Fanfare Ciocarlia in Manchester

Fanfare Ciocarlia is a Romanian Romani brass band formed in 1989 in the village of Zece Prajini. The group plays fast Balkan dance music on brass, woodwind and percussion, and became known internationally through albums including Radio Pascani, Iag Bari and Gipsy Queens & Kings. International touring began in 1996, when the band started working with German manager and producer Henry Ernst. Concerts at WOMAD and Glastonbury followed as the group established a long-running festival and club presence outside Romania. The Balkan Brass Battle project later paired them in concert with Serbia’s Boban & Marko Marković Orchestra.