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Vardos

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vardos is an all-female violin/accordion/double bass gypsy trio based in Melbourne, Australia, known for their energetic performance style. Formed by Alana Hunt (violin) in Perth in 1993,[1] Vardos relocated to Melbourne in 1998 where Sofia Chapman (accordion) joined the band.[2] Kate Hosking (bass) joined later[3] and was replaced by Melinda McCarthy (double bass) in 2003.[4] Indra Buraczewska played double bass with Vardos from 2005- 2011 along with Frances Evans. Multi-instrumentalist Kirri Büchler took over on double bass in 2012.[5][6] Hunt and Chapman have made trips to eastern Europe to study with folk and Romani musicians[7] and have recorded six albums.

Vardos have toured to New Caledonia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Hungary, Amsterdam, London and the Edinburgh Fringe[8] and have made cameo appearances on television including Spicks and Specks[9] and Seachange on ABC television,[10] and Painted Lady, a film about artist Vali Myers, shown on SBS in Australia, and the BBC news in Scotland. Vardos' version of Kylie Minogue's "I Should Be So Lucky" can be heard on the compilation CD "This is the Place for a Song"[11] which was a finalist for an Aria award for Best World Music Album 2005.

Discography

[edit]
  • Vardos (1999)
  • Entertaining Countess Dracula (2002)
  • Wild Side of the Village (2006)
  • Until it's time to go (2011)
  • Palazzo Party (2017)
  • The Top Secret Violin Case (2020)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "It's just the gypsy in their soul", Hobart Mercury, 22 March 2007
  2. ^ Schenken, Natalie (1 November 2004), "From Transylvania with love", Moreland Leader
  3. ^ Bazzani, Rozzi (12 February 2003), "Capturing the gypsy", Herald Sun
  4. ^ Schenken, Natalie (1 November 2004), "From Transylvania with love", Moreland Leader
  5. ^ "Musical gypsies make their own luck", MX (Australia), 14 July 2005
  6. ^ Young, Kane (14 July 2005), "Trio's show a taste of Eastern Europe", Hobart Mercury
  7. ^ Poulos, Dannielle (9 April 2000), "Vardos driven by spirit of the gypsies", Sunday Herald Sun
  8. ^ "Two gigs of gypsy-folk", Hobart Mercury, 7 August 2008
  9. ^ "In short", The Advertiser, 7 January 2010
  10. ^ "It's just the gypsy in their . . . sound", Hobart Mercury, 27 December 2007
  11. ^ Cuthbertson, Ian (14 July 2005), "How to make magic", The Australian