Although Tipsy Oxcart was formed in Brooklyn, their influences come from around the world. The band’s Balkan-inspired music includes elements of jazz, ska, reggae, klezmer, funk, and rock blended with dance tunes of Eastern Europe. Most of all, their music is fun, and exudes a party vibe of celebration.

On Friday, July 17, the band will bring their global sound to the mountains in a performance at The Crow & Quill in downtown Asheville. This concert will celebrate the band’s new album, Upside Down, released last May, as well as its accompanying cookbook, Cooking with Tipsy Oxcart, which celebrates the rich culture of food from the Balkans.

While the members of this quintet aren’t from the Balkans, they share a love for the music of that area, and bring experiences of their own to the mix. “We play music that … reflects our listening habits and backgrounds, which are all over the map,” says accordion player Jeremy Bloom, who honed his skill while busking in Istanbul and playing at Turkish village celebrations. “We’re not trying to reproduce this unreachable authentic sound. We’re not getting lost in the details. We’re having a lot of fun.”

The group’s name comes from a Bulgarian folk tale of a cart driver who, as he is hauling a load of grape brandy up a mountain, takes liberal sips from his tempting cargo. The musical magic in Tipsy Oxcart’s work blends Brooklyn beats and all-night Balkan wedding dances, and the result is a party that you won’t want to miss.