The Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal at the Starry Plough presents
Lars and In Charge (10 pm–midnight), Orchestra Euphonos (8–10 pm) November’s Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal features Lars and In Charge's gritty fiddle-driven Turkish and Greek grooves. The show opens with Orchestra Euphonos, bringing Romanian songs together with balkan Beats to the dance floor.

Doors open at 7 pm; show starts at 8 pm
The Starry Plough Pub, 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
Tickets: $15–$20 · Ages 21+
https://www.etix.com/.../berkeley-balkan-bacchanal...

Lars and In Charge turns the music of Turkey, Greece and beyond into a full-throttle dance party. Led by violinist Lars Tergis, the band digs into traditional Romani party tunes and original compositions shaped by the scales and rhythms of the region. Lars and his band always take each show to the next level with ever improving musicianship, new material and a penchant for instantly transforming any show into a Tergis party!

Chris Reid’s steel-string guitar brings a percussive bite, Joe Rosato Jr.’s upright bass anchors the low end, and Faisal Zedan layers the textures of derbekki, riqq and davul. Together, they build a sound that moves from intimate melodic exchanges to a driving ensemble charge.

Orchestra Euphonos brings together the exuberance of Balkan dance music and the expressive, bittersweet melodies of klezmer and Romanian Music. Led by trumpeter Peter Bonos, this Bay Area ensemble features brass and woodwinds at the heart of its sound. The band’s performances leave room for playful exchanges, collective improvisation and spirited takes on familiar melodies.

For this Bacchanal, Orchestra Euphonos welcomes a special guest Romanian vocalist TBA for a special opening set. Peter Bonos, (Trumpet, oud), Greg Jenkins (sax, clarinet), Aaron Kierbel (drums), Kim Goldov (violin and mandolin), Leo Peringer (bass).

berkeleybalkanbacchanal.com

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Balkan Sundays is back at Ashkenaz on November 22nd, and this time we're bringing together a killer lineup for a night of Balkan, Romanian, Klezmer, and Turkish music!

The house band will be led by Peter Bonos on trumpet, joined by Sean Tergis on drums and Leo Peringer on bass. We'll be playing tunes from all over Eastern Europe and beyond, with plenty of room for guest musicians to jump in and take the music wherever it goes. We'll also be featuring vocalist Dr. Shireen Nabatian, as we celebrate both her birthday and her graduation from her PhD program in Ethnomusicology at UC Santa Cruz.

We’re also expecting a very special guest vocalist visiting from Romania along with some of the heaviest-hitting local brass players dropping in. Expect a big sound, lots of horns, and plenty of surprises!

Doors open at 7:30 pm, when Ivan Velev kicks things off with a pre-show Balkan dance lesson! Learn some steps, warm up the dance floor, and get ready for the jam.

As always, Balkan Sundays is an open jam, so bring your instruments and join us onstage. Brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion, singers—everyone is welcome to sit in. And if you're not playing, come dance! Contact peterbonos@gmail.com for the song list.

Balkan Sundays also happens every 2nd Sunday at Muddy Waters in SF. Check bayareabalkan.com to stay in the loop. Also, follow on IG @bayareabalkan and @balkansundays

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For 75 years, Kolo Music & Dance Festival has been a gathering place for the Bay Area's International Folk Dance and Music community. Balkan, Slavic, and World communities come together for a weekend celebrating rich culture with dancing, singing and feasting. Dance instructors teach every step, and live bands carry the music long into the night — keeping this tradition across generations. Whether you have been coming for decades or you're curious to experience it for the first time, you're welcome here!!!

More info at kolofestival.org

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