Atila Beres

Druzina (The Suite) was formed in the year 2000. A group of musicians (folklorists, jazzmen and rockers) got together and their various adaptations of Slovak folklore songs developed into a style which they named the ethnobeat. They gave numerous live and TV performances in Slovakia and abroad (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, France) under the name Jej Druzina (Her Suite)



In the year 2001 the band released a CD titled Jej Druzina, which is still selling well all around Europe.



In the middle of the year 2002 the original band split into two fractions One of them is the band Druzina. Members of the band Aty Beres (bass), Boris Brna (drums) and Mita Almasiova (vocals) invited their musician friends Miroslav Baloga (violin), Janko Simiak (fujara, pipes, accordion), Martin Sabov (guitar, mandolin) and Dana Feriencikova (lead vocal) to join them, giving rise to a new professional project named Druzina.



Facts about the band DRUZINA:



• A bunch of folklorists, rockers and jazzmen met in the year 2000. Their adaptations of Slovak folk songs gave rise to a new style they named ethnobeat. The band, then called JEJ DRUZINA, gave concerts in Slovakia and abroad (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, France...)



• 2001 – a debut Cd titled JEJ DRUZINA was released. By August 2005 4500 copies were sold.



• 2002 – JEJ DRUZINA splits. The founding members are joined by new musicians. The band changes its name. That is the beginning of DRUZINA.



• 2003 – Druzina prepares its new album and goes touring. It becomes successful at home and abroad, especially in the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary.



• 2004 – Cd DRUZINA was released, supported by a music video. By December 2005, 3800 copies were sold.



• 2005/March – Cd DRUZINA hit the 11th place in the prestigious worldwide chart World Music Charts Europe (www.wmce.de) among ….. nominations from 165 cd all around the world.



• 2005/June – based on the great success in the World Music Charts Europe the band receives invitations from prestigious festivals in the USA, Pakistan, Australia…





• 2005/July – Cd DRUZINA found its way into hands of significant producers and renowned musicians. They got keenly interested in cooperation in recording of the next album in the USA with such great personalities as VINX, and others.



• 2005 – in the prestigious worldwide chart World Music Charts Europe (www.wmce.de) the CD of DRUŽINA came 94th out of 1005 nominated CDs from all around the world. This result is the final evaluation of the entire year 2005.



• 2006/July – New cd TRAGARE produced by VINX (ex Taj Mahal, Sting, Stevie Wonder…)



• 2006/September – Cd Tragare hit the 12th place in the prestigious worldwide chart World Music Charts Europe (www.wmce.de) among ….. nominations from 192 cd from all around the world.