Music from Eastern Europe and beyond...

The name Beskydy refers to the Beskydy mountain range, which runs through the three main regions of former Czechoslovakia - Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia.

The music of Beskydy is largely inspired by the music from that region but also includes music from Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey and from the Jewish Klezmer and Jewish-Hungarian tradition.

The band's origins

The band has its origins in the Czechoslovak music and dance tradition brought to England in the 1950s by Hedda Klingerova. The dance group she founded is now called the Beskydy Dancers. The band Beskydy formed initially around this dance group, and still performs with them at folk festivals and other events throughout southern England and occasionally further afield.

In 1995 the band extended its membership and repertoire, and started to develop activities independently of the dance group. The band has six core members and it is sometimes joined by one or two others from a small number of 'support musicians' - depending on the event and instruments required.