Singer Marta Topferova and bassist Tomáš Liška both had illustrious careers involving a broad spectrum of music. Milokraj (meaning “beloved land” in Czech) was born out of a deep yearning to explore the music of their roots. Within a short time, Topferova and Liška’s dynamic collaboration gave birth to stunning original songs, drawing from Czech and Moravian folklore, as well as other Slavic influences. With Moldavian hammered dulcimer player Marcel Comendant, Slovak violinist Stano Palúch, and Czech guitarist David Dorůžka, Topferova and Liška’s idea is to capture the spirit and depth of their tradition, yet to bring a fresh approach to the arrangements and interpretation.

Maqam is a stunning journey into the Middle East of the early twentieth century. “They perform in a contemporary style, but with an ear towards the more fluid and improvisatory practices of this period, before the reforms in both countries that turned them into rigid national styles.”

More information at www.facebook.com/events/452840094785015. Tickets available from www.wegottickets.com/event/211457