The music of the band Pallawatsch, which means hotchpotch in Hungarian/Viennese, has its origin in traditional, eastern European Klezmer, whose influences come from Transylvania, Greece, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and the Orient, joined into driving feast- and wedding music. Pallawatsch intrigues with expressive Yiddish songs and thrilling Klezmer tunes as well as with driving dances. Those dances they will explain and show to the interested audience in a dance workshop that is taking place a few hours earlier.

Up to that point in time, we will have presented you with exceedingly little Irish/Scottish folk compared to the last years. We will remedy that with the next two bands. First will be the young band, Zund. Its members are mainly from the Viennese Sessione scene. With their Irish Funk program comprised of Folk songs and tunes, Zund will carry you with speed and verve from the Wackelstein over to the green isle.

It is our great pleasure to have the opportunity this year to welcome three highly talented Scottish musicians at the festival. Originally, we had thought to present a more traditional Scottish folk band to you but when we came accross Halcyon we decided, as we sometimes are prone to do, for a more unconventional approach. Halcyon is one of the most exciting new acts to recently emerge from the vibrant Scottish music scene. Accordion, Scottish border pipes, guitar and whistles combine with electro/techno and dance to a cutting edge sound that blends the old and new. Halcyon will take us on a journey fusing traditional and contemporary Scottish and worldly melodies with big synths, beats and epic soundscapes. Expect old tunes, strathpseys and reels, morphing with new musical forms, big grooves, spontaneous improvisation and chunky melodic riffs. We are very much looking forward to Halcyon, and hope that they will excite you as much as they do us.