Bios

Christos Govetas was born in the village of Proti in the province of Serres in Greek Macedonia. He is a well-known singer and an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. Since emmigrating to the US in 1978 he has played classical Turkish music with The Eurasia Ensemble, Greek, Turkish and Arabic music with Karaváni and regional Balkan music with Tito's Revenge and Akshámbelah in the Boston area. He has performed extensively world-wide and has taught and performed Greek regional music at music and dance workshops throughout the U.S. Currently he performs traditional Greek music with the nationally known bi-coastal band Ziyiá as well as with Pangéo in his present hometown, Seattle. Christos is the 1999 recipient of the prestigious Washington State Arts Fellowship Award honoring his cultural contribution to the Greek-American and Folk dance communities. He is also a member of Grammy nominated Bill Frisell’s Intercontinental Quartet.

Ruth Hunter has been singing and playing music of the Balkans since the early ‘80s. She has taught and performed at Balkan music and dance camps throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Before moving to Seattle she played and sang with Medna Usta, The Bay Area Balkan Ensemble, The Balkan Noyz Boyz and The Balkan Appliances in the San Francisco Bay area and with Karaváni, Akshámbela and Tito’s Revenge in the Boston area. She now lives in Seattle and plays and sings with the traditional Greek group Pangéo, the Balkan-European quartet Cerise as well as Sultána.

Dave Bartley plays mandolin, guitar, cittern, tambura and numerous other plucked instruments. He has also written scores of tunes, some of which are working their way into repertoires around the country. Dave is a force in the contradance world, playing with KGB, BAG o’Tricks, Close Call and Tricky Brits. Dave has studied and played music of the Balkans and has played with local dance-troupe Radost, global songstress Gina Sala, Balkan dance-band Aegean View as well as Pangéo.

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