Playing for Ukraine - the Cov Kozaks headline Stratford fundraiser
In the weeks since the invasion of Ukraine, support has sprung up across south with an abundance of fundraisers and appeals.
The 12-hour Music Marathon at The Bull pub in Old Town is one such fundraiser, where some of Stratford’s musicians will be showing their support.
Headlining the event will be Cov Kozaks, a Coventry-based band of second-generation Ukrainians, whose contemporary takes on their country’s folk music has been the result of a deep love of its music, culture and people, as drummer Andriy Buniak, explained.
“We're all born in the UK, but we've grown up within the Ukrainian community, with all the culture, traditions and heritage,” he said. “For most of us Ukrainian was our first language. We spoke it at home, we went to Ukrainian Saturday school, Ukrainian churches, and even Ukrainian social clubs; it’s basically all we knew. So that's where we were exposed to Ukrainian music, and that's ultimately how the band came together.
“The music is a kind of modern take on traditional Ukrainian folk music. We take folk songs in terms of their lyrics, but then add some more contemporary ‘British music’. It’s just our way of taking something that we know from back in the day and making it a bit more modern and accessible.”
While Andriy wants to “be out there promoting the culture, and putting a spotlight on Ukraine in contrast to all the darkness”, the question they have been asked most in the last month has been how they feel about the war.
“Every emotion that you could expect to have, we have had,” said Andriy. “It seems to be on a bit of a cycle. There was this initial shock and upset, and then there was the fear, the anger, the distress, and the feeling of helplessness. And then it’s all defiance and, ‘Let's do something, let's be proactive and positive’, and so on. So, it goes on in cycles. You build yourself up and then hear something particularly tragic that's happening, and go back round again.
“We all have family there, whether it’s uncles or whoever, but we've also got loads of friends there as well; people and musicians that we've met from going over to Ukraine on trips. They’re predominantly from the west of Ukraine, so they haven't been caught up in anything too direct yet, which is obviously fortunate for all the guys that we know who aren't allowed to leave the country – they're tied into the territorial defence, the army or the military police.
“A couple of months back one of them posted a photo on social media of him holding a guitar, and the other day he posted again, only this time he was in full military gear holding an assault rifle.”
Back in the UK, the support seen across the region has been heartening, added Andriy.
“We expected these friendly communities to respond, but it has been overwhelming, and I don't use the term lightly. At a time when you see the worst of people, like with the Russian invasion, you also see the very best of humanity as well.”
The Bull’s Music Marathon take place on Sunday, 3rd April in Old Town.
