Vardos
Vardos
are a stunning trio, serenading and interacting with their audiences with
Transylvanian dance tunes, popular Hungarian cafe concert music and the
latest horas from Bucharest, driven by Alana's wild violin, supported
by accordion and double bass. Energetic, fun and always entertaining,
Vardos generate tremendous enthusiasm wherever they play...
Vardos's second CD was launched at the Famous Spiegeltent at the Melbourne
festival in 2002. Performances in Australia include the Four Winds festival
in Bermagui, New South Wales, National, Port Fairy and Victor Harbour
Folk Festivals, tours of regional Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia
and the Romanian Embassy in Canberra. Vardos appeared on Seachange (Series
3) on ABC television and on the Best of Seachange CD. They also feature,
with Frances Evans on double bass, in Ruth Cullen's documentary on Vali
Myers, Painted Lady, screened on SBS in 2003. In 2002 Vardos toured to
Noumea and have just returned from successful shows at the Famous Spiegeltent
in the Edinburgh Fringe and the Nokia /Orange Spiegeltent in the Edinburgh
International Book Festival in 2003. Vardos were nominated for the 2003
BBC Radio3 World Music Awards 2003 (Audience Award)
Alana Hunt formed the band in 1993 in Perth, where Vardos worked professionally
for five years, during which time Alana also made two trips to Hungary
to study Hungarian folk music with Beata Salamon (Meta folk music band)
and gypsy music with Miklos Konyv. Vardos appeared sucessfully in many
festivals in Western Australia including the Fremantle Festival and the
Festival of Perth.
Sofia Chapman has performed with piano accordion since 1993 and has written
and participated in many music theatre works including The Four Accordionists
of the Apocalypse. She played with Xenos Macedonian Gypsy Band for four
years. Sofia and Alana have just returned from their third study trip
together in Eastern Europe.
Melinda McCarthy of Hungarian background, has acheived a reputation as
a visual artist, painting, printmaking and film. She has studied many
instruments and styles of music. She has also travelled in Hungary and
recently joined Vardos, making her debut at the Illawarra Folk Festival
in Jamberoo, NSW.
"Outstanding..... a great favourite"- Four Winds Festival
"Your enthusiasm and energy were infectious"- Maroondah Singers
"Their intrinsic musicality and faithfulness to the ethnic traditions
of the music they perform is laudable. When so many so-called folk groups
give only a vague impression of the cultures they represent it is refreshing
to have such music played with authenticity"- Port Fairy Spring Music
Festival
Artist Website: http://www.vardos.com.au
