“All of our groups are made up of members from a variety of local Roma communities. Most of our participants have no experience of working in the professional creative scene, but we do have a wealth of knowledge about our own Roma cultural heritage. They have the knowledge and skills.”
Janos Long, creative director of Scotland’s Roma Arts Society and Grasso, explains what makes their gigs so special.
Long said that as a result of the group’s diversity, “the audience will have the opportunity to experience Rome’s intangible cultural heritage in its purest and most authentic form.” The Glasgow-based outfit have a number of ongoing projects, but on March 8th they will bring their biggest band, the Andor Grasso Collective, to Sheffield to perform at the university’s Firth A special gig will be held at the hall.
The show will be held under the banner of TalkingGigs, a unique event series that blends musical performances with on-stage interviews and audience Q&As. Organizer Alistair Dempster told Now then that when he first heard the group’s music, he immediately thought it would “resonate in Sheffield”.
“When I like the sound of a band, I always ask myself: What can I discover there? Wouldn’t it be interesting and educational with a live interview segment that explores the culture, history and roots of the music?” Will the audience think so? Will they leave with a different understanding and an even broader perspective, having discovered more and perhaps dispelled some myths in the process? Ando Grasso ticks all the boxes I checked it.”
For Long, who is also the group’s violinist, the music’s strength comes from the collection of diverse influences into one band. He said the group “brings together the best performers from different Roma communities in Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary” and that by performing together, the musicians explore their common cultural heritage. He said he could.
Formed in 2019, the collective draws its repertoire from traditional Gypsy music, but each player also brings their own distinct musical heritage. The resulting melting pot of ideas speaks to the fact that Scotland’s Roma are a surprisingly young community.
“Roma people from Eastern Europe began arriving in Scotland about 20 years ago, settling primarily in Glasgow, but also spreading to other parts of the country,” Mr Long said. “Despite some challenges, they are doing quite well thanks to good support. They are adding to the mix of Scottish culture and have received support from various groups to help them thrive and feel more at home. There is strong support from
Founded in 2017, the broader organization ‘Ando Graso’ (Romani for ‘accordance’) aims to unite fragmented communities that are often isolated from each other and wider society. , which has secured funding from Creative Scotland to develop and build. group.
“We at Ando Graso have developed a unique way of empowering and working with Roma people by building our work on the unique Roma intangible cultural heritage,” says Long.
Prior to the show at Firth Hall, Talking Gigs will host what it calls a “social forum,” a free celebration of Roman culture with food, music, discussion and dancing. Tickets for this part of the evening are free, but must be reserved in advance.
For Dempster, who has performed dozens of gigs in Sheffield showcasing music from around the world, this show, in partnership with Sheffield University Concerts, is an unmissable opportunity to shine a spotlight on an under-appreciated musical tradition. “The Roma community clearly has a lot to offer if given the opportunity and this was a great opportunity for Ando Grasso to be heard and perhaps emulated in Sheffield.”