The January edition of the Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal presents a double bill featuring the rare worldly talent of local Bay Area musicians and touring artists. The Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal is a notoriously raucous marathon of music and dance at the Starry Plough on the second Friday of every month.

Doors at 8:00pm; Show at 9:00pm
Admission is $10+
21+ after 10pm (as kitchen closes)
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The Levoná ensemble rose out of the highly acclaimed Bay Area musical “Love Sick”, and was named “Best Ensemble” at the Theatre Bay Area Awards in 2017. Master musicians from Syria, Israel, and the United States come together to weave a rich tapestry of sounds that is at once a taste of the orient, and a new creation all on its own – the kind of energy that only comes when distant cultures overlap, and celebrate their differences.
www.levona.org

Band Members
Faisal Zedan – Percussion, Vocals
Josh Mellinger – Percussion
Patrick Kelly – Bass
David McLean – Guitar
Asaf Ophir – Woodwinds, Vocals

Chubritza offers a vibrant, eclectic mix of Balkan vocal and instrumental folk music using multiple traditional and modern instruments. This Arcata-based band has been regularly featured at folk dance festivals in Central California and Oregon, has recorded 2 CDs, and had the honor of being invited for a concert tour in Israel. You will have a hard time sitting still once Chubritza gets started!
Chubritza is a savory Bulgarian table spice. The name reflects the band’s varied musical tastes and textures, while retaining a Balkan emphasis. Chubritza’s music reflects many universal themes which all people share: the passion of being in love, the sorrow of lost love, and the happiness music and dance brings to the heart.
www.chubritza.com

Performers and instruments:
Jim Case – tambura, prim, brač, guitar, mandolin
Janet Finney-Krull – flute, frula, accordion, dumbek, tupan, snare drum, bra™, vocals
Rick Kruse – bass, violin, mandolin, gudulka, tambura, čelovič, vocals
Craig Kurumada – gajda, clarinet, prim, tambura, dumbek, spoons, vocals
Meadow Lo – tambura, guitar, brač, trumpet, bass, percussion, vocals
Linnea Mandell – accordion, tambura, bugarija, tupan, dumbek, snare drum, vocals