Dobranotch: 20 Years

It's hard to believe, but Dobranotch, the wild multicultural band from St. Petersburg, has been shaking up the folk music scene in their Russian homeland for two decades now. With plenty of anarchic energy, they play music that’s irresistibly danceable, armed with a trombone, tuba, banjo, violin, saxophone, and accordion. To celebrate their milestone anniversary, they’re delighting their many fans with a spirited “best-of” album spanning all phases of their career. The album also features rare live recordings. And, of course, they look back—almost sentimentally—on where it all began: No, not in the endless expanses of Mother Russia, but in Nantes, Brittany. There, the original lineup of Dobranotch lived in a squat, earned their meals by giving impromptu performances in the surrounding bars, and won over the stubborn folk of northern France with their unusual blend of Russian and Yiddish music and Soviet hits. Over the past 20 years, Dobranotch has steadily expanded its musical horizons and forged friendships near and far: The album features Ukrainian dance songs from the Carpathians, Bulgarian folk tunes, classics from the Ottoman era, and Moldovan harvest songs. Of course, the Dobranotch super-hit can’t be left out: their cover of the Rammstein classic “Du Hast.” Here’s to the next 20 years!