Biography

Balkan Paradise Orchestra (BPO) was born in early 2015 as a result of friendship, a fascination for the “Balkan brass” genre, and the desire to create a different fanfare in the city of Barcelona. What started as a project of street music and small stages has become a unique and groundbreaking band of ten brass, woodwind, and percussion instrumentalists that has toured numerous festivals in Europe and North America.

At its beginnings, Balkan Paradise Orchestra performed the repertoire of artists from the Balkan region, mainly from Serbia and Romania, hence the origin of the band’s name. Progressively, they began to create their own songs and mix different rhythms and melodies from the Iberian Peninsula and beyond, resulting in eclectic and festive music. Each member has a distinct musical background, which enriches the group’s compositions. Some have been trained in classical music performance, while others come from jazz and modern music.

One of the most striking aspects of BPO is its diverse audience worldwide. The band has an amazing ability to generate empathy with each person in the crowd, regardless of age. They place special emphasis on the staging of their concerts, delivering an energetic, powerful, and choreographed live performance. This genuine desire to have fun and let loose without inhibitions was born from playing at street music and circus festivals, where they improvised choreographies and interactions with the audience. Thanks to these experiences, Balkan Paradise Orchestra now offers a stage show that conveys joy, the urge to dance, and celebrates teamwork.

Throughout their career, they have released three albums, an EP, and have won numerous awards: Cabal Musical Project – Taller de Músics de Barcelona (2015), 1st prize Haizetara – International Street Music Competition in Amorebieta-Etxano, Euskadi (2017), Sons de la Mediterrània (2017), Enderrock – Best Folk Album by popular vote (2018), Revelation Artist – Alicia Awards (2019), and Best International Tour – Arc Awards (2022).

Their latest album, Nèctar (2024), is inspired by the world of bees, teamwork, personal and collective effort, and the desire to live intensely, with full awareness and without inhibitions—to fly, travel, embrace, and savor every moment and every corner of the world. Above all, Nèctar represents the beehive, the family, the daily work, and the constant struggle behind the BPO project.

Nèctar is primarily an instrumental album that blends diverse styles and genres, though some vocal parts are also featured. It includes collaborations with Meritxell Neddermann on synthesizers and the singers of the band Maruja Limón. This new album plays with several signature BPO sounds, ranging from danceable and festive tracks that flirt with electronic, pop, or disco music to calmer, acoustic songs with Balkan influences.

The presentation tour of Nèctar (2024) has been a success both in Barcelona and Madrid and has led them to perform in seven different countries, including a tour across the U.S. They also collaborated on a music video for Vogue Spain for Día de Muertos with the artist Natalia Lafourcade, creating an interesting fusion between songs from BPO’s new album and those of the renowned Mexican singer. In 2025, Balkan Paradise Orchestra continues the journey with its Nèctar Tour, returning to France, Germany, Italy, the U.S., and Canada in what will be its most international tour to date.