Sweeping across Central Asia

On the 29th of april we are – as the first swedish orchestra so far – embarking on a three week tour of Central Asia. The trip will take us through the post-soviet states Kazachstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In addition to roughly ten gigs on regular music venues and festivals we will also collaborate with local pop/rock musicians, folk musicians and among other things hosting an improvisation clinic for youths in a music school in Kyrgyzstan.

This tour/music exchange trip is a collaborative effort together with Centralasiengrupperna, a swedish politically and religiously independent organisation and has been made possible with the financial support of Statens Musikverk and Malmö Kulturstöd. The project is also being documented on film by Maciej Kalymon and Michael Cavanagh.

The idea and concept for this musical journey through Central Asia came a few years ago from our good friend Gustaf Sörnmo, an excellent trumpet player who’s been working with us in many projects in the past including VED. Starting out as some kind of joke this project soon transformed into dreams and now reality. Working for Centralasiengrupperna onsite in Central Asia since years back Gustaf has good connections in these countries and is functioning as our tour manager but will also join us on trumpet, flutes etc.

We would like to give a special thanks to all the people who are helping this project with their expertise; Regina, Mr Saidbek, Nikita and the Ilkhom Theatre – just to mention a few.

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In celebration of this great event we release this new song digitally together with Adrian Recordings:

Spotify link – VED – Erickson Indirect