Big bread, big boots – Music of the Hungarian plains

Vardos have been serenading audiences around the world since late last century, driven by wild violin, accordion and double bass, their gypsy-folk and Romany styled song is a rare treat in contemporary concert halls. Their travels have taken them throughout a swathe of Australian music festivals and internationally through New Zealand, New Caledonia, Switzerland, Hungary and the United States.

Two-metre high loaves of bread and laments of boots without boot stiffener, sorrow over homelands and missing lovers: the Hungarians use to music to express all the highs and lows of life. Haunting laments, pentatonic peasant songs and virtuosic and crazily fast dance pieces capture the essence of Hungary.