Haidouks are back! After over three decades of touring the world, founding members of the jaw-droppingly fast Taraf de Haidouks, who are now known as Taraf de Caliu after their lead violinist Gheorghe 'Caliu' Anghel, are back in a brand new culture-clash outfit with leading figures from Romania’s underground scene. The legendary ‘Lautari’ musicians from the Gypsy village of Clejani west of Bucharest encounter the eclectic and electric Impex project, which brings together musicians from acts such as Steaua De Mare, Plevna, Zveena, Zebre and PC Harem, associated with Impex Studios in Bucharest. Six Haidouks and seven Impex blend tradition and contemporary music culture in a project that aims to stay true to the original spirit whilst making sparks fly.
Tradition is actually a contemporary matter. Conserving tradition by adapting it to a new era without losing the original spirit is the idea behind this project especially created for Europalia Romania. The aim is to build bridges between generations, between cultures, between tradition and modernity.

Fanfare Ciocărlia are a 24-legged brass beast whose eastern funk groove has torn up halls and festivals across the planet. Their energy and ingenuity having won them fans from Melbourne to Memphis, Tokyo to Toulouse. Having learnt their craft at the feet of their fathers and grandfathers Fanfare's members proudly approach every concert as a challenge to both entertain audiences and keep the true spirit of Gypsy music alive. Fanfare Ciocărlia went on to conquer the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Gypsies may only have spoken their local Romany dialect but their music spoke an international language and audiences responded to their fierce Balkan funk by turning concerts into parties. What Fanfare Ciocărlia played was something new. The Times of London described it as 'a heavy, heavy monster sound' and Fanfare's recordings have taken their eerie Balkan groove into dance clubs across the planet.