About the band
Biography
About Balkazar & frontman Marko ↗
Short bio
Balkazar is a five-piece band based in Taipei, playing Balkan and Eastern European folk songs with electric guitar, brass, ska and rock. We’ve performed at Urban Nomad, Taiwan Ska Fest, Daniel Pearl World Music Day, Tiger Mountain Ramble, Taipei Veggie Fest and city-sponsored cultural events.
Full bio
Balkazar is a Taipei-based band rooted in traditional music from Serbia, the Balkans and Eastern Europe. We rearrange folk melodies with vocals, electric guitar, bass, drums, trombone and saxophone, drawing on Romani music, ska, reggae and rock. Our live history includes multiple Urban Nomad festivals, Taiwan Ska Fest (2018), Daniel Pearl World Music Day (2018), Tiger Mountain Ramble (2018), Shilin Residence Chrysanthemum Show (2019), Taipei Veggie Fest (2021 and 2023), Celebration Canada (2019, 2022 and 2026), and the European Christmas Market. In May 2019, Balkazar backed Fermín Muguruza of Kortatu during his live show at Triangle, Taipei. The Taipei Times once described Balkazar as a “Balkan reggae-ska outfit.” We play music festivals, venues, cultural events and private shows across Taiwan.
Press
Press & selected bookings
In the press
“Balkan reggae-ska outfit Balkazar.”
— Han Cheung, Taipei Times, Apr 23, 2021 · Read ↗
“Taste it, and you won’t stop dancing. More than a concert, listening to Balkazar is a journey.”
— Urban Nomad Film Festival, official artist bio · Read ↗
Selected bookings
See past festival shows, photos and videos ↗
- Urban Nomad / Urban Freakout — 2017 press ↗, 2019 organizer listing ↗ and 2020 organizer listing ↗; Taipei
- Taiwan Ska Fest ↗ — August 31, 2018, PIPE Live House, Taipei; Skaraoke also performed
- Daniel Pearl World Music Day ↗ — September 23, 2018; Hakka Cultural Park main stage, Taipei
- Tiger Mountain Ramble ↗ — December 8, 2018; Taipei
- Shilin Residence Chrysanthemum Show ↗ — November 30, 2019; city-sponsored Balkan concert
- Fermín Muguruza ska night — May 17, 2019, Triangle, Taipei ↗; Balkazar named in Urban Nomad concert coverage
- Taipei Veggie Fest — 2021 festival lineup ↗ and 2023 news coverage ↗
- Celebration Canada — 2019 appearance in the band’s video archive; 2022 lineup ↗ and 2026 lineup ↗; Taipei
- European Christmas Market ↗ — returning appearances in Taipei; next show December 3, 2026
Bars, clubs, live houses & holiday shows ↗ — Bobwundaye, Sappho Live Jazz, Revolver, James Joyce Irish Bar, Red Room Rendezvous, PIPE Live House, Triangle, DAMN Bar, MAJI Square stage and New Year’s Eve at Cijin Beach.
Onstage collaboration
In 2019 at Triangle, Balkazar performed as the backing band for Fermín Muguruza, known for Kortatu. See concert coverage and our collaborations history ↗
Live video
Taiwan Ska Fest.
Watch a full Balkazar set.
Music & video
Find our music.
Photos
Press photos
For press photos and image credits, contact the band.




Technical info
Core stage needs
We can confirm the full stage plot and input list for your venue. Typical requirements:
Standard drum kit, guitar amp and bass amp.
Venue-appropriate PA and stage monitors.
At least 3 microphones and 3 microphone stands.