Press Release December 2006
Grammy Award Winning Roma Music Band Damian & Brother’s perform at Sugar Club Tonight
Traveller Focus Week 4th-9th December 2006 PARTICIPATION
Wednesday 6th December at 8pm Sugar Club
The Romanian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Romanian Embassy in Ireland, with the kind assistance of the Roma Support Group, Ireland, are delighted to announce an exciting evening of Roma Music in Dublin on the 6th of December. The world famous and Grammy award winning band Damian & Brother’s combines traditional Roma music with contemporary sounds like jazz and rock to produce their unique sound that has captured audiences around the world. This new project, which they have entitled “Back to the roots”, is a new mode of expression for Damien & Brother’s.
“I started playing with musicians that kept the ancient art of Roma music and I discovered that together we could create a new type of musical expression. Each member of this 18 piece ensemble brings his or her unique musical voice to the band sound and weaves their story into the collective message, which becomes Damien & Brothers”.
The Romanian Embassy sees this evening as a showcase of the art and music of the Roma people and an opportunity to celebrate it. The Roma Support Group welcomes this initiative and sees it as an opportunity to share their ancient and rich culture with the Irish people.
Ion Zatreanu of the Roma Support Group says: “Music is such an important part of Roma culture, as a way of cultural expression and celebration. Without music there is no life”.
Pavee Point Travellers Centre which is home to the Roma Support group and has been working with the Roma community in Ireland since 2000 is also excited about this event. The Damien & Brother’s concert is quite timely taking place during Traveller Focus Week, which this year is focused on Travellers participation in the cultural and public life in Ireland.
“Roma music has been hugely influential on all types of world music including flamenco, Jewish klezmer and modern “gypsy”. This event will give a space for the recognition of Roma participation in cultural life and focus on the positive aspects of the Roma community and their contribution to world music and should prove to be a very enjoyable night for all” says Sara Russell, Pavee Point
Damian & Brothers, 8pm, Wednesday 6th December, The Sugar Club,
For complementary tickets contact Sara Russell, Roma Support Group, Pavee Point Travellers Centre, 01 8780255 or email – rromacomunity@yahoo.com or Alex Teodar Ivaner, Third Secretary, Embassy of Romania, Dublin ro_cultural@eircom.net
Issued by Roma Support Group, Pavee Point, 46 North Great Charles St., Dublin 1.