Matthew Baistow, Tenor Banjo & Guitar

Matthew has played guitar and banjo professionally in Australia and Ireland since 1995 in a diverse range of styles: rock, jazz, folk, world, Irish & classical. He has a Bachelor of Music honors n Composition from Newcastle University and his studies included Ethnomusicalogical research- Banjo Compostion and Performance.

Matthew received a scholarship to study honors at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He has a keen interst in Irish, Eastern European & Gypsy Swing Jazz music. His favorite all time composition is Bela Bartok's solo violin sonata for string quartets numbers 2&4

Rodrigo Salgado, Bass

Rodrigo Salgado studied Double Bass at the Conservatoruium of Gustav Hitter, Brazil. Music Composition at the University of Brazillia, Brazil & Electric Bass at Escola de Musica de Brazillia, Brazil. His music credits include: Banda80, Orquestra Motown, Trio Samauma, Banda Joao Ninguem, Rent - the Musical & MPtrio

David Carr, Guitar

David Carr has studied music from the tender age of 4 where he commence three years of violin followed by five years of Suzuki cello. He has played guitar for 10 years. David has had many inluential and inspirational teachers including: Sten Brien, James Muller & John Morris. During his Bmus.studies (musicology) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Muisc 2004, David had the opportunity to study with Judy Bailey, Bill Motzing, Lewis Cornwell, Karen Lemon & Scott Christie.

David has been performing from an early age a variety of styles including rock, jazz, classical, folk & world music. Hightlights include winning the Jim Beam NSW Stage Universities Band Competition in 2003 with Fergus Recliner. See davidcarrmusic.net for further info.

Leonid Beshlei, Accordion, Button Accordion & Sax

Leonid grew up in Bukovina which boarders the Ukraine & Romania. He started playing accordion at a very young age & went on to study Button Accordion at the Chermovtse Institute of music, Bukovina. He has played Jazz & Gypsy music all over Europe and the USSR in bands, phillharmonic & Folkoric orchestra's. Leonid has played in countless festivals and venues in Australia since his arrival in 1986.

Sarah Bedak-Rockliffe

Sarah has been surrounded by Gypsy music from an early age as her family are Hungarian Rom (Gypsy). Her Grandfather played violin & her Great Grandfather played Cimbolom for the wonderful Sandor Lakatos and for the Bobe Gaspor Erno Orkestra in Budapest Hungary. Sarah's professional singing / performing career started at age 7 when she was performing two shows a day at the Regent Theatre in Sydney. Sarah has studied Jazz Vocals through the Conservatorium of Musics Open Access program and privately with Carolyn Lynn. Previous bands include: Khamoro, Rigo Baci, Cicada & Martenista. High lights include performing every evening for audiences of up to 10,000 during the Sydney 2000 Olympics with Martenista & Legs on the Wall at Sydney's Circular Quay. Sarah's major influences are: Reg Livermore, Edith Piaf, Gypsy Salon Music, Taraf, Robbie Lakatos, Tom Waits, Peggy Lee, Jacques Brel & Bratch.

Lolo Lovina

Lolo Lovina is a dynamic six piece band based in Sydney Australia that plays mostly Gyspy Music from Eastern Europe. Our band members are from all over the world and bring tasty musical morsels from afar! We are from Brazil, Moldova (Romania / Ukraine), Gypsy from Hungary & Australia. Most songs are sung in the Gypsy language which is called Romanes.
Our line up is: two guitars, tenor banjo, violin, accordion, saxophone, accordion, bass & vocals. Our favorite artists include: Bratch, Edith Piaf, Tom Waits, Mitzu, Robbie Lakatos, Titi Winterstein, all the Reinhardts, Leo, Tarraf, Les Yeux Noir & the Paris Combo.