We have caught a ton of good music over the last 2 weeks. We started it off with Kék Nyul on the A38, and then caught Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins at Ellato Kert, the Beaux Jaxon Blues Quartet at Kadarka, The Poosta Ramblers at Kadarka, and finally, the seemingly inappropriately named Eugenia Formation at Potkulcs.

The Mookie Brando Concert was a  subdued affair compared to some of their more rocking gigs. The band sat around a small stage and previewed their much awaited third studio album, "Lust, Longing and Redemption." 

Enikő Bóna: bass, flute, vocals
Mookie Brando: vocals, guitar
Christopher Parsons: guitar
Marco Randria: guitar, vocals
Greg Zeigler: percussion, vocals

The 12 song album can now be downloaded via the band's own website, CD Baby or through Amazon and itunes.

You can also see the band's first music video here.

The Beaux Jaxon Blues Quartet is a recent formation featuring Beaux Jaxon (The Poosta Ramblers), as well as a number of other fine musicians., notably Hungarian Rock legend Vörös Gábor (Ossian, Piramis) on bass guitar, Oláh Gábor (Caramel) and keyboardist Horváth Zsolt (Deak Bill). Considering the amount of equipment they have to lug around, the family friendly atmosphere offered by the conveniently located Kadarka, and the fact that Beaux really likes his dry red, it is no surprise that the band has become a regular Sunday matinee feature. On the other hand, this is a very talented blues band, and I would like to truly hear them sometime in a proper loud and live concert environment. They are playing Sunday, January  12th at Kadarka again from 16:30-20:00. Special guest Mookie Brando will open the show with an acoustic set of his fine music!

The Poosta Ramblers graced the Kadarka stage the following Sunday, made special by the temporary return of Jerome and Fiona to the line-up. Jerome is busy with musical projects across Europe, while Fiona went off and got herself married in the US. An otherwise very enjoyable afternoon of great country music was slightly marred by the 1 hour late start. We would have been happy to stay longer.

The seemingly inappropriately and oddly named Eugenia Formation put my anxieties to rest when I discovered the origins of their name was not Nazi genetics, but rather a disgustingly flavoured cookie. Considering also that the band plays Balkan, roma and Jewish folk-rock, this is a relief. We just happened to be at Potkulcs to celebrate both Greg Zeigler's 30th (gasp, the babe!) and Martin Curtis' birthdays conveniently at the same place on the same night - and caught the last few minutes of their act. Lead singers Aliz Miklusicsák and Júlia Fazakas projected high energy and a joy for life. The show was a lot of fun, and we look forward to catching them again some time. Special mention should also go to mandolin player Peter Varga.

Valentin Desmarmites - sax
Dávid Szemző - guitar
Robert Dakowicz - tango harmonica
Arpad Beothy - percussion
Varga Péter - mandolin
Júlia Fazakas - vocals
Aliz Miklusicsák - vocals