MOST partners and artists met up and spread the cause of Balkan music at Budapest Ritmo, one of the biggest world music festivals in the CEE region

MOST partners touched base at Budapest Ritmo on 13th of April, as the festival was just taking off. With almost full attendance, partners could check in on current developments and the final phases of our 4-year cooperation, the fruit of which was also visible at the festival both at concerts and off stage. A distinguished delegate list, showcase concerts and speed-dating sessions prooved valuable platforms for the MOST cause.

3 acts of MOST ilk: Koszika (HU/RO), Zarina Prvasevda (MK) Corina Sîrghi & Taraful Jean Americanu(RO) brought the magic of Balkan music to the Budapest audience.

Speed dating at Ritmo photo by Márton Pesthy

On the artists side, Koszika (HU/RO) and Zarina Prvasevda (MK) from the MOST circle were selected to perform in front of international music professionals on 13 April at Ritmo’s showcase stage, paving the way for their international break. MOST endorsed Corina Sîrghi & Taraful Jean Americanu (RO) performed in the festival’s core lineup on April 14, bringing the passion of Taraf to the Budapest audience.

Zarina on the showcase stage photo by Kata Vincze

Proponents of Balkan music,  the “powerhouse of world music” from the region, Bojan Djordjevic and Marija Vitas received the Ritmo award for both their individual and joint efforts, at a familial award ceremony. To quote Balázs Weyer, head of programming at Hangvető:

“Bojan Djordjevic has been for a long time the first contact point for the rest of the world if it came to the Balkans. He earned the highest level of trust toward every actor in the music industry and thus has done a lot to raise the profile of the Balkan scene and to develop an audience for world music in the region.

Marija Vitas has done the same in the field of ethnomusicology and media, while their joint efforts, the festivals, the creation of the Balkan World Music Charts, and many more add to the individually already outstanding achievements.”

Bojan & Marija recieve Ritmo the award photo by Kata Vincze

The Budapest Ritmo award goes every year to someone whose actions and work shape the world music scene immensely; this year’s awardees marked the heightened attention directed to the Balkans, partly as a result of the MOST programme.