Meet YAGÓDY: Ukraine’s Folk Revival Powerhouse

Always on the hunt for new music? Buckle up, because I’ve got something truly special for you.Straight out of Ukraine, the electrifying folk group YAGÓDY is bringing their powerful, hypnotic sound to North America for the first time this spring. With primal percussion, layered vocal harmonies, and immersive, ethno-dramatic performances, this all-female ensemble is not just a band—they’re a cultural force.The women of YAGÓDY are on a mission: to preserve, revive, and reimagine the rich traditions of Ukrainian folk music. Dressed in stunning, hand-embroidered garments like the iconic Vyshyvanka, their performances are as visually striking as they are sonically unforgettable.Their sound can be raw and rebellious one moment, heartbreaking and delicate the next. YAGÓDY’s music speaks to the deep roots of their homeland—it’s a celebration of spirit, land, and lineage. Or, as they describe it:“Songs of wild tribes. The voice of your ancestors. Live energy. A dance with voices. This is how our nature smells. This is how our blood sounds.”Their self-titled debut album, YAGÓDY (2020), introduced listeners to their unique interpretations of Ukrainian, Bulgarian, and Serbian folk songs. In 2024, they captivated audiences at the Eurovision Songwriting Contest with their original piece “Tsunamia,” placing fifth in Ukraine’s national finals.Since forming in 2016, YAGÓDY has performed at major festivals across Europe, enchanting crowds in Poland, Germany, and beyond. Now, they’re poised to share their bold, evocative artistry with North American audiences.The group was founded by actress and vocalist Zoriana Dybovska, who fled Donetsk in 2014 following Russia’s military invasion and resettled in Lviv. There, she united a group of musicians and educators who shared her passion for preserving Ukrainian folk traditions. The name YAGÓDY—Ukrainian for “berries”—was first given to them by a concert announcer and stuck like folklore.What started as a grassroots collective has blossomed into a globally recognized act known for intense, ritualistic performances and genre-defying interpretations of Eastern European music.