Culture, Music, Past Events

MARRACASH ORCHESTRA

MARRACASH ORCHESTRATirana Ekspres is pleased to announce the arrival of Marracash Orchestra.

Marracash Orchestra celebrate an outrageous blend of musical styles. The german sextet mixes Dub, Punk, Drum ‘n’ Bass, Hip Hop and more to shape an incomparable new sound.
Marracash Orchestra present a fresh, unique show that breaks all rules. Don’t miss them out!

As seen on http://marracashorchestra.bandcamp.com/

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Culture, Music, Past Events

HIP-HOP NIGHT

HIP-HOP NIGHT

Dj Upset & Dj Weed are both French and they are in Albania for the occasion of the Hip-Hop Festival. They have come from France together with the current European Champions of Brake-Dance and Graffiti Show. Follow up the event on the Tirana Ekspres’s outdoor stage.

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BARRIO POPULO

BARRIO POPULOBarrio Populo keeps the journey on; More than 150 concerts in two years all over France and elsewhere (Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo, United Kingdom) and is not about to stop… The musicians organize themselves in the most independent fashion around this project to make it grow. They all live in the same house in the countryside and try to live an alternative and autonomous life. Barrio Populo suggests desorder as a necessity and preludes the build up of another kind of thinking. This crazyness, this utopia chasing, this love of freedom sweats in their music, it’s their weapon, their discourse, their message, Let’s listen to “Desorder” rather than talk about it because we would miss the point!

While on stage, Barrio Populo came accross : Le Peuple de l’Herbe, Têtes Raides, Dub Inc, Che Sudaka, Raggasonic, Amazigh, Les Blérots de Ravel, LoGre, Oaï Star, Les Ramoneurs de Menhirs, Sinsemilia, Broussaï, Deportivo, As de Trèfle, La Mine de Rien, Les Tit’s Nassels, Les Caméléons, Mon Côté Punk, Les Fatals Picards, Puggy, Brain Damage, The Elderberries, Les Hurlements d’Léo and others…

They are in Albania now and will be playing at the outdoor concert space, Karl Gega st., you know the place :). Don’t miss out!

Find out more about Barrio Populo on their website http://www.barriopopulo.fr/BARRIO POPULOBarrio Populo keeps the journey on; More than 150 concerts in two years all over France and elsewhere (Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo, United Kingdom) and is not about to stop… The musicians organize themselves in the most independent fashion around this project to make it grow. They all live in the same house in the countryside and try to live an alternative and autonomous life. Barrio Populo suggests desorder as a necessity and preludes the build up of another kind of thinking. This crazyness, this utopia chasing, this love of freedom sweats in their music, it’s their weapon, their discourse, their message, Let’s listen to “Desorder” rather than talk about it because we would miss the point!

While on stage, Barrio Populo came accross : Le Peuple de l’Herbe, Têtes Raides, Dub Inc, Che Sudaka, Raggasonic, Amazigh, Les Blérots de Ravel, LoGre, Oaï Star, Les Ramoneurs de Menhirs, Sinsemilia, Broussaï, Deportivo, As de Trèfle, La Mine de Rien, Les Tit’s Nassels, Les Caméléons, Mon Côté Punk, Les Fatals Picards, Puggy, Brain Damage, The Elderberries, Les Hurlements d’Léo and others…

They are in Albania now and will be playing at the outdoor concert space, Karl Gega st., you know the place :). Don’t miss out!

Find out more about Barrio Populo on their website http://www.barriopopulo.fr/

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Culture, Music, Past Events

JERICHO

JERICHOMany years ago when the viral communication devices weren’t yet developed, there was a single hardcore rock song circulating around and driving people crazy. We were all electric to the pure existence of a band that made us dance like we would have if we were listening to Rage Against the Machine. But the lyrics were saying: “Don’t fuck with albanians”. The good news is that the group went on to become one of the most popular rock bands in Albania and Kosovo. They have developed their own label titled “Gheg Rock”, a clear mixture of traditional sound and punching rock.

TIRANA EKSPRES presents JERICHO in a live concert. DJ set by Indripendent FX.

http://grupijericho.com/JERICHOMany years ago when the viral communication devices weren’t yet developed, there was a single hardcore rock song circulating around and driving people crazy. We were all electric to the pure existence of a band that made us dance like we would have if we were listening to Rage Against the Machine. But the lyrics were saying: “Don’t fuck with albanians”. The good news is that the group went on to become one of the most popular rock bands in Albania and Kosovo. They have developed their own label titled “Gheg Rock”, a clear mixture of traditional sound and punching rock.

TIRANA EKSPRES presents JERICHO in a live concert. DJ set by Indripendent FX.

http://grupijericho.com/

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Culture, Music, Past Events

AMBASADI

AMBASADIAmbasadi came to exist in 2008 as a free musical ensemble and has since become the embodiment of a series of contemporary instrumentalists and musicians from Kosova, Albania and elsewhere. Five members form the core of the band. They come from Albania, Kosova and Germany. Ambasadi pounds in the Jazz, Postrock and the Northern and Southern Albanian folk music playground. Ambasadi has a unique approach to music through strong tupana and bass ethnic rhythms accompanied by two guitars and a clarinet. They have always been actively engaged in different charitable and lucrative events.

Here are some of their memorable performances:
2008: Ambasadi went in a short tour in Germany. They had four concerts in Dresden, Lepzig, Berlin and Goerlitz.
2009: Ambasadi represented Kosova in the Jazz Festival of Prishtina.
2010: Ambasadi participated in the concert for compilations titled “Let’s Go” at the Oda Theater in Prishtina.
2011: Ambasadi participated in the charity concert titled “Jam për Lopën “.AMBASADIAmbasadi came to exist in 2008 as a free musical ensemble and has since become the embodiment of a series of contemporary instrumentalists and musicians from Kosova, Albania and elsewhere. Five members form the core of the band. They come from Albania, Kosova and Germany. Ambasadi pounds in the Jazz, Postrock and the Northern and Southern Albanian folk music playground. Ambasadi has a unique approach to music through strong tupana and bass ethnic rhythms accompanied by two guitars and a clarinet. They have always been actively engaged in different charitable and lucrative events.

Here are some of their memorable performances:
2008: Ambasadi went in a short tour in Germany. They had four concerts in Dresden, Lepzig, Berlin and Goerlitz.
2009: Ambasadi represented Kosova in the Jazz Festival of Prishtina.
2010: Ambasadi participated in the concert for compilations titled “Let’s Go” at the Oda Theater in Prishtina.
2011: Ambasadi participated in the charity concert titled “Jam për Lopën “.

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Neue Slowenische Kunst

Neue Slowenische KunstNSK – Neue Slowenische Kunst stands for New Slovenian Art. Together with kult-industrial, a slovenian music band which is also part of NSK, they introduce themselves in an “Aveny Tv Show” documentary. Laurie Anderson, a multimedia wizard and artist from New York, will also be introduced with bits of her concert alongside NSK. In the end, Lorik Sylejmani, author of Aveny, will perform as a dj/vj in various music genres like the new wave, the alternative rock and the new romantic music. He will play different hits of Prishtina’s bands of the 80s.

The photographer Mersina Xhemajli, Meri brings us a chronology depicted in four photographs that induce the impression of a sequence of images taken from a fiction film.

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Culture, Music, Past Events, Visual Arts

TIRANA THRASH

TIRANA THRASHTIRANA THRASH.
A Night with: ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER

Saturday, May 5, 2012
EXHIBITION OPENS AT: 7.30 pm
CONCERTS STARTS FROM: 8.30 pm

Tirana Art Lab – Center for Contemporary Art, and Tirana Ekspres – The Alternative Art Space, are pleased to present: “TIRANA THRASH”, the first showcasing of the British punk musician and Slam Poet Attila the Stockbroker in Tirana after 23 years. A CONCERT & EXHIBITION in homage of the artist’s clandestine performance of 1989 behind the walls of Hotel Dajti.

Attila the Stockbroker, a central personality from the British Punk scene, was also one of the very few British citizens who traveled to Albania still before the end of the regime. In 1989, Attila, the nom d’art of John Baines, achieved to gain an entry visa – ‘disguised’ as a soccer fan – in the context of the UK-Albania soccer match held in Tirana. Amongst the many anecdotes that stem from this notable journey, Attila’s visit also culminated into a spontaneous punk concert at the prominent diplomate’s Hotel Dajti. Featuring songs like “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones and supported by the resident Beatles Cover Band, the unlikely incident counts amongst the first punk performances in town.

Today 23 years later, TIRANA THRASH takes this very happening from 1989 as a starting point for an unprecedented review. Borrowing from the artistic concept of ‘Re-enactment’, TIRANA THRASH has invited the musician to perform once again his legendary concert – “a live image, in real space and real time, but simultaneously displaced” (Rod Dickinson). The adjoint exhibition offers a rare glimpse at the key memorabilia deriving from the event, such as Attila’s handmade soccer shirt from 1989, snapshots, or the actual “Tirana Thrash”: a self-published fanzine, which Attila edited during the 1980ies. “You know socialist realism. I do socialist surrealism.” (Attila the Stockbroker). In addition to the historical playlist of 1989, Attila will perform a selection of “surreal poetry”, pieces which addressed Albania under Hoxha and which will be staged in Tirana for the first time. Their strongly satirical tone is characteristic for Attila’s distinct approach towards dealing with political issues that were central to the British punk movement of the 1980ies.

TIRANA THRASH is not asking what really happened in 1989, but provides the grounds from where to transform a historical event into embodiment and involvement of the artist and the audience. It implies the idea of a difference that can be brought out to create something new. A platform for Attila’s lifelong obsession and artistic occupation with the country, TIRANA THRASH goes exemplary for the many missing bits and cultural curiosities of the the recent Albanian history.
The performance of Attila the Stockbroker proudly features: ILIR KRYEKURTI (Percussion), and ANGJELIN TOMA(Bass).

TIRANA THRASH is a collaborative project of Tirana Art Lab – Center for Contemporary Art, and Tirana Ekspres – The Alternative Art Space.
Curated by Sonja Lau. Curatorial Assistant: Kerstin Feldmayer Production: Rubin Beqo. Made possible with the support of the Robert Bosch Foundation.

ONCERTS STARTS FROM: 8.30 pm
At: Tirana Ekspres, Rr Karl Gega, Blloku i Magazinave

Tirana Art Lab – Center for Contemporary Art, and Tirana Ekspres – The Alternative Art Space, are pleased to present: “TIRANA THRASH”, the first showcasing of the British punk musician and Slam Poet Attila the Stockbroker in Tirana after 23 years. A CONCERT & EXHIBITION in homage of the artist’s clandestine performance of 1989 behind the walls of Hotel Dajti.

Attila the Stockbroker, a central personality from the British Punk scene, was also one of the very few British citizens who traveled to Albania still before the end of the regime. In 1989, Attila, the nom d’art of John Baines, achieved to gain an entry visa – ‘disguised’ as a soccer fan – in the context of the UK-Albania soccer match held in Tirana. Amongst the many anecdotes that stem from this notable journey, Attila’s visit also culminated into a spontaneous punk concert at the prominent diplomate’s Hotel Dajti. Featuring songs like “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones and supported by the resident Beatles Cover Band, the unlikely incident counts amongst the first punk performances in town.

Today 23 years later, TIRANA THRASH takes this very happening from 1989 as a starting point for an unprecedented review. Borrowing from the artistic concept of ‘Re-enactment’, TIRANA THRASH has invited the musician to perform once again his legendary concert – “a live image, in real space and real time, but simultaneously displaced” (Rod Dickinson). The adjoint exhibition offers a rare glimpse at the key memorabilia deriving from the event, such as Attila’s handmade soccer shirt from 1989, snapshots, or the actual “Tirana Thrash”: a self-published fanzine, which Attila edited during the 1980ies. “You know socialist realism. I do socialist surrealism.” (Attila the Stockbroker). In addition to the historical playlist of 1989, Attila will perform a selection of “surreal poetry”, pieces which addressed Albania under Hoxha and which will be staged in Tirana for the first time. Their strongly satirical tone is characteristic for Attila’s distinct approach towards dealing with political issues that were central to the British punk movement of the 1980ies.

TIRANA THRASH is not asking what really happened in 1989, but provides the grounds from where to transform a historical event into embodiment and involvement of the artist and the audience. It implies the idea of a difference that can be brought out to create something new. A platform for Attila’s lifelong obsession and artistic occupation with the country, TIRANA THRASH goes exemplary for the many missing bits and cultural curiosities of the the recent Albanian history.
The performance of Attila the Stockbroker proudly features: ILIR KRYEKURTI (Percussion), and ANGJELIN TOMA(Bass).

TIRANA THRASH is a collaborative project of Tirana Art Lab – Center for Contemporary Art, and Tirana Ekspres – The Alternative Art Space.
Curated by Sonja Lau. Curatorial Assistant: Kerstin Feldmayer Production: Rubin Beqo. Made possible with the support of the Robert Bosch Foundation.

 

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Orges & The Ockus – Rockus Band

OORBOrges & The Ockus – Rockus Band open on their debut album with the title track Aheng, aheng!. This album is full of lust for life & the fire of the Balkans. The energy and pumping sound, that this band delivers, will thrill everyone. Thereʼs no way, but to move your feet to their rhythm. Disco beats fly around accompanied by gipsy bass lines. The Rockabilly Guitar deliberately uses one cliché after another. But as soon as the rough voice, only comparable to Paolo Conte, starts telling stories in Albanian, heavens would start to cry. Orges Toce is a worldʼs citizen. He grew up in the communist Albania of the 1980s. After living in Spain for some years, he moved to Austria. He is driven from the dirt (Zhul) in the streets of Tirana and the corruption (Scheiss’ auf Korruption) that still dominates politics in his homecountry.

However romance never dies and songs like Vajze cigane (Gipsy girl) and Karroca e vjeter (Old caravan) restore hope to his Balkans-soul.As rich as Albanian history seems to be, as colorful is Aheng, aheng!, the debut album of Orges & The Ockus – Rockus Band

Orges Toçe was born in Tirana/Albania in 28 Juli 1977. He studied at the musical school “Deshmoret e lirise” from the 1st to the 8th grade. After that he went to the Artistic – Lyceum “Jordan Misja” where he studied Violin with Tale Skenderi. His first Jazz-Lessons was with Markelian Kapidani (Pianist / Composer). At the same time he was working with Elton Deda (Pianist / Composer & Singer) in several Studio & Live sessions. In 1998 he went to Spain and played Guitar & Violin with various Classic , Rock & Jazz Bands (La Orquesta Sinfonica Region de Murcia, Los Albarracines, Gipsy-Swing Quintet Murcia, Carlos & Curro Pinana, Neuroticos ect, ect…). 2003 he went to Vienna / Austria to studie Jazz-Guitar at “Konservatorium Wien” where he graduated with the Title “Master of Arts” as a student of Claus Spechtl. Since 2003 he was working with several Jazz, Pop & Rock Bands.

Various Bands, Musicians, Producers & Artists with whom he worked together:

AlbaniaMarkelian Kapidani

Elton Deda

Enris Qinami

 

 

SpainLos Albarracines

Gipsy – Swing Quintet Murcia

Carlos & Curro Pinana

Impacientes

Neuroticos

AustriaOrges & The Ockus – Rockus Band

The Rioters

Willblues

Wilfried & Band

 

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THE TOASTERS

THE TOASTERSTirana Ekspres is pleased to welcome the Toasters for a live concert in the small hall of events this Wednesday at 22h00. Please find the Toasters’Bio hereafter.

The Toasters “NYC SKA” Est. 1981

  • 1981 “The Toasters” (as “Not Bob Marley”) form with Forbidden Planet co-workers. First gig is at A7 Club on Lower East Side with Bad Brains. Buck sees The Beat play at NYC’s Roseland to a practically empty house.
  • 1982 The Toasters first gig at CBGB’s – made $22.
  • 1983 Release of The Toasters’ first single, “Beat Up.”
  • 1985 Moon Records releases The Toasters’ “Recriminations” EP, produced by Joe Jackson. First nationally distributed US ska record, through Important/Relativity Records.
  • 1986 Moon releases “NY Beat: Hit and Run” – first 3rd wave ska compilation, featuring The Toasters amoung many other Tri-State bands at the time.
  • 1987 “Skaboom” LP is released on Celluloid in US. Also released in UK on Unicorn Records as “Pool Shark.” Toasters first national tour (“Toast on the Coast”).
  • 1988 “Thrill Me Up” LP released. Toasters embark on first European tour. Celluloid goes broke, Moon Records starts cranking up.
  • 1990 Release “This Gun for Hire” and are first foreign ska band to play behind Iron Curtain (Russia).
  • 1991 Miller Beer endorses The Toasters – they play 232 shows is one year.
  • 1992 Moon releases “New York Fever.”
  • 1993 “Skavoovee” package tour with Special Beat, Toasters, Skatalites and Selecter. Pollstar Top 50 tour for ’93.
  • 1995 “Dub 56” – which was first Moon release to sell 30,000+ copies in USA.
  • 1996 The Moon Ska Stompers (Toasters side project) pens theme tune for Nickelodeon’s “Kablam.”
  • The Toasters play show #2,000 in Atlanta, GA.
  • 1997 “Hard Band for Dead” sells 60,000 + worldwide. Buck writes Coca-Cola jingle for national radio ad. Toasters break into MTV with “2Tone Army” music video.
  • 1998 “Don’t Let The Bastards Grind You Down.” released. Toasters tour Europe 14th time, are the first foreign ska band to play Brazil. Participate in the “Ska Against Racism” tour.

More to come!

As seen on http://www.toasters.org/historyTHE TOASTERSTirana Ekspres is pleased to welcome the Toasters for a live concert in the small hall of events this Wednesday at 22h00. Please find the Toasters’Bio hereafter.

The Toasters “NYC SKA” Est. 1981

  • 1981 “The Toasters” (as “Not Bob Marley”) form with Forbidden Planet co-workers. First gig is at A7 Club on Lower East Side with Bad Brains. Buck sees The Beat play at NYC’s Roseland to a practically empty house.
  • 1982 The Toasters first gig at CBGB’s – made $22.
  • 1983 Release of The Toasters’ first single, “Beat Up.”
  • 1985 Moon Records releases The Toasters’ “Recriminations” EP, produced by Joe Jackson. First nationally distributed US ska record, through Important/Relativity Records.
  • 1986 Moon releases “NY Beat: Hit and Run” – first 3rd wave ska compilation, featuring The Toasters amoung many other Tri-State bands at the time.
  • 1987 “Skaboom” LP is released on Celluloid in US. Also released in UK on Unicorn Records as “Pool Shark.” Toasters first national tour (“Toast on the Coast”).
  • 1988 “Thrill Me Up” LP released. Toasters embark on first European tour. Celluloid goes broke, Moon Records starts cranking up.
  • 1990 Release “This Gun for Hire” and are first foreign ska band to play behind Iron Curtain (Russia).
  • 1991 Miller Beer endorses The Toasters – they play 232 shows is one year.
  • 1992 Moon releases “New York Fever.”
  • 1993 “Skavoovee” package tour with Special Beat, Toasters, Skatalites and Selecter. Pollstar Top 50 tour for ’93.
  • 1995 “Dub 56” – which was first Moon release to sell 30,000+ copies in USA.
  • 1996 The Moon Ska Stompers (Toasters side project) pens theme tune for Nickelodeon’s “Kablam.”
  • The Toasters play show #2,000 in Atlanta, GA.
  • 1997 “Hard Band for Dead” sells 60,000 + worldwide. Buck writes Coca-Cola jingle for national radio ad. Toasters break into MTV with “2Tone Army” music video.
  • 1998 “Don’t Let The Bastards Grind You Down.” released. Toasters tour Europe 14th time, are the first foreign ska band to play Brazil. Participate in the “Ska Against Racism” tour.

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