EFN Newsletter May 2026 #42
- EFN editor
- Jun 6
- 6 min read
WELCOME AND SUMMARY
Welcome to the new edition of this communication and outreach initiative of the EFN. Feel free to forward it to your friends and colleagues. Receiving this newsletter is open to anyone for free, here. Read to the end to find out how to submit content for future editions.
This is what you'll find below:
🔹News from EFN:
▫️Reminder 2026 EFN Conference
🔸News from the members:
▫️Traditional Tunes for Tiny People + Music at Paxton, by Malena Persson, from Live Music Now Scotland
▫️Metno World Music Festival Croatia Makarska, powered by Folklorni ansambl Tempet, by Any Carević Grbić, president of FA Tempet
🔹Special content: Transylvanian Living Tradition – A Band Where Folk Music Breathes: Műhely Band
✍️ Do you want to participate? At the end of the newsletter you will find how you can contribute to future editions, whether you are an EFN member or not. And of course EFN is always looking for new members and at the end of this newsletter there is a note about how and why to join, with links to the membership pages of the website and the application form.
News from EFN
🔸REMINDER 2026 EFN Conference: dates and location announced
Almeria (Spain), 13 & 14 november 2026
The conference will be hosted by EFN Member Fundación Indaliana para la Música y las Artes (Clasijazz), whose venue offers facilities for plenary sessions, breakout groups, catering and performances.
Follow us on social media to stay up to date.
REGISTRATION for the conference and info on travel and hotels will be announced early in June and posted on the EFN website.
News from the members
🔹Traditional Tunes for Tiny People + Music at Paxton
By Malena Persson, from Live Music Now Scotland
Traditional music for families at The Maltings, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Traditional Tunes for Tiny People performances encourage early musical engagement through singing, movement, and participation, helping families to bring music into everyday life. The project supports accessible, relaxed concert experiences and introduces traditional Scottish music in an inclusive and playful way.
Live Music Now Scotland, Music at Paxton and The Maltings present two relaxed mini concerts for families at The Maltings at Hide Hill, offering an engaging introduction to traditional music for audiences of all ages. Details: Sunday 21 June 2026, 12pm & 2pm: Mairi McGillivray (voice, fiddle) and Katie Allen (guitar, fiddle) (in the picture). More info, here.
Traditional music into a chamber music festival setting: Music at Paxton
We’re especially excited to be bringing traditional music into a chamber music festival setting, taking place in the beautiful Scottish Borders in June and July. Music at Paxton, in association with Live Music Now Scotland, welcomes accordionist and pianist Rachel Campbell and fiddler Holli Scott for their first performance at the venue in the Scottish Borders. More info, here.
🔹Metno Worel Music Festival Croatia Makarska, Powered by Folklorni ansambl Tempet
By Any Carević Grbić, president of FA Tempet
Metno World Music Festival will take place on 19–20 June 2026 in Makarska, Croatia, at the open-air monument site on Glavica Hill in the centre of the town. Organised by Folklorni ansambl Tempet, the festival has been presenting international world music artists in Makarska for 18 years through a volunteer-based cultural initiative.
The 2026 edition features Dubioza Kolektiv, South African collective BCUC, Croatian band Veja, and Angolan-born artist Lucia de Carvalho. The programme also includes visual installations by Lina Rica, performances by Tondini, and additional activities such as a world music DJ event and a festival boat programme along the Makarska Riviera.
More information and Festival updates, here.
Instagram: @Metno_fest
Festival partners: City of Makarska, Makarska Tourist Board, Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Split-Dalmatia County, Ožujsko, RMR and Makarska Danas.
Tickets, here.
Special content
Transylvanian Living Tradition – A Band Where Folk Music Breathes: Műhely Band
By Kovács Réka
Our short interview presents a new formation made up of experienced musicians—get to know the Transylvanian Műhely Band. A young yet deeply rooted band introduces itself—one for whom folk music is not a reflection of the past, but a living, breathing reality. In this interview, they talk about their beginnings, inspirations, first album, and future plans, while offering insight into the creative workshop where tradition and freedom meet.
1. Who are you? How did your musical collaboration begin?
Our band was formed in Târgu Mureș (Marosvásárhely - Transylvania) in 2024 as a folk music creative workshop. It was founded by four of us: violinists Zoltán Bartis and László Ficzus, Barna Attila Bakos, who plays double bass and cello, and Mátyás Brassai on viola. Our band didn’t last long without a soloist, so later that same year, at our invitation, singer Róbert Szabó joined us. At the beginning of 2026, our ensemble became complete with our friend from Vojvodina (Serbia), Zsombor Cseszák, who also plays the cimbalom.
2. What kind of music do you play? What are your main musical roots and sources of inspiration?
We see folk music as an incredibly rich and colorful spiritual treasure. The musical roots of our members are very diverse, but we share strong inspiration from, for example, the captivating music of the musicians from Sic and a deeper knowledge of the folk music of the Mureș region. For us, the workshop is not a strict tradition-preserving research program, but a living space. We play Transylvanian music that feels good to us—whether rare or well-known, simple or intricate—the important thing is that we find joy in it.
3. Your first album was recently released. What should we know about it?
The core idea behind our album is one of the most important pillars of our existence: to preserve sound memories that also reflect our own musical taste. As our first album, we chose the title “Let’s Get Started!”, which presents the essence of our workshop work. By reinterpreting the music of our favorite masters, we fulfill long-held aspirations.
The album contains eight compilations, selected from the music of different regions. The recordings include our favorite melodies from the musical traditions of Săvădisla, Sic, Petrilaca de Mureș, Huedin, Feleacu, Eliseni, Palatca, Suplac and Șieu.
For now, the album is available only online, but we intend to release it in physical format as well.
4. For whom and with what purpose do you play? What do you want to convey to your audience through your music?
Our primary goal is to play freely and with joy, and we want to pass this joy of music on to our audience. That’s why we perform concerts, accompany performances, or play for dance houses. We believe that folk music is not nostalgia, but a dialogue between past and future—and we also have something to add to it. We don’t aim to “save” tradition, but simply to enjoy it, and we hope the audience can experience the beauty of our folk culture with us in every note.
5. What are your plans? Where is the band heading now?
For us, being folk musicians is a mission. Our future plans are also defined by this workshop approach: just as before, we are not rushing or forcing things. We will continue doing what we love and aim to bring this authentic musical genre to as many people as possible.
6. How can traditional Transylvanian folk music still be presented on stage in a fresh and exciting way today?
For us, the key lies in the search for and discovery of authenticity. We believe that the true freedom of this genre lies precisely in its authenticity. We have created a living space where all those who love this music can belong. This workshop-like, free and joyful music-making is what we strive to convey on stage as well.
You find our music on Spotify, Youtube and Aple Music.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS NEWSLETTER
Are you already a member? Then, remember that you can submit contents for this monthly newsletter. Email your content to efneditors@gmail.com, for these sections:
· News from EFN Members. Brief announcements – of around 100 words and a link.
· Featured artist. - A profile with around 200 words, an embedded video and one link. Members are invited to submit profiles, considering solo and ensemble living or not living artists who have achieved lifelong artistic and technical quality or historical significance in the field of folk art from or developed in or settled in Europe. If you have any artists in mind that you'd like to feature, please ask in advance, just to be sure there is no other member already doing it.
And whether you are a member or not, you can participate in this section:
· Special sections. For instance, an interview with someone from an institution that is not a member or a thematic article by a guest writer or anything that can appear and be considered as interesting. This section can also host guest writers that are not members. If you'd like to share any content, contact us in advance to agree on the topic and the approach and to schedule it by emailing efneditors@gmail.com
Of course, self promotional articles lacking interest won't be accepted. In case of doubt, the EFN board will be consulted and will decide.
BECOMING A MEMBER?
EFN membership is growing rapidly – why not join the network of traditional arts organisers and artists that stretches across Europe from the Irish Sea to the Baltic, the Mediterranean to the Black Sea? Find out more about membership and download an application form from www.europeanfolknetwork.com/membership.
DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT EFN MORE?
The EFN welcomes donations. We do a lot with little money. Imagine what we can do with a little more :) Let us know how much you want to donate and we'll issue an invoice for your organization.
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