they were awarded with many praises and one of them is „Carlos Paredes“ prize given to bands that play Portuguese folk music having in count the importance the music has for the reinforcement of the cultural identity.
  

Also great news is a vibrant all-girl-folk-rock-punk band from Russia – IVA NOVA! They are sometimes called the Russian Pogues and as Russian „Rolling Stone“ claims, they are „The coolest Russian female band!“ Besides lyrics on Russian Iva Nova has songs written on Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Georgian and other Slavic languages. Along with exploring endless folklore resources they creatively experiment with other styles as polka, jazz, punk. Their live show is a mixture of expressions but mostly ending up in energetic songs that are invitation for a movement (of your body and your mind)!
  

By request of many of EA faithful audience, we are bringing back the Greek fairy, singer and story-teller KRISTI STASSINOPOULOU and her band from Greece to present their new album „Taxidoscopio“!
The interesting and unique blend of traditional Greek folk instruments, like the Cretan lyre, the lauto, the baglamas, together with the saxophone on top of the electronic improvisations and live looping of Stathis Kalyviotis and the strong live-percussion on mainly Balkan and Mediterranean dancing rhythms, create an ecstatic “folktronic” sound.
  

Another band presenting the new album will be KRIES, the Croatian band audience of EA know very well. Kries published a new album „Kocijani“ in January 2008. The album was named after a picturesque little village in Gorski Kotar where the band spent a lot of time working on songs that are inspired by traditional songs of Croatia and by nature they were surrounded. Malaysian magazine „Star“ describes their live performance as „explosive, hypnotic and addictive“ . After presenting the new album in various countries and places, Kries is especially looking forward to playing at Gradina in Solin, because, as many artists who have already performed in Solin, claim – the audience of festival Ethnoambient Salona is special.
  
  
Join us in celebration of cultural diversity!
Your Ethnoambient Team