Karolina Wegrzyn & Banda is a unique ensemble showcasing the beautiful and danceable folk sounds of Eastern Europe.
The group’s name in many Slavonic languages means “a group of noisy people” or simply “the bandits”. Karolina, who hails from Sub-Carpathia in South-Eastern Poland, is passionate about preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Roma people, and the Balkan states. She collects folk songs by recording senior citizens in her native villages and has been recognised for her contributions to music, receiving an award from the Polish Ministry of Culture in 2011 and being a laureate at the True Musician’s Tournament in Szczecin, Poland in 2021.
The band includes Mike Bethel, who plays on almost everything stringed and will be joining the group on double bass, and Ann Jones, an internationally renowned violinist who performs a wide range of music from classical to folk. They believe that music has the power to connect people across borders and cultures and strive to evoke emotions and create meaningful connections with their audiences.
