1 Roma violinist and UK accordionist perform high-energy original Roma/Jazz influenced music with an international quartet/quintet.

Overview
Branko Ristic, described by BBC Radio 3 as a violinist ‘whom Paganini would be proud of’ has joined with Faith Ristic - a UK performer who’s ‘nimble accordion playing provides a beautiful bedrock’ The Guardian. From a foundation of ‘Serbian-Roma’ music, they have created a style that draws from both of their musical heritages and expresses their unique personal connection. Recent highlights include The Royal Festival Hall, Kustendorf Film Festival & Edinburgh Festival; WOMEX award winning album ‘Gypsy Lover’ - produced by Emir Kusturica/ Nicholas Hooper is 11th in the European World Music Charts; radio play includes BBC Radio 3 Heritage Tracks.

Biography
The duo met in Branko’s Serbian Roma village of Gornja Grabovica in 2009, and - with music as their only tool for communication - began a journey that would lead to the creation of their WOMEX award-winning album ‘Gypsy Lover’, their marriage and their success in international touring and media. Branko taught himself the violin, which became a way out of the extreme health, social and economic problems through which he lived in Serbia; he created his own music - intuitively combining sounds of Jazz, Indian, Turkish and Classical music with his Roma traditions. Now based in London, the duo are currently touring with their quartet and quintet.
They appear regularly on Balkan/Roma TV and their biographical documentary ‘Duo’, is due to be released in 2018; they are recording artists on Emir Kusturicas' latest film with Monica Belluci; toured Australia and Europe (2015) – including Enlighten Canberra, The Basement (Sydney), The Homestead (Tasmania), Vienna Roma Fest, Guca Festival and Kustendorf Film Festival; recently completed a 2016 43 - venue tour of the UK, including the Royal Festival Hall, The Southbank Centre, Echo Founders Festival with Anthony Gormley, The Caves (Edinburgh), SOAS Concert Series, The Arts Centre (Glasgow), and are the composers and producers of their WOMEX award winning album, ‘Gypsy Lover’ - recorded at Serbian film Director Emir Kusturica’s Studio, mentored by Nicholas Hooper (Composer/Harry Potter) and released with Riverboat Records/World Music Network. Recent radio play includes BBC Radio 3 Heritage Tracks, World Service with Stephen Fry and 6 Music.  'Gypsy Lover' is placed in 11th position in the European World Music Charts. 

Live Performance
Faith and Branko Ristic form the core of their high-energy live performance, combining the accordion, violin, effects pedal and tabor pipe to take the audience on a journey from melancholy Roma violin laments to storming ‘kolos’ and explorations into jazz improvisation, swing, Gypsy Rumba and Turkish and Indian influenced violin solos. These styles form a set, which – for the majority – is joyous, passionate, boisterous, fiery and spirited. Branko, predicted by UK Froots to become ‘one of the leading Roma Violinists of the century’, soars at break-neck paces whilst Faith’s ‘nimble accordion accompaniment provides a beautiful bedrock’ [The Guardian]. Branko – a self-taught virtuosic Roma violinist with a painful personal history - opens his heart in their slower compositions, revealing at times the sadness and darkness beneath the frantic virtuosic revelry. They source musicians from all over the world and currently perform as a quartet and quintet with collaborating Roma and non-Roma artists.

Press Quotes
“Musically, it’s a delight” - The Guardian
“One of my favourite new Balkan ensembles” Emir Kusturica

“Moving, breath-taking and virtuosic” - Lopa Kothari, BBC Radio 3

“Branko is set to become one of the leading Roma Violinists of the century” – Froots, UK
“Totally Amazing” - Lily Allen
“Quite remarkable musicians” - Stephen Fry, BBC World Service
“Great musicians with a fascinating stage presence” - Alex James, Blur

Video/audio links
Live video: The Royal Festival Hall - Festival of Love 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOfc16e0O64
Live video: London Performances (Hootenanny) 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwQoRYkIuX0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-sQGVwNV64
BBC Radio 3 Audio: BBC Radio World on 3 Live Session https://youtu.be/C_LLLC9-JKs
Album Audio: http://www.faithibranko.com/videoaudio

Television Press Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sts5DoKfAlQ&t=220s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueGz94yK4q0

Womex Awards: 'Gypsy Lover' In the WOMEX Top 20 WOMEX Record Label Awards 2016 https://www.womex.com/programme/womex_awards/top_20_2016

Gypsy Lover No. 11 in the European World Music Charts http://www.wmce.de/?chartUrlMonth=8&chartUrlYear=2016

Social Media links
Website: www.faithibranko.com http://www.worldmusic.net/store/item/TUG1092
Facebook: www.facebook.com/faithandbranko
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfehHmnSglCkAgOfDXwoUdQ
Twitter: https://twitter.com/faithibranko
Email: info@faithibranko.com (0044) 7575298229
Hi-Res Photos Download https://www.dropbox.com/home/Faith%20i%20Branko%20Hi-Res%20Photos
Stage Plan (Quartet and Quintet) Download http://www.faithibranko.com/biohirestech-spec/