Headliner of Boomtown Fair Festival
Thursday 11th – Sunday 14th August
Combining elements of punk, Gypsy music, and Brecht-ian cabaret, Gogol Bordello tell the story of New York's immigrant diaspora through debauchery, humor, and surreal costumes. Leader and singer Eugene Hütz's taste in music was spun out of black market tapes of the Birthday Party and Einstürzande Neubauten in his native Ukraine. After being evacuated to western Ukraine in 1986 following the Chernobyl disaster, Hütz became enamored of the mystical, outsider qualities of Gypsy music. Living as a refugee in Poland, Hungary, Austria, and Italy before moving to the United States in 1993, he experienced life as an outsider himself. After arriving in New York, he teamed up with guitarist Vlad Solofar and squeezebox player Sasha Kazatchkoff. American Eliot Fergusen added a strong rock sound on the drums and the band was also augmented by Sergey Rjabtzev on fiddle, a former theater director from Moscow whose past experience would prove helpful in the future in crafting Gogol Bordello's bizarre stage shows (like one that tells the story of super-powered immigrant Ukrainian vampires).
Gogol Bordello are now one of the world’s leading gypsy punk bands performing sell-out shows the world over.
Hello, we are so happy that you are headlining Boomtown, a festival that celebrates the Gypsy Punk scene. What’s it all about then?
Gogol: Not knowing what “IT” really means, “IT” is all about making honest music, socially conscience, educational, uplifting, informative, sometimes political, humorous, and last but not least, PARTY till you drop at the same time.
You have toured all over the world, where is your favourite place to play and why?
Gogol: I personally love playing in Portugal. Both Lisbon and Porto are great cities, beautiful sites to see, diverse cultures and incredible food. Our audience in these Portuguese cities are highly energetic, intelligent and celebrate diversity the same way we (Gogol Bordello) do. They get us. And they’re beautiful.
What projects are you working on at the moment? Any special collaborations in the pipeline?
Gogol: Well, outside of getting ready for the upcoming Gogol Bordello tours this year, I am working on the next Tommy T project. I am writing quite a bit. I don’t know if it will be a full length album or EP, which depends on which direction I want to take the project. I am also in talks with couple of bands/artists about producing them sometime this year.
What encouraged you to first start making music? Who did you admire growing & your earliest inspirations, musical and otherwise?
Gogol: Music has been around me all my life. Most of the inspiration came from my older brother Henock, who is an amazing Bass Player. I basically took after him not necessarily in the styles of music he plays, but mostly what he listened to and what inspired him. So because of that, I was introduced to the Motown sound (James Jamerson, GREATEST BASS PLAYER) etc … Eventually I came into my own and discovered my own style of playing the Bass and rediscovered the sounds of Reggae through a bass players eyes. This led to the discovery of great musicians/Bass Players such as Aston ‘Family man’ Barrette and Robbie Shakespeare to name a few. Right at this moment, I have to say Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry is inspiring me tremendously. This man is a true Genius.
Are you releasing any music this year? What are your plans for 2011?
Gogol: We (GB) probably are not releasing any music in 2011. But who knows, keep checking.
Who are your favourite musicians and have you ever met them? If so what was it like?
Gogol: I have many favorite musicians. Few I wasn’t lucky enough to meet, such as Bob Marley. Amongst the great musicians I have met, few stick to mind at this moment. Stevie Wonder, Iggy Pop, Bill Laswell, Alain Johannes, Les Claypool, Lee Scratch Perry, Herbie Hancock, Rage Against The Machine, Sly and Robbie, Steele Pulse, Mahmoud Ahmed …to name a few
What is the strangest thing a fan has ever done?
Gogol: Nothing’s that strange from my point of view ;-)
What music are you listening to at the moment?
Gogol: Not listening much lately. More writing at these days
At Boomtown we have a boxing ring for dance-off’s where 2 people dance against each other to banging tunes! If Gogol Bordello were in the ring who would win & why?
Gogol: I’ll put my money on Gogol Bordello ;-)
TICKETS available at www.boomtownfair.co.uk
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