Traditional Hungarian folk music is one of the most important Hungarian national values, a real Hungaricum. It is well-known outside the borders of Hungary and this could be mainly thanked to Muzsikás due to their international tours and success. As the most well-known and wanted Hungarian folk band they have toured the whole world from the USA to Australia and from Stockholm to Taiwan and introduced the world to Hungarian music. The WOMEX awarded Hungarian band was a huge success in...

For those who want to discover something unique of nowadays world music we recommend Moana & The Tribe, a band coming from New Zealand.

Representing the region with psychedelic gypsy beats, Tako Lako, is a band coming from Copenhagen with Serbian and Danish musicians, making something new out of the well-known Balkan characteristics.

For sure the Latin rhythms cannot be missed either. Those who liked Che Sudaka last year can start their dance training as Catalan rumba kings, La Pegatina will be performing some excellent and danceable tunes.

From the history of the stage one of the most memorable performers, the Bosnian Dubioza Kolektiv is beloved for their fusion music of dub, ska, rock and Balkan sounds.

Csík band celebrates its 25th anniversary at Sziget, with a help of famous Hungarian guest musicians. For many years the band was known mainly for their folk music; however they took an unexpected turn. Csík Band mixed folk and rock music in such an interesting and successful way that it might be said that a new genre was born. They did not only revitalize rock music with folk, but integrated it by preserving the traditions and emotions of folk music, while keeping an eye on the...

Warsaw Village Band is well-known now for last year’s album ‘Nord’ focusing on the Slavic, Scandinavian and Sami traditions.

One of the most known Roma bands, Parno Graszt in collaboration with the French Latcho Drom is also a must-see show for those into the wilder side of world music. The Roma music ensemble was founded in 1987. The international audience took notice of them in 2002, when their debut album Hit the piano reached No.7. on the World Music Chart Europe. Even BBC produced a music documentary about them in 2004. Parno Graszt means ‘white horse’ in Romani language. In Roma culture white...

Hungary became visible on the ska map thanks to Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra, also promising us a strong and entertaining gig on the World Music Party Stage in 2013. When PASO first rode with the new international wave of ska 10 years ago, they set afloat the Hungarian ska community and their concerts quickly became an event you wouldn’t want to miss. Meanwhile, PASO gathered fans internationally too and released its albums at one of the most respected ska record labels,...

Racid Taha was born in Algeria in 1958, but has been living in France since 1968. He made his name in the early ’80s with his novelty rai rock band called Carte de Séjour. After the break up of his band he started his solo career, and developed his very own rock and techno style rai music. However his biggest success came with his nostalgic acoustic album, 1998’s Diwan in which he paid tribute to his masters and merged various North-African styles. The album was followed up...

The previous years saw many Central and Eastern European bands breaking through in the international world music scene, which makes them inevitable for the line-up of Sziget’s thematic stage. The number one choice has to be Ukraine’s DakhaBrakha, knowing everything about Slavic music, while combining their sounds with electronic tunes and instruments from all over the world. They toured the world from Western-Europe to Australia with more than 300 stops and now they come to...

Shutka Roma Rap is also a very exciting collaboration of a Macedonian brass-band and rappers from Shutka, near Skopje.

With their unique style, the American Calexico is mixing alterock and Mexican mariachi music, arriving to Sziget Festival this year with touring their new album ‘Algiers’.

We know what to expect from the Balkan punk’n’roll star Emir Kusturica And The No Smoking Orchestra, as they have conquered the audience at last year’s Sziget.

One of the top world music bands in the Czech republic which has already made audience in 15 countries (including Pakistan, Reunion, Malaysia) dance with its original ethnic fusion full of wild rhythms and spiced with rock roots. Forget loops, samples and other electronic stuff. This music bursting with amazing energy is 100% live! The last CD, Faÿt was for 3 months in the top 20 in the World music charts Europe (No. 12, 10, 17 in January 2012-November 2011), No. 98 in the...

Within the Central and Eastern European focus, we cannot forget the biggest Hungarian bands either. The world-known tambur music of Söndörgő is one of them. Söndörgő is one of the most interesting and active world music groups in Hungary. Their style is quite different from the traditional fiddle-ler Hungarian repertoire, but draws you in for sure. Their aim is to foster and preserve Southern Slavic traditions of the Serbs and Croats as found in various settlements in...

The crowd of Sziget every year expects the most popular African bands to introduce themselves at the event. This year Mokoomba from Zimbabwe will be the coolest of all: in their Pan-African music you can find everything that is important to make African music irresistible.

At the end of the 90s a new band popped up in the clubs of Saint Petersburg and Moscow, and in no time the old empire was seduced. There was no doubt about it that Leningrad became the flag bearer of the 21st century underground scene in the region. “I’ve drunk everything / Beer, wine and brandy / Still I want to fuck / I might be a sex maniac”– says a typical Leningrad verse, and the music beats out a similar tune, accompanied by the kind of penetrating distress...

The Polish R.U.T.A. is also very fascinating. Their members coming from folk and punk background are not seeking compromises: they are a true revolutionary band singing lyrics from the medieval ages when peasants were uprising against the land owners.

Last year’s big success “spaghetti Balkan” band the Figli Di Madre Ignota plays from the rich menu of ska and rock.

Besh o droM’s music blends folk and contemporary instruments (including cimbalom and turntables, for instance), in styles ranging from jazz to world music. The band draws its musical basis from Transylvanian, Jewish, Armenian, Lebanese, Afghan, Egyptian, Bulgarian, Romanian and Greek tunes. Their name in Lovari means ’ride the road’ – just like horses. With thousands of miles behind them, beaming happiness and unstoppable stamping of the feet accompany them wherever they...

We should also look around in the Balkan part of the line-up! Fanfara Tirana meets Transglobal Underground is the meeting point between an Albanian brass-band and British ethno-techno, this time coming together in Kabatronics their new album.