Nominated for the BBC World Music Newcomer Award 2008 Israelis Ori Kaplan and Tarnir Muskat played in the New York City suburbs for over a decade. Muskat was a member of the Big Lazy and Firewater bands, whilst Kaplan belonged to the Gogol Bordello band.

Their joint musical project arose from their desire to create a new musical genre. Combining rhythms from the Balkans, Israel, Spain and North Africa with Turkish and Moroccan sonority, and electronic elements, their “New Mediterranean” alternative sound was born.

Balkan Beat Box (BBB) currently perform on stage with two percussionists, two saxophonists, a double bass player and a guitarist. Joining the party will be rapper MC Tomer Yosef, considered a “true stage animal”.

The band’s most recent work, “Nu Med”, resulted in their being nominated in three categories, “Culture Crossing”, “Newcomer” and “Club Global” at the 2008 edition of the BBC Radio Awards for World Music.

Official Site - http://www.balkanbeatbox.com/
MySpace Site - http://www.myspace.com/balkanbeatbox