SÖNDÖRGŐ'S REPERTOIRES

SÖNDÖRGŐ'S XXX 

2024 marked a turning point for Söndörgő with the release of Gyezz, featuring jazz icon Chris Potter. The album achieved widespread acclaim, topping both the World Music Charts Europe and Songlines.

As part of the ensemble's 30th anniversary in 2025, Söndörgő released XXX and toured from Europe to the Osaka World Expo. As part of this milestone, they were appointed Ensemble of the Season at Müpa, Budapest. With the first two sold-out residency concerts at Müpa showcasing their folk, classical, and jazz repertoire and featuring collaborations with Márta Sebestyén, the Balanescu Quartet, and members of Snarky Puppy: a genre-crossing vision to be captured in the 2026 live album, In Residence at Müpa.

In the past Söndörgő has collaborated with Avi Avital, Vilde Frang, Maxim Risanov, Barnabas Kelemen, Daniel Hope & Budapest Festival Orchestra.

After three decades, Söndörgő continues to redefine South Slavic and Balkan musical traditions. Not as fixed heritage, but as a living, evolving source of inspiration.

BARTÓK REIMAGINED

Bartók Reimagined: Söndörgő transforms field recordings into a living contemporary classical language.

Bartók’s legacy, his ethnomusicological fieldwork, his fascination with rhythmic asymmetry, modal harmony, and the elemental force of rural music, runs like a current through Söndörgő’s work. Their performances reveal how Bartók’s compositional language grew organically from folk sources, and how those same sources can still speak powerfully within contemporary concert settings. Söndörgő’s music moves fluidly between tightly structured forms and explosive rhythmic drive, echoing Bartók’s own synthesis of tradition and innovation.

In Bartók Reimagined, the world of Béla Bartók comes to life. Söndörgő performs alongside a local academic string ensemble, with vivid storytelling projections to introduce the audience to the life story of the seminal Hungarian composer who remains the primary source of Söndörgő’s inspiration.

FACTS

  • Söndörgő has been selected for a showcase at FIMU Belford

  • The first two Söndörgő residency concerts were sold out, the upcoming third concert is soon to be sold out


  • Söndörgő has developed a new program called Bartók Reimagined, where they transform Bartok's field recordings into a living contemporary classical language. Söndörgő collaborates with a local string quartet for this performance, blending live music with video projections to introduce the audience to Béla Bartók's legacy.

  • On September 5 Söndörgő released their latest album - XXX - celebrating their 30 year anniversary. A compilation of live tracks, reworks and new music. It was received to critical acclaim by media such as Songlines (4/5), Lira (SE), JazzJournal (UK). It received airplay by, a.o. BBC, Around The World Radio, Concertzender.

  • XXX has been nominated for the category Best Album at the Songlines Music Awards 2025

  • Söndörgő has been selected for a showcase at Classical:Next 2026 Budapest


  • In the season 2025/2026 Söndörgő is the artist in residence at the Müpa (Palace of Arts) in Budapest. They will host three evenings, subjecting each of their musical directions - Folk, Jazz and Classical. Guests musicians include:
  • Three of the Snarky Puppy's: Michael League, Jai Jennings and Chris Bullock
  • Sebestyén Márta
  • Balanscu Quartet

These concerts will be recorded and released as a live album in 2026

  • In September Söndörgő embarked on their first ever Japan tour, with great success. It was a fully sold out tour, with concerts in Tokyo, Chiba, Kashiwa, Niigata and Kanazawa, ending with a concert at the WORLD EXPO OSAKA.

  • Söndörgő has finished their first leg of the XXX tour with shows in Japan, France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Czechia, Serbia and of course Hungary. The second leg will happen in February and March.


  • Söndörgő's album, Gyezz, was released in June 2024 through GroundUP Music and features renowned saxophonist Chris Potter. Gyezz charted #1 on many charts, including the WMCE and TOTW (Songlines). Gyezz was up for consideration during the Grammy Awards (2024).

ABOUT

The primordial nature of traditional music, the sophistication of classical compositions, the energies of rock music and the purity of Bartók's thinking characterize the Hungarian band Söndörgő, one of the most exciting, innovative and successful bands on the international world music scene.


When Söndörgő was formed more than a quarter of a century ago, the members were still children and practically grew up along with the band. Four of the five members are part of the same family of musicians: three brothers (Aaron, Benjamin and Salamon Eredics) and a cousin (David Eredics). Their spiritual backbone is the legendary Vujicsics Ensemble, which has been playing authentic South Slavic folk music for close to fifty years: father and uncle figures, along with other Eredics musicians. Thus, in accordance with Zoltán Kodály’s ideals, the musical education of the members of Söndörgő began nine months before their birth. They are deeply acquainted with the roots of their musical world, even in a scholarly way if necessary (all four Eredics members teach at the Department of Folk Music of the Budapest Academy of Music), but what they are truly interested in is not what traditional music once meant, but what it can mean today and tomorrow. 


The year 2024 marked a pivotal turning point for the band, ushering in a new era of growth and creative exploration. The band set the stage for the much-anticipated release of their transformative album "Gyezz" in the summer of the same year, featuring the illustrious jazz saxophonist Chris Potter. Gyezz has garnered rave reviews, with Jazzwise (★★★★) naming them “both authentic custodians of Southern Slavic music and its radical future." and Songlines (★★★★) calling it a “A thrilling tour de force.” Besides this, the album reached #1 on the World Music Charts Europe, as well as #1 on the Top Of The World Songlines charts.


In 2025, Söndörgő celebrates its 30th anniversary with a special season marking this milestone. To commemorate the occasion, the band is releasing an anniversary album featuring some of the most memorable pieces from the past three decades, alongside brand-new compositions. In Hungary, the band has been given a prestigious role: Müpa has selected them as the Ensemble of the Season, ensuring multiple performances at this renowned venue. 

 

The 30th anniversary is not just a milestone for Söndörgő—it’s a moment of renewed energy, reaffirming the band’s commitment to reimagining South Slavic and Balkan musical traditions in a contemporary way.

REVIEWS

Songlines (UK) (4 Stars)

" This fast kolo ring (Balkan folk) dance speeds up to a furious pace, with fingers flying and gasps and cheers from the audience."


Jazz-fun.de (DE)

"A musical journey through distant landscapes and music history"

"An ambitious crossover world jazz album full of tension, surprises, folklore, and - at its core - jazz" (2024)

Jazzwise (UK) (4 stars)

"For over 25 years, the Hungarian quintet of three brothers Eredics plus a cousin and a mate have established themselves as both authentic custodians of Southern Slavic music and its radical future."

Trouw (NL) (4 stars)

"Astounding synergy leads to virtuosic performance. Music on the cutting edge that branches out in all directions yet remains a cohesive whole."

Jazzism (NL)

"A story that absolutely needs to be listened to" (2024)

London Jazz News (UK)

“The whole album is great fun, and clearly sits firmly in its local roots, but is nevertheless full of exciting improvisation – definitely a jazz album – and great fun at that!”

Blogfoolk (IT)

"Fascinating, to listen to and listen to again, for the richness of the proposed musical material and the compositional and interpretative ideas."


Jazzma (HU)

“This album may have been the album of the year, and not only in Hungarian terms.”


Luminous Dash (BE)

"Partly rehearsed, partly improvised, the ad hoc sextet delivers over three-quarters of an hour of musical joy that will undoubtedly create a fantastic celebration live."

CHARTS

World Music Chart Europe (WMCE) - September 2024 - #1

Top Of The World (Songlines) - August 2024 - #1

Transglobal Music Chart - August 2024 - #19

Europe Jazz Media Chart - September 2024 - #no rating

NOTABLE FESTIVALS

Sziget Festival (HU, 2018)

Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival (DE, 2022)

WOMEX (ES, 2014)

Winnipeg Folk Festival (USA, 2015)

WOMAD (UK, 2014)

Mawazine Rabat (MA, 2014)

Festival Dranouter (2016)

Bardentreffen (2018)

Horizonte Weltmusikfestival (2018)

Ethno Port Festival (PL, 2014)

Globaltica (PL, 2024),

Lowlands Festival (NL)

Roskilde Festival (DK)

Rudolstadt-Festival (D)

Nancy Jazz Pulsations (FR, 2015)

NOTABLE VENUES

MüPa - Palace Of Arts (HU)

TivoliVredenburg (NL)

Bimhuis (NL)

Academy Budapest (HU)

Opera de Lyon (FR)

Bozar (BE)

Barbican (GB)

Luxembourg Philharmonie (LU)

Wiener Konzerthaus (DE)

Café de la Danse (FR)

Old Town School of Folk Music (USA)

Joe's Pub (USA)

Wiener Konzerthaus (AT)

De Centrale (BE)

Théâtre Molière (BE)

Budapest Park (HU)

Queen Elisabeth Hall (GB)

Moods (CH)

LSO St Lukes (GB)

DISCOGRAPHY COLLABORATED WITH

2025 – Söndörgő XXX (30th anniversary compilation)

2024 – Gyezz (feat. Chris Potter) (studio album)

2019 – Nyolc 8 Nyolc (studio album)

2018 – Szikra (with Amsterdam Klezmer Band) (studio album)

2016 – Live Wires (live album)

2014 – Tamburocket: Hungarian Fireworks (studio album)

2011 – Tamburising: Lost Music of the Balkans (studio album)

2008 – In Concert (feat. Ferus Mustafov) (live album)

2006 – Oj Javore (studio album)

2001 – Oj Stari (studio album)

Chris Potter

Snarky Puppy: Michael League, Yayennings, Chris Bullock

Avi Avital

Vilde Frang

Maxim Risanov

Barnabas Kelemen

Daniel Hope

Budapest Festival Orchestra

Amsterdam Klezmer Band

Márta Sebestyén

Fercho Mustafov

Bako Jovanović

Balanescu Quartet

Konyha

CONTACT

Management

3S Music Management

Hugo Haasjes

hugo@3smusic.com

Agent GSA

Dake Event for DACH

Daniel Zein

daniel.zein@dake-prinzip.de

Agent Benelux

Dox Live

Walter Wilhelm

walter@

https://live.dox.amsterdam/

Agent Hungary

AKM

Melinda Rácz

melinda@akmm.hu

Agent France

LMD PRODUCTIONS

Maïté Dhelin

maite@maitemusic.com

https://fr.maitemusic.com/

Agent Japan

Real & True Company - Office Ohsawa

Tomoyuki Ohsawa

ohs@spn2.speednet.ne.jp

https://bigstream.main.jp/company.html