TOWNSHEND >> This Saturday, a taste of the Middle East will be coming to Townshend.
Tipsy Oxcart – a band based out of New York City – will be bringing their unique blend of Balkan music, which combines the sounds of south-eastern Europe with elements of funk, rock and jazz, to On The Ground Performances in Townshend.
The band's accordion player Jeremy Bloom said that although people may not necessarily have been directly exposed to Balkan music, they still relate to it because of the plethora of influences that are evident within the sound. In addition, Bloom said the band – whose second album "Upside Down" will be released on May 12 – has added even more elements, which also allows people to connect with it.
Tipsy Oxcart's clarinet player, Connell Thompson, expressed similar sentiments.
"Usually when we play for people who haven't heard the music before I get the sense that they connect with it in a way that they're not used to because of the traditional folk like background element that's in there and that's kind of with Balkan music what I find people listening to," said Thompson. "They maybe haven't been exposed to that music, but there's something about the way those melodies are played that instantly connects and kind of brings you to the middle of the Balkans, or to the Middle East, and sounds very natural. It just seems very familiar to them and maybe makes them reminisce about something else that happened in their lives."
Tipsy Oxcart's performance at On The Ground came about through their bass player Ayal Tsubery. The band was looking to perform a show in Vermont. In researching bands in the area to partner with, Tsubery came across the reggae band Heirloom Seeds – who recently put out their new album "Kebra." One of the members of the band, Dan Rostov, knew the owner of On The Ground, Luis Torres.
"They connected with me probably three or four months ago looking for a band to team up with and a venue to play," said Rostov. "I listened to them and I was like that's some real good gypsie, Balkan [music]. So, I decided to try to book a gig with them and then Luis stepped up with On The Ground in Townshend so it kind of became a natural thing to bring them into a show."
Though Torres said he had never heard Tipsy Oxcart's music, he felt comfortable booking them based on Rostov's recommendation.
"Dan Rostov he's been our partner in a way for six years now and every time that Danny recommends something it's a safe bet," said Torres.
Heirloom Seeds will be one of the two bands opening for Tipsy Oxcart along with Yubin Hadd – On The Ground's in-house band for which Torres is the bassist.
In the past when Tipsy Oxcart has played in smaller venues and communities, Bloom said that the experiences have always been positive.
"You get this sense that community can be a lot stronger and we always come away from it making friends and having a really great experience, not only for the concert itself, but after the concert," said Bloom. "We always have an amazing experience staying in that place for the night and getting to know the town's people."
For Torres, what he hopes to achieve through the performance – which correlates with On The Ground's mission – is to create an atmosphere of education and appreciation for the arts.
"I always hope that people realize how alive art and culture can be if you just open your heart because if you create the right atmosphere you allow people to be themselves and you bring music and food and people that you love together it compliments itself so I always hope for that," said Torres. "You don't really know what's going to happen, you just try to trust your instincts because you want the best that you could achieve for that moment."
The event, entitled May-We-Dance, takes place on Saturday, May 9. Doors open at 7 p.m. and there is a $10 cover charge.
On The Ground is located at 2710 Grafton Road along Route 35.