We’re throwing a Balkan dance party with the fabulous folks of Vinnie’s Jump and Jive, a community dance hall on Main Street in Middletown. From 8 to 9pm, members of Always on Sunday — a folk dance group from West Hartford — will be on hand to teach some traditional group dances. For more information about Vinnie’s, visit their website…

We’ll be playing a short 15-20 minute set at Wesleyan’s Battle of the Bands, competing against 4 other bands for a chance to be the opening act for Spring Fling on Wednesday, May 9th. Not sure exactly what time we’ll go on…

Yeah! We’re finally playing with Debo, a Boston-based Ethiopian pop band and the What Cheer? Brigade, an 18-piece roving brass band from Providence, RI…this show has been quite a long time in the planning, so we’re thrilled that it’s finally going to happen. The music starts at 8pm and will end promptly at 11pm…The What Cheer? Brigade will open with a short set, followed by the Balkan Situations at 8:30pm. Next up is Debo, and then the Brigade will close out the evening–don’t miss this one!

Bolivian Tunes

Gankino Horo

Kecskés

Makedonsko Oro

Voi Voi Voi

Aromaneasca

Yam Yen

Ciuleandra

Gankino Horo

Rajko

Ela Ela Leose

Cigansko Oro

Pusztito

Cveta Moma

Pena

Valle e Gajdes

Uskudara / Nihavent Lunga

Makedonsko Oro / Carolina

Pusztito

Rumba

Jovano Jovanke

Gankino Horo

Dianca Din Dolj

Djurdjevdan

Tribute to Florin Salam

Bubamara

Voi Voi Voi

Rajko

KiszáRadt A Bodzafa / Piros Alma CsumáJaJa

Rind de Hore

Ciuleandra

Katyusha/Kalinka

the balkan situations exist, and that’s nice. i feel a
special connection to them because they play a lot of
songs that i am familiar with, and it’s always
exciting for me to hear them do a version of a song i
know. many people who see the balkan situations play,
however, may not know anything about the songs they
are hearing or where they come from. i thought it
would be great for a person who is seeing the band
play for the first time to be able to get involved
with the band so that the next time they see them
they’ll feel like they are a part of what’s happening
onstage (and thus more susceptible to fits of dancing,
stomping, clapping, hooting, whistling, money tossing,
etc.).

so i stole this idea from the band “the minutemen”,
who handed out ballots to their audience for them to
decide what songs would go on their upcoming live
album, which they titled “ballot result.”

i put together a tape of some songs i really loved and
gave it to the band. now it’s up to you fans to
decide what you’d like to hear the band play. my pick:
JATEKOS LAKODALM ITANCOK!!!!!

So we leave our future in your hands: listen to this beautiful music, pick your favorite song, and send us an email at thebalkansituations@gmail.com. A few lucky participants will even get free stickers!

1 – yugoslav village 1!

2 – O Kostandas Ki O Kostandis

3 – to fisouni

4 – duce-m-as la mindra mea

5 – yugoslav village 2!!

6 – jatekos lakodalm itancok

7 – mahala

8 – carpathian mts 1

9 – yugoslav village 3!!!

10 – otan kiriseis

11 – carpathian mt. lady

12 – carpathian mt. gentleman

13 – carpathian mt. kid

14 – yugoslav village IV

15 – Oas Dance

16 – sirba

17 – O Broufas

18 – old ladies! Northern Aegean

19 – Macedonian folk dances vol. III

20 – Maios

21 – Western Macedonia 1

22 – Western Macedonia 2

55 minutes later, Animal Puzzo had this to say:

the balkan situations are the best musicians in the
village, but they love it when we the rabble join in
on their rabble-rousing..(props to Vanja Zoric for
Djurdjevan!!!!!!) they’ve even asked me to sing with
them, but i feel a little intimidated by some of their
song selections, which they tackle with virtuosity,
vivacity and verve. I made a tape which i thought
would have some really challenging ones for them (the
hardest of which, mahala, they’ve already
learned!!!!!) but which has a lot of songs that the
fans may be able to learn (so we can be more
susceptible to bouts of singing, dancing, stomping,
clapping, hooting, whistling, plate smashing, etc.) my
pick: yugoslav village 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We’ll be performing at a restaurant called The Bee’s Knees in Morrisville, VT during lunchtime on Sunday, March 11th. The Bee’s Knees serves home-cooked meals emphasizing locally grown and organic ingredients; they also serve local beers and organic wine.

Click here for a map to The Bee’s Knees.