Biography
Besh o droM, founded in Budapest in 1999, is an emblematic band of the 2000s, an era marked by the rise of world music and the craze for Balkan sounds. The band's name was chosen in a context where, in Hungary, Gypsy music was in vogue and the word “Drom” (road in Romanes) was widely used, as evidenced by such emblematic names as Latcho Drom, Ando Drom or Romano Drom. Besh o droM is an invented expression, a play on words, a nose joke that could be translated as “sitting on the road rolling (joints)”. The name reflects the dreamy, bohemian spirit of the youth of the time, marked by the omnipresence of Balkan music and the dream of a European Union open to the East.
Pioneers in the blending of genres in Eastern music, Besh o droM boldly combine Gypsy traditions, Hungarian songs and Balkan rhythms. By adding oriental influences, rock and hip-hop, the group overturns codes and creates an electrifying fusion. Their compositions, often inspired by revisited traditional songs, display an infectious energy and instrumental richness that have been setting European stages alight for over two decades.
Their latest album, Hova lesz a séta? (2024), whose title translates as “And where do we go for a walk?”, echoes a recurring question asked by Hungarian police to young people in the 1980s-1990s. With this historical nod, Besh o droM deliver an album where ska rhythms, Esperanto tunes and traditional melodies intertwine to create a unique musical experience.
The band's history is also marked by personal and political events. The two founding members, Gergely Barcza and Ádám Pettik, have left Hungary in recent years, partly for political reasons, continuing their artistic creation within the group.
With a career spanning more than two decades, Besh o droM remains an essential reference for Balkan and Eastern European world music. Their music, a true celebration of diversity and cultural exchange, continues to resonate beyond borders, testifying to their ability to combine traditional heritage with innovation.
Available on tour 2025-2026
25th Anniversary Tour