The video for "Hora Cosmica" is almost ready. The cartoon part of it was made in June. And the video-part was shot on the 14th of October by clip-maker Igor Cobileanski and animation producer Alexandra Evseeva in Moldovan sand-pit "Pruncul", near Vatra village. The sand-pit convincingly played the role of the Martian landscape, and the Zdubs, in their pilot and fireman costumes, were acting as if they are partly cosmonauts, partly Martians. The sand-pit landscape looked not only like Mars surface, but also like an American canyon, and sometimes it felt like some angry painted Indians were hiding behind the hillock... Well, maybe it was wine’s fault, who knows... And the result of all it? - a great performance with a lot of humor in Zdub si Zdub style.

We would like to express our special thanks to the head of "Pruncul" sand-pit for the place, to the military aerodrome Marculesti and Department of Exceptional Situations for the offered costumes.
And, of course, many thanks to our Martian friends!

On 20.10.2006, at 22:00, in Malersaal, Deutsches Schauspielhaus, Hamburg, Germany, Zdob si Zdub will participate in the final public presentation “pictures from the East – relations docking tour 01”.
We are invited by “relations” which is a cultural project that, in collaboration with curators, scientists and artists from various regions in Eastern European countries and Germany, is developing a number of projects with the relations between art, politics and history in the particular local context. The “relations” docking tour focuses on seven cities where “relations” has engaged in intensive exchange with cultural actors over the past four years: Chi?in?u, Sofia, Pristina, Sarajevo, Warsaw, Zagreb, and Ljubljana.
More information about the project - www.projekt-relations.de
Come to our concert and together we’ll break the imaginary East-West wall.

It is not a secret that Moldova is known for its wines and… the band “Zdob si Zdub”.
This was one more time proved by the fact that Michael Palin, the man that films for “BBC-Prime” the most interesting things from Europe and around the world, wanted Zdubs in the chapter “Moldova” of his new documentary film “New Europe”.

Note: Wanderlust Magazine had recently nominated Michael Palin as one of the top ten explorers of all time, and the only one actually alive!

To film a full of life ethno-alternative band, for BBC, namely for the whole world and for the future generations – Michael Palin came with an enviable proposal, which Zdubs accepted gladly. The shooting place was chosen – where else, if not in Valeni, in Grandma’s courtyard, where Zdubs spent a great time last year, after Eurovision?

Zdubs together with Michael Palin and the film crew paid a visit to the big and welcoming Bejenaru family. Zdubs held a spectacular concert, watched by Michael Palin and the team, Bejenaru family and all villagers tempted by the joyful ethno-rock chords.

Michael Palin was fascinated – to see and to film in the same time the authentic folklore and a national celebrity – a 2-in-1 cocktail with all inclusive – dances on a homespun carpet laid in Boonika’s courtyard, lively songs, children’s curious faces, delicious dishes (and just to tease you, we’ll say what was on Bejenaru’s table – fish soup (a lot of fishing in river Prut was done for it), duck with noodles, feta cheese, fresh vegetables from Grandma’s garden and of course wine – everything was homemade!) and a good talk with the Zdubs… There was something to remember!

What Michael Palin saw and filmed will be shown on BBC Prime, in the “New Europe” documentary, in 2007. Till then, have a look in Media/Photo.

The Zdubs’ gigantic productivity and the cosmic energy enable them to have an extra-full of shows and concerts program. It is not a wonder that this summer Zdubs were present at almost all the important festivals, beginning with Roskilde Festival (Denmark) and Peninsula (Romania) and recently ending with Krylia (Russia) and Staryi Melnik (Moldova).
So, the concert monograph of the guys from Straseni is enriched with:

20.07.06 – Chisinau, “Moscova” Complex – Summer concert Zdob si Zdub and Cuibul (pure rock’n’roll, as it is said)!
It is very intricate to play at home, Roman says, because here everybody knows us, all our songs were listened for thousands of times and the public is permanently waiting for something new and original. In this case, a concert at home requires three times more preparation and more emotions. Besides these, just before the concert, you get some telephone calls from friends and relatives and your concentration disappears somewhere far away, hiding behind Mars.
In the beginning, this concert was contemplated as a video release (of the song “Miorita”), but, on Roman’s insistence, it became a simple summer concert that charged the public with positive energy for several good weeks.
Around 1400 good people gathered, both, the grown-up generation that came to see once again the idols of their youth, as well as the young generation that was eager for a healthy “doze” of “Zdob si Zdub performance”.
Mister X as a showman (Roman came with the idea to have an absurd person that would speak absurd things; in this case, you forget where you are and you get the pleasure in its pure state, pleads “haiduc” Iagupov), the Osoianu Sisters for back-vocals, the dancers for the song “Maria Blues” and the support of the legendary rock’n’roll-ers from “Cuibul” helped Zdubs to perform a honorable concert.
The performance showed everybody how to make “mamaliga” to boil in the air and the wine to jump on the tongue straight from the jug.
Zdubs ended the show with the cover of the legendary song “In the Deathcar” (Goran Bregovic/Iggy Pop), because, as Roman says, the song is very up-to-date for Moldova’s situation. We are growing up and we understand where we live and what is happening around us. Got the point?

29.07.06 – “Staryi Melnik” Festival, Chisinau, Moldova!
The younger brother of the “Krylia” Festival (English – Wings), “Staryi Melnik” (English – Old Miller), was at its 3rd edition this year. Chisinau was a host for “Staryi Melnik” Festival, which gathered well-known bands, as Bravo, Va-Bank, Nogu Svelo, Pilot and Nocinye Snaipery (Russia) plus Alternosfera, Cuibul (with a successful returning), ExNN, Gandul Matei (Moldova) and this is not all. Twelve hours of drive, beer, good will and rock’n’roll! Headliners – Zdob si Zdub!
Although they played at home, Zdubs were dissatisfied with the show. Firstly, 45 minutes for the headliners is so not enough, secondly – the big distance between the public and the stage (there was a lack of contact with the people and, of course, a lack of feedback that are necessary, especially for such music as ours), thirdly – the organizers’ attitude towards the Moldovan bands (at a moment, Nicu Tarna (Gandul Matei) was not allowed to come to the backstage).
We couldn’t have a normal soundcheck, Roman says, we had the impression that the festival didn’t end after our show, there was no logic end that is more than necessary for a grand festival.
The presence of some bands from Ukraine and Romania would have been very welcomed.
In the end, letting aside the drawbacks of the “Staryi Melnik” 3rd edition, let’s turn to the good part: firstly, a more than active public (that rose tons of dust in the air and shouts of content). Roman and Mihai discussed a lot with A.F.Sklear, the leader of Va-Bank, a good friend of Zdubs and a true rocker. Afterwards, the Zdubs watched with a lot of pleasure the excellent performance of the guys from Va-Bank. It is great that finally we have a festival. When we were teenagers, we didn’t have the possibility to go to festivals, Romans says. There were no such in Moldova and we are glad that now we have one! Rock on!

30.07.06 – Krylia, Tushino, Moscow, Russia!
On the next morning, after “Staryi Melnik”, Zdubs headed to Moscow, in order to participate in one of the hugest festivals of Russia – Krylia! The performance of the bands Ceaif, Cicerina, Auktsion, Mashina Vremeni, Bloodhound Gang, Soulfly! Two days of nonconformist craziness with a public of almost 70.000 people. A festival where you can still feel the echo of the tragic past, Roman says (mentioning the terrorist attack at Krylia from three years ago), but nevertheless it didn’t lose its freedom spirit.
Before the show, the Zdubs offered a “fluier” (Roman bought it in Transilvania five years ago) for the contest organized on the festival’s website. The person that correctly answered to all the questions related to Zdob si Zdub history is a charming lady, Olga Vokina from Novosibirsk.
We liked the performance of the Russian band F.A.Q, Mihai says, and, of course, of Soulfly (Max Cavalera seems to never get old). After Soulfly’s performance, it was funny to see that on stage appears the Russian band Ceaif saying “we are the alternative’s alternative” :)
We put accent on the older songs, but you can do almost nothing in 33 minutes (it was our time), the public just begins to catch the rhythm.
Generally, Zdubs mostly communicated with their friends (Pashtet, Serghei Galanin, A.F.Sklear) from the Russian bands and with the media. The music and the bands on the stage remained only in the public’s attention for this time.
P.S. – I have the impression that a festival would succeed more with fewer bands, this way they will have more time to unfetter the public, Roman says. Out of all the festivals we participated this year, the best ones were from Roskilde (Denmark), Baile Tusnad (Romania) and Krylia (Yekaterinburg, Russia). Nevertheless we are satisfied that we managed to perform in so many places. Zdubs go on and continue to carry the banner of rock’n’roll in the real freedom spirit. Peace boys and girls!
Photos in Media/Photo.

The most significant concerts in August: 12.08 – Cosmote, Mamaia, RO; 18.08 – Tuborg Fest, Vama Veche, RO; 27.08 – Independence Day, Piata Marii Adunari Nationale, ?hisinau, MD

Roskilde Festival – one of the most prestigious festivals in the world, with a tradition of 35 years. During its editions, the festival gathered well-known names of the international stage: Oasis, The Cult, Iggy Pop, Sonic Youth, Bob Dylan, The Cure, Faith No More, Lenny Kravitz, Paul Oakenfold, Soundgarden, Blur, Chemical Brothers, Faithless, Deftones, Tool, Marilyn Manson, Metallica, REM etc. Each year Roskilde Festival is the point of attraction for almost 100000 persons.

So, the 29th of June, 18:00 o’clock, Ballroom stage! Two ladies of Viking-type, in bright red dresses as if stolen from David's Lynch dreams, appear on stage and announce: They played with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Emir Kusturica, Biohazard and many more! Now they are here, please welcome, Zdob si Zdub from Moldova!
Roskilde festival is officially open!

Zdubs passed another festival of vast proportions! According to Roman's sayings, Roskilde is probably the most important event in Zdob si Zdub’s career, after Sziget Festival. Eight days of over-energy, several stages, more than 75000 people and bands that ought to be seen at least one time in your life! A festival of the intellectual punkers (according to Roman’s definition), of the teenagers for whom the freedom spirit and the pure rock’n’roll feelings prevail over the consumerism era.
The Zdubs’ concert gathered around 4000 people and even if our “haidouks” didn’t really manage to do a good sound-check, the 90-minutes show proved everybody that Zdob si Zdub is a real rock’n’roll band. Roman preferred a more or less simple stage image: a traditional skirt, sneakers, the naked bust, a bottle of French wine and a ram mask.
“We were watching this kind of festivals on MTV in 90s, Mihai says, that time we didn’t even imagine us ever playing at such an event”.
Zdubs (namely Roman, Mihai and Igor Dinga) stayed at the festival for four days and they had the chance to discover some extraordinary bands: Sigur Ros (an excellent fusion of alternative and ambient that fascinated Mihai), Kaiser Orchestra and Ruben Ramos & Mexican Revolution (a Southern band that “exploded” the stage).
Let’s leave aside the music for awhile and see Denmark and Roskilde Festival from a different point of view. Roman tells: First of all, the deficiency of WCs was well felt, but this didn't seem a problem for the nonconformist public of Roskilde. At one point, I thought – too band I didn’t take my old sneakers to Roskilde, because there it felt like – the more you look untidy, the better you are welcomed. We got to be the witnesses of a nudists' marathon, something new for our eyes.

As concerns the forces of order, the policemen looked rather funny at this festival; you could say that this is not the police, but some dressed-up nonconformists.
During these four days in Denmark, Roman mostly ate Mexican food (which is exxxtra-piquant)! We were longing for a homemade soup, Roman says. Roman bought a Chinese military peaked cap from Denmark, Mihai – a pair of cool sneakers and that's all.
Also, in Denmark, Zdubs met their old friend from Moldova, Vladimir Kacianov (former member of the Moldovan band "Chad"); now he is established there. All over we go we meet our Moldovan friends.
In the end, Roman realized that good festivals as this one were held in Moldova several years ago and if we want to do something, we don’t have to leave for West. Let’s better take some example from them,
Peace, Love and Rock'N'Roll!