The band MOVA and Albert Tsukrenko

Did you know that Ukrainian funk of the 1970s sounds just as groovy and energetic as Western hits of that era?

On March 26, the band MOVA and Albert Tsukrenko invite you to a concert dedicated to the music of Volodymyr Ivasyuk, where legendary melodies of the 70s will receive a fresh new sound.
What to expect? Funky grooves, dynamic live performance, recognizable Ivasyuk songs, and the emotional spirit of the Ukrainian 1970s.

The First Performers of Ivasyuk’s Songs
Volodymyr Ivasyuk is the author of more than 150 songs, including the legendary hits “Chervona Ruta,” “Vodohrai,” and “Only Love Blooms Once.” He is considered one of the founders of Ukrainian pop music.
One of the first performers of Ivasyuk’s songs was Lidiya Vidash. The composer entrusted her with the premiere performances of his works “I Will Go to the Distant Mountains,” “Fairy Tale of the Mountains,” “Echo of Your Footsteps,” and “Chestnuts.”
Sofia Rotaru played a key role in bringing Ivasyuk’s songs to the stage. Performing his works became a defining moment in the singer’s artistic rise.
Nazariy Yaremchuk and Vasyl Zinkevych shaped the sound of Ukrainian pop music in the 1970s. Together with them, Ivasyuk performed “Chervona Ruta”—the song that made his name known throughout the country and became a symbol of a new Ukrainian pop era.
“Mustached Funk”
Ukrainian “mustached funk,” though born under Soviet censorship, fully matched global musical trends of the time. At the same time, it had a distinctive Ukrainian flavor. Syncopated, elastic rhythms typical of Western Ukrainian music resonated naturally with the groove of global funk.
For ensembles such as Kobza, Smerichka, Arnika, Vodohrai, and Berezen, funk was not a borrowed style but a natural continuation of their own tradition. This very sound will form the foundation of the concert program.
Concert Program
MOVA and Tsukrenko will showcase the wide musical palette of that era. Albert Tsukrenko—an eccentric host and dedicated researcher of Ukrainian pop music—will share stories about the creation of the songs and present rare archival video and audio recordings, allowing the audience to fully immerse themselves in the 1970s.
The stage will feature both well-known Ivasyuk hits such as “Everyone Has Their Own Spring,” “Invite Me into Your Dreams,” and “The Song Will Be Among Us,” as well as lesser-known funk tracks from the 70s that reveal a broader musical landscape of the time.
Performed by the band MOVA, these retro songs will sound in arrangements that faithfully recreate the original compositions. Guest musicians will join the quartet on stage.

Performing for You
Band MOVA:
Olha Stetsenko (vocals, guitar)
Marian Karpinskyi (bass guitar)
Ivan Korop (guitar)
Andrii Yuskevych (drums)
Also featuring:
Yevhenii Dubovyk (keyboards)
Ihor Boichuk (trumpet)
Nazar Vachevskyi (saxophone)
And special guests (stay tuned for announcements).
The memory of Ivasyuk’s songs lives on in the hearts of several generations. Become part of this атмосферic musical evening and rediscover new dimensions of beloved melodies!