Ukrainian ethno-chaos quartet DakhaBrakha will return to Riga on December 6, performing at the Palladium concert hall as part of their European tour. Known internationally for blending traditional folk music with global rhythms, the group will showcase material from their new full-length studio album, Bird, alongside established audience favorites.
DakhaBrakha Returns to Riga with Ptakh Album
The upcoming Riga concert features tracks from Bird—meaning “Bird”—which serves as DakhaBrakha’s first full-length studio release in five years. Recorded in Kyiv at Kaska Studio with producer Lesik Omodada, the 14-track record captures a wide emotional spectrum, ranging from ritual-inspired chants and melancholic lyricism to the driving beats of “Trypilske techno” and the humorous track “Yanky.” Band member Marko Halanevič created the album’s cover art, while the title track features a collaboration with well-known Ukrainian writer and musician Serhiy Zhadan.
Founded at the Kyiv experimental theater “Dakh”, the quartet describes its signature sound as “ethno-chaos.” Their music merges folk songs gathered through ethnographic expeditions and archives with instrumentation and arrangements from diverse cultures. This distinct approach has previously brought the group to major international festival stages, including Glastonbury, Sziget, Roskilde, Bonnaroo, and Pohoda.
From Kyiv to the Global Stage: The Evolution of Ethno-Chaos
The band members note that Bird chronicles years of profound personal and societal change. While they recorded some of the songs well before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the intervening years have given the music new, sometimes prophetic meanings. Throughout the record, themes of loss contrast with a persistent belief in the future, with the bird emerging as a symbol of freedom, the voice of Ukraine, and the ultimate hope of returning home.
Audience members attending the Riga performance on December 6 will hear a setlist bridging old and new material. Alongside tracks from the recent album, the group will perform established pieces such as “Sho z-pod duba” and “Vesna.” The performance will also include “Plyve Choven,” a poignant tribute dedicated to Ukraine’s defenders and those who cannot return home. Live visual art created by contemporary Ukrainian artists will accompany the music to reinforce the performance’s emotional depth.
Using Music as a Platform for Solidarity and Culture
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, DakhaBrakha’s international tours have functioned as more than musical showcases. The group consistently uses their platform to address global audiences, articulate Ukraine’s needs, and advocate for solidarity. Halanevič emphasizes the dual purpose of their appearances abroad: thanking supporters, communicating ongoing hardships, and sharing a window into Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage. Each concert shows the creative resilience of a free and independent nation.
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