Leléka - Live 2027

Founded in Berlin in 2016, the band Leléka (Ukrainian for “stork”) is a young, multicultural quartet led by Ukrainian singer Viktoria, whose voice shapes the character and atmosphere of the band’s music. The band’s soundscape—ranging from dynamic, groovy passages to delicate folk ballads—is framed by a contemporary jazz language that the quartet has developed into a diverse musical concept. This blend of jazz and Ukrainian folk music has already earned Leléka numerous awards, including the creole Berlin World Music Competition and the 2018 Burghausen European Young Jazz Award. In addition, the band was nominated for the German Jazz Prize in the “Band of the Year” category in 2022.

The increased interest in Ukrainian culture since the outbreak of the war of aggression against Ukraine has made Viktoria and her band some of the most important musical ambassadors for their homeland. Since then, their concerts have not only been experiences of innovative reinterpretations of old, mostly forgotten Ukrainian folk songs, but also a powerful sign of solidarity for the right of Ukrainian culture to exist. Highlights of the band’s history include performances at festivals such as ELBJAZZ (Hamburg), Jazz & the City (Salzburg), the Bardentreffen (Nuremberg), and the Rudolstadt Festival.

Victoria Leleka - Vocals

Povel Widestand - Piano

Thomas Kolarczyk - Double Bass

Jakob Hegner - Drums