Tomorrow is the day… and the night: Budapest Ritmo kicks off its 2025 edition and celebrates its 10th anniversary. And it couldn’t mark the occasion in a better — or louder — way than by welcoming, among others, Rézeleje Fanfárosok to the stage.

Bold, brassy, and deeply rooted in tradition, Rézeleje Fanfárosok are breathing new life into the folk sounds of Eastern Europe. Formed in 2020, the Budapest-based septet rework Moldavian Csángó melodies, Romanian muzică populară, and Balkan dance tunes into a vibrant, horn-led sound that’s unmistakably their own. With a line-up rarely seen in Hungarian folk — featuring trumpet, trombone, saxophones and accordion — they’ve carved out a distinct voice in the country’s evolving folk and world music scene. As much fanfare as they are folk band, they bring a rare mix of raw energy and musical curiosity to dance houses, festivals, and street corners alike.

A few days ago, while the ensemble was midway through their 12-leg European tour, we caught up with saxophonist Bence Antonovits for a Q&A about beginnings, boundary-blurring sounds, and why tradition doesn’t mean standing still.

Could you share the story behind the formation of Rézeleje Fanfárosok? What inspired you to come together as a band, and how and why did that happen during the Covid lockdowns?

Márton Udvardi [trumpeter with Rézeleje Fanfárosok] and I both studied at the Egressy Béni Music School under the guidance of PéterBede, a pioneer in playing Moldavian Csángó music with a fanfare band in Hungary. We’re still studying there today. We approached Péter and asked him to teach us the same songs so we could practise together. After a while, we invited some friends to join us—first an accordionist, then a drummer—and soon, more musicians came on board. That’s how the band was born, within the walls of the legendary Dürer Keleti Blokk, a former hub for underground artists near the city park. The building has since been turned into a fancy hotel after the artists were displaced.

Your music blends Moldavian, Romanian, and Balkan folk traditions. What drew you to these particular styles, and how do you integrate them into your sound? How do you ensure authenticity when blending such diverse musical influences?

The band comes from two distinct backgrounds: some of us come from the folk scene, while others have a background in jazz. Those from the folk scene originally played traditional Csángó music. I’d say Péter Bede’s influence was key as well, especially since we were learning Moldavian Csángó and Romanian fanfare music directly from him.

We try to create a tasteful mix of traditional Csángó, Hungarian, Romanian and Balkan music, the modern music of these regions—especially Romania—and our own melodies, spiced with some jazzy ideas.

As a brass orchestra, you evoke the atmosphere of lively Hungarian weddings and Balkan dance parties. How do you capture and convey the energy of those celebrations in your performances?

In Hungary, folklore is very much a living tradition. If you visit Budapest, you’ll find folk dance events happening daily, where people dance traditional Hungarian steps to live music. That’s where we got our start. Originally, we were a dancehouse band, playing at these events specifically for dancers. The connection between musicians and dancers is what makes the music come alive. Dancers communicate with us through their movements, and as musicians, it’s our job to respond to their mood and the flow of the dance.

Even when performing at festivals or to audiences unfamiliar with folk dancing, we aim to channel that same energy. The vibe changes depending on the crowd. For example, in Brussels, people really enjoy this kind of music and dance along, even if they don’t know the traditional steps. In Hungary, though, Balkan music doesn’t have the same impact unless there are folk dancers present.

You’ve performed at festivals and venues across Hungary and Europe. How do live performances shape your relationship with audiences? Do you adapt your setlist or energy depending on the event?

As I mentioned earlier, we started as a dancehouse band, and the music for Csángó dances is quite specific: short, repetitive tunes that work best with dancers. On their own, they’re not varied enough to hold an audience’s attention if no one’s dancing.

But as we started getting invitations to play festivals and community events without folk dancers, we developed a more concert-friendly repertoire. Initially, our setlists weren’t planned—we improvised before shows—but last year we decided to take a more structured approach. That said, we still adapt to each occasion. If the audience is seated, we might play more jazzy or slower tunes. At festivals, we keep the energy up. Sometimes, dancers show up unexpectedly, and then we switch from the concert set to dance melodies.

In a time when musical tastes are constantly shifting and fragmenting, how do you balance staying true to traditional folk roots while keeping your music engaging for younger audiences?

Honestly, I don’t think of our music as traditional in the strict sense, so I’m not rigid about that. We don’t choose songs based on what we think the audience expects; we go with what we enjoy. I’m probably the one who thinks most about the audience—like, “We need something that fits a festival vibe”—but even then, it’s more about finding melodies we connect with. We have a group chat just for sharing tunes. If one resonates, we work on it. We also write our own pieces and add them to the repertoire if everyone’s into it.

The Hungarian music scene covers a broad spectrum of genres and traditions. Where do you see Rézeleje Fanfárosok within that landscape, and how do you see yourselves contributing to the evolution of folk music?

We’ll likely continue playing at dancehouses, there’s something really special about them, and we all feel a deep connection to that scene. At the same time, we’re developing a more world music–oriented repertoire. It’s hard to say definitively where we’re headed, we feel like we’re on the verge of the next big step and are still figuring it out.

Traditional dancehouses (táncház) still play a vital role in Hungarian folk culture. How do you engage with the táncház movement, and what role do live, participatory performances play in your approach to folk music?

I can’t say too much more about it, but there’s an ongoing debate within the scene about whether it’s acceptable to play our kind of music in traditional dancehouses. Personally, I think it is if you, as a musician, are conscious of what you’re playing. That’s also why I don’t label our music as folk music. In Hungarian, “folk music” specifically refers to traditional music. In other languages, there’s more distinction between “folk” and “traditional.” We aim to convey the spirit of folk melodies that are still alive in their original environments but reinterpret them with modern instruments and the lively sound of a brass band. Many amazing bands in Hungary play traditional folk music, but Rézeleje offers something different.

Being based in Budapest, a city known for its eclectic music scene, how has the local environment influenced your artistic direction? What role has the city played in your development?

Being in Budapest is definitely an advantage. Hungary is very centralised in terms of culture. I’ve seen incredible bands in the countryside that struggle to progress simply because they’re not based near the capital, even if their music is better than that of more recognised acts here.

Budapest gives us access to a vibrant cultural scene. The centralisation means we’ve had opportunities that might not have been possible if we were based elsewhere. Unfortunately, great talent outside the capital often goes unnoticed.

Your EP Beköszönő, your latest release, draws on Csángó Hungarian traditions and Romanian muzica populară. Can you talk us through the creative process behind it? How did you choose the pieces and approach arranging and recording them?

We actually released another, shorter EP last December, which came from recording a dance choreography. We decided to cut two parts and release them. But Beköszönő was a much more thoughtful project.

It features a Hungarian hora (‘Honnat Madár Nem Jő Erre’) based on traditional Csángó melodies, a Romanian hora (‘Demizson’) inspired by Romanian tunes, and a final track (‘Szentiváni Hetes’), partly composed by Márton Udvardi, where we added a jazz touch. Beköszönő is a key milestone for the band. Though it’s only 16 and a half minutes long, it captures where we began, where we are now, and the musical influences that shape who we are.

You use a line-up centred around brass instruments, which are unusual for this type of folk music in Hungary. How does this shape your sound and set you apart?

Our lead instruments are saxophones and trumpet, which is a common setup in Romania. We’re heavily influenced by the Romanian fanfare tradition. The trumpet makes us stand out in Hungary, where most fanfare bands rely solely on saxophones.

In a digital-first world, how do you maintain the integrity and spirit of folk traditions while building new audiences online?

I don’t see a contradiction. We’re active on most social media platforms, where we share videos and photos from our performances and promote upcoming events. We don’t create meaningless viral content just to play the algorithm. A lot of Balkan musicians use platforms like TikTok to upload their new melodies, making it an endless source of new music. We can learn from each other faster than ever before.

Let’s talk about your upcoming performance at Budapest Ritmo. This year marks the festival’s 10th anniversary. What does playing this milestone edition mean to you, and how do you think Ritmo contributes to the visibility of world music in Hungary?

I’ve never taken part in Budapest Ritmo before. But the organiser, Hangvető, supports Hungarian artists in many ways, and it’s great to have such an organisation here in Hungary.

Looking ahead, what’s next for Rézeleje Fanfárosok? Are there new projects, collaborations or musical directions you’re excited about? How do you see the band evolving?

We’re planning to release our first full album this autumn. We already have some collaboration ideas in the works, but we’ll definitely stay true to our style. This year, for the first time, we’re attending showcase events. Three, in fact: in Tallinn, Budapest and Sofia. We hope these will open doors internationally. There’s also growing interest in us playing not just Moldavian Csángó music, but other Hungarian folk dialects like Bukovinai. So we’re working on developing a more traditional side to the band, while continuing to write original melodies, taking inspiration from the Balkan scene.

Follow Rézeleje Fanfárosok on Instagram, Facebook, and Bandcamp
and stay tuned for their upcoming album!

Photo ©: Viktor Kádár