WOMAD

Beirut

From United States

Beirut is the brainchild of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s Zach Condon, a very young musician with an astonishing career so far. At age 16 while travelling in Europe, Condon was exposed to Balkan gypsy music (a form of Eastern European Folk music). He was most notably inspired by the Boban Markovic´ Orchestra, a brass ensemble lead by the famous Serbian trumpet player. In 2006, at the worldly age of 20, he released two Balkan-inspired recordings as Beirut and went on to record three more in 2007.A shining star of the music blogging community, a forum where marketing holds no sway and all music is judged on merit, Zach Condon’s Beirut boasts fans from many music circles and walks of life, appealing as much to the World music lover as the hip Indie crowd. He successfully blends styles that are both new and old, creating something that is modern and wholly his own. Live he is accompanied by a 10-piece band and it takes a full string and brass section to tether down his wonderful sighing, somersaulting vocals. In June 2007 Beirut played the Glastonbury Festival’s Jazz and World Stage, and were widely considered one of the best acts of the festival.“… Strings, massive layers of percussions, accordians, mandolins, horns and all these good things are only enhanced by Condon’s ethereal voice and wonderous harmonies. Beirut are my new favorite band.” Reuben Bonner, Rip it Up (Oct 2007)For further information - www.myspace.com/beruit