Google them, and you will mostly find Punčke billed as a punk band. But that is not nearly the whole story. They could just as well be described as an alt-rock, indie or maybe even grunge band. All of this is by design, as they are actively eschewing a single descriptor.
Brainswitch (Balkan Express 173)
Brainswitch are a five-member outfit from Mostar, one of the oldest and most iconic cities in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Known around the world for their Ottoman-era bridge and its tragic fate and resurrection, the city is also home to contemporary sounds that could be placed in Berlin or New York, just as well.
Kawaski 3P (Balkan Express 172)
As a seven-member act and with a wide variety of musical instruments at their disposal, punk turns out to be a very broad description of Kawasaki 3P and their music. Check them out on this week’s Balkan Express.
Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša (Balkan Express 171)
This week, Balkan Express makes a stop in Serbia to take a look at band named Kanda, Kodža i Nebojša. While they are usually billed as an alt-rock band, their music encompasses everything from funk, soul, reggae, jazz and, yes, alt-rock
Vrpca (Balkan Express 168)
Music of Vrpca is, for the lack of a better word, urban. If it weren’t for the language, you might have well mistaken then from any of the alternative rock bands this side of the language barrier. Check them out in this week's Balkan Express.
Masharik (Balkan Express 160)
Masharik hail from Radovljica, a town in North-Central Slovenia. They are a curious combination of old and new music as they carry more than a few references to the flower-power era, both musically and visually. Check them out in this week’s Balkan Express.
Štrajk mozga (Balkan Express 154)
Štrajk Mozga are frontman Aleksandar Nikčević, bass guitarist Dušan Mijušković, guitarist Dušan Dobrilović and drummer Novica Stanišić. And if media reports are to be believed, this Montenegrin band is already hard at work on their second album. Check them out in this week’s Balkan Express.
Deca Loših Muzičara (Balkan Express 153)
If you thought nepo-babies are a recent invention then you haven’t heard about Deca Loših Muzičara, a tongue-in-cheek Serbian funk-rock band. They’ve been around since late ‘80s (more or less) and their tunes are still fun.
Bajaga (Balkan Express 151)
Bajaga i Instruktori came about just as the Yugoslav rock scene was peaking. Quickly, they established themselves as cornerstones of Serbian rock music and became popular in the rest of the country, and internationally as well. Check them out in this week’s Balkan Express on Ara City Radio.
Laka (Balkan Express 146)
Laka was a latecomer to the Bosnian musical scene. At least in terms of recording his first track which he did in only in 1998, almost at the age of 30. But by then he had already acquired a bit of a rebelious streak.
Roma Child (Balkan Express 135)
Roma Child’s EP Matador is a mixture of surf- and punk-rock, and a rock and roll tour the force which would not be out of place on a surf beach. Or on a road trip gone wrong. This week on Balkan Express on Ara City Radio.