Zarebi are excited to announce the return of Georgian songmaster Malkhaz Erkvanidze to Hebden Bridge in February. Malkhaz is in the UK on a singing workshop tour. The last workshop sold out extremely fast! we will be sending out info with booking details in January. Watch this space!
Oh my what an incredible 3 weeks of pure experience in Georgia over the summer. The adventure began at 3am arriving in the intense heat of Tbilisi, to find that our hostel room has been given to someone else... by 6am we managed to install ourselves into a nice but expensive hotel in Tbilisi old town. After a day exploring this most vibrant city, we go to bed and on Saturday the Joyous Host tour begins. Organised and led by members of Sakhioba and their director the legendary singer and researcher Malkhaz Erkvanidze, the tour takes us to many different regions of Georgia, including Guria where we gain top tips and direction for Krimanchuli (Georgian yodelling) and dancing! and Svaneti, where I even manage time to go for a lung bursting run at altitude in Ushguli, Europes highest village. We eat the most delightfull food I have ever eaten, walnut sauces, stews cooked on a cauldren all day on an open fire, pomegranite sauces and of course Kachapuri, the famous warm melted cheesy bread. After 2 weeks of hours of singing every day, eating and chatting with our delightful hosts and other tour members, its hard to say goodbye! But I'll surely be returning before too long.....
What an incredible time Zarebi had in Sweden. The acoustics in the main building are incredible and we had such a wonderful reception from the Swedish folk here, especially for our main performance on Saturday evening. The main building which sits alone in some woods, near a beautiful lake Fjord, is steeped in history. Yet now it is a dedictated space for musicians, artists and writers, and is used for performance and exhibition as well as artistic retreat. It has been used for films and photo shoots because it is simply SO atmospheric. We will be back!
