IRDORATH
Irdorath stands alone as the only professional touring project dedicated entirely to presenting Belarusian mythology, culture and heritage to international audiences.
An Irdorath performance is pure kinetic energy: electronic beats are woven together with classical instruments (cello), medieval instruments (bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, didgeridoo) and folk vocals, creating a living, wild and physically driving sound.
Combined with the visual aesthetics of the show – handcrafted costumes and stage decor in a unified style, along with myths narrated from the stage – this creates a full immersion into a dark Belarusian fairytale: a world previously unknown and unlike any other, yet so captivating that one wants to return to it.
IRDORATH’S STORY
Following the unjust imprisonment of band leaders Nadzeya and Vladimir for their peaceful participation in Belarus’ pro-democracy movement, a wide-scale campaign for their release was organised by fans, festivals and artists across Europe. In 2023, after enduring two years in Belarusian prison, they were recognised internationally as political prisoners and forced to leave their homeland. The band now lives in exile in Berlin.
What followed their release was not the end of the story, but the beginning of a remarkable new chapter. In the 3 years that followed, Irdorath returned to the European stage, released the highly acclaimed album and art-book Bestiarium, completed two European headline tours, and performed at major festivals across the continent. The band also toured alongside acts such as D’Artagnan and In Extremo.
FIRST RELEASE IN EXILE: ‘ZORAMI’:
“Zorami was written in a colony. People like us have sung it many times, quietly and secretly, with tears in their eyes.. The song gave hope and selfbelief in this cold ocean of injustice. Yes, we got out of there, but many are still there, and we should all not forget that.” N. Irdorath
