RAKA

Raka are an 8-piece ensemble that play traditional music from the Balkans. We take our name after a traditional Bulgarian dance the ‘Raka,’ full of leg kicks, knees up and hands held high, the unmistakable groove of Raka brings everyone to their feet. Our music has a strong focus in the folk traditions of and , as well as the music that span far and wide across the Balkans. Our meandering musical tributaries have all led us to one communal river: the love and commitment to understanding and interacting with the music of the Balkans. We do not play ‘fusion music’, and neither do we imitate. We bring to life a genuinely authentic repertoire wherever we are, from sweaty back rooms of North London clubs to concert halls on the banks of the Thames. We took the dance for our name as that’s what we love to do. A he…