Every since the day I arrived in Macedonia this June, I've been hearing about this band "Foltin" that everyone said I just had to hear. From Bitola, Macedonia's second biggest city, Foltin has been making music for over ten years, and has become somewhat of an "underground" sensation, by now making the rounds to European cities from Belgrade to Paris and back. I finally got to see Foltin in Ohrid on August 1, when they performed at Gradishte Beach at 1am to a crowd of true fans (the beach is a 20-30 minute drive from the city) in a quite magical atmosphere.

As for the music, I think I'll just have to post one of the songs. The combination of accordion/synth, clarinet (with occasional effects), bass, drums and vocals leaves little room for cliche and lots of space for stretching out, though I would stop far short of calling Foltin a jam band. The high-energy vocals, party atmosphere, and occasional nod to traditional Macedonian sounds (at very least in the sound of the accordion and clarinet) are just what young Macedonian audiences want, and Foltin's giving it to them with pleasure. Here's an example of one of their hits that I just can't stop listening to:

....ok and here's one more, I can't help it.