Blogcikkeinkben bepillantást adunk mindennapjainkba, eseményeinkbe és terveinkbe. Írásaink folyamatosan frissülnek, hogy közelebb hozzuk hozzád mindazt, amit képviselünk – a hagyományt, a közösséget, zenét, táncot és mindenek felett a kapcsolódás élményét.
We’d like to send our warmest congratulations to Adrienn Galambos and Szabolcs Tolnai on their wedding – and thank them for letting us be part of their incredible celebration! 🕊️🥂 We first met Adri and Szabi in London, and it was during a dance event that they honoured us with an invitation to their wedding – held in Kesztölc, Hungary, in a stunning venue filled with joy, laughter and love. Over the weekend, we weren’t just guests and folk musicians – we also stepped into the role of laptop DJs (yes, even folkies can mix a playlist given there is enough pressure… or palinka…or both). Our team was joined by the brilliant László Erdélyi on double bass, and supported by Borbála Máté, Ferenc Robinek, and Péter Csizmadia, our charming MC. And the vibe? Dancing until dawn, smiles all around, and yes – electric bubble machines. (Bence has found one, privatised it, we took it into our stock so it’s ours now). The food was exquisite, the venue beautiful – but most of all, it was the warmth and authenticity of the couple and their friends that made this day unforgettable. Adri and Szabi – wishing you a lifetime of happiness and harmony. What a gift it was to celebrate with you! 💚 📷 Photo by: Gergő Minya 🎻 Venue: Kostel Panzió és Rendezvényház
This time, we travelled with our Hódmezővásárhely-based team to Vidin, Bulgaria, where we celebrated the twinned town relationship once again – this time through music, shared joy, and genuine connections. We performed together with Fanni Miklós, violinist of the Róna Banda, and Ferenc Gyöngyösi, founder of the Vásárhely Folk Music School and current Deputy Mayor of Hódmezővásárhely. As always, the group was vibrant and diverse – just the way we like it. What brought everyone together was, once again, a spirit of love, flexibility, and good humour – the same attributes that accompany us wherever we go. There were a few technical curiosities (apparently, our wireless mics and the boats on the Danube were competing for the same frequencies🚢), but nothing could stop the music from flowing from the heart. Thank you, Vidin – it was a joy to play for you!
When Glyn first contacted us with the idea of surprising his bride-to-be, Magda, with a live Hungarian folk band at their wedding, we were genuinely touched. We explained it wouldn’t be easy – August is peak time for folk musicians to be away at festivals, camps or on holiday, especially those based in Hungary. Flights would be expensive, logistics tricky. But Glyn simply said: “It doesn’t matter. Magda deserves it.” And that was that. So, we hit the road. After crunching the numbers with Bence, we realised that driving all the way from Hungary would cost about the same as flying – and we could enjoy the journey along the way. Our route took us through Vienna, Frankfurt, Brussels, and even Whipsnade Zoo, before arriving at the stunning Sandon Manor, just outside Cambridge. The wedding was absolutely beautiful. The food was amazing, Glyn and Magda were radiant, and the vibe was pure joy. Magda’s bridesmaids immediately rushed to us with requests for lively Hungarian dance tunes, and later, other Hungarian guests pulled us aside for a heartfelt toast – complete with a shot (or two) of homemade pálinka. On our way back, we stopped by a lovely village church in Sandon, where the bells just happened to be ringing. Peeking inside, we discovered a bell-ringing rehearsal in full swing, and the local team welcomed us to try the ropes and look at their intricate music charts. It was a simple but magical moment – the perfect end to a beautiful weekend. To Glyn and Magda – thank you for your trust, your kindness, and for letting us be part of your story.
This summer once again saw the gathering of Hungary’s young folk music talents at the much-loved Méta Camp in Balatonboglár. Folktone founding member and violinist Ádám Rőmer took on a very special role this year: following in the footsteps of his father, the renowned Debrecen-based violinist Ottó Rőmer, Ádám led the camp’s "Vakmerők" (the “Daring Ones”) – the group of advanced violin students. To work with Ádám is to be welcomed into a living musical lineage. We’d also like to thank the Helyi Érték Association of Siófok for organising the camp with such care and quality. Ádám stood bravely and joyfully at the head of the Daring Ones – and we’re proud to call him one of our own. 🎻
This past weekend was more than just another performance abroad – it was a deeply personal journey through time. We were invited by the Róna Banda to join the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the twinned town partnership between Hódmezővásárhely and Hechingen – a milestone marked with music, dance, commemorative stamps and medals, and countless heartfelt conversations. For Tomi it was especially moving. He attended the very first such event back in 1994 as a primary school student, and now, 30 years later, he found himself among familiar faces and memories – even the accommodation was the same as 30 years ago only it had been modernised vastly. The mayors of Hechingen and Hódmezővásárhely met and jointly marked the anniversary with a public event, highlighting the importance of democratic leaderships working together and form partnerships. Our Hechingen hosts welcomed us with such warmth and kindness while we have performed on a stage erected in the main square of Hechingen. In addition to the musical and political connections, there was also a stamp and medal exhibition, a creative collaboration between the two towns that added a special touch to the celebrations. We are especially thankful to Ferenc Gyöngyösi, founder of the Vásárhely Folk Music Academy and the Róna Banda, whose work has left a lasting legacy. And heartfelt thanks to Kurt Riester and Mariann Csatlós for their support and generosity throughout the weekend. Hechingen – thank you for welcoming us again and helping turn shared history into a living connection.
Another magical, almost movie-like weekend unfolded for us in the UK – this time with the wonderful Ibolya Eszteró who spent years playing music with Bence in Szeged. Having her join us has been a shared dream for a long time – and finally, it came true. For Ibolya, visiting the UK was a bucket list dream. For us, having her here and making music together once again was pure joy. Every moment was unforgettable – from riding the London Eye, to cruising the Thames, to performing and teaching in London, Woking and Bristol – often right in the heart of a celebration. We’re incredibly grateful to the DunAvon Dance Ensemble, the Csillagszeműek Anglia folk dance group, and to Kriszta Paládi-Kovács, Gergő Paládi, Mesi, Adri and Szabi, whose efforts and enthusiasm made this tour possible. Thank you Ibolya – it’s always a joy to make music with you! And thank you to everyone who danced, listened, supported, or participated in any way, shape or form, every single one of you made a difference to our weekend.