Like a marriage the place everybody doubts the couple are supposed to be collectively, the viewers on the Ukrainian Group Heart in northeast Minneapolis appeared hesitant.

Of us watched and smiled politely because the Ukrainian Village Band breezed by means of a half-hour of conventional songs meant to get folks up and dancing. Few complied, nonetheless.

Then got here “Oy U Luzi Chervona Kaylna.” 100-year-old tune a couple of unit of Ukrainian riflemen throughout World Conflict I, it shortly bought people clapping alongside to its marching beat. Quickly, one tableful of individuals rose to their toes, then one other.

By the tip, everybody who knew the lyrics was standing and singing alongside.

Holding his 1-year-old daughter whereas his spouse, Katja, joined the massive dance circle that adopted, Kostya Korchak, 28, stated the Ukrainian Village Band “is doing essential work.

“It is essential to listen to songs in our personal language proper now, to advertise our folks and our tradition by means of music,” stated Korchak, who emigrated from Ukraine eight years in the past.

Like these tentative patrons finally weekend’s Help for Ukraine fundraiser, the band hesitated at first when Russian troops invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. The group didn’t carry out for a couple of month. For one factor, UVB is a “zabava” (get together/celebration) band, and the members thought it inappropriate to hold on as such.

“Folks had been dying. Household and buddies of mine had been residing at risk,” stated accordionist/co-vocalist Oleksij Khrystych, who emigrated from Ukraine as a pupil in 2001. “It did not appear to be a time I needs to be choosing up my instrument and taking part in enjoyable polka music.”

Its members had a lot greater considerations to take care of — particularly these with members of the family caught up within the conflict. “My mother and father have been instructed to take shelter about thrice a day,” stated Khrystych, who’s from Bila Tserkva, a metropolis south of Kyiv recognized for a Jewish bloodbath by Nazis in World Conflict II.

Singer Viktoriya Kantor struggled to be in contact along with her brother, who has been working in front-line assist efforts round her hometown of Sumy, not removed from the Russian border.

“We have been attempting to do the whole lot we will to assist them out, financially or in different methods,” she stated. “It was very difficult to know what to do. And simply the feelings of all of it have been overwhelming.”

Issues modified a month in the past when the band was invited to carry out at a senior residing complicated in a rich a part of Minneapolis. Initially seen as a low-key however well-paying gig that might elevate cash for Ukrainian reduction, it taught the band members they may serve a extra essential position than purveyors of “enjoyable polka music.”

“We realized we should be ambassadors,” stated bassist John (Ivas) Bryn, who recalled members crying after that efficiency.

“There have been simply so many inexplicable emotions about us lastly being collectively taking part in music. It felt like we had been popping out of the heavy fog of conflict and noticed a manner ahead.”

Since then, the UVB has hit the bottom operating.

Final weekend’s profit on the Ukrainian Heart was the primary in a collection of spring fundraisers the band is main to boost cash and spirits.

On Wednesday, the all-acoustic sextet returns to its typical stomping grounds — a fairly literal time period on this case — the Schooner Tavern in south Minneapolis, the place the group carried out each different month or so earlier than the COVID pandemic.

Different upcoming occasions embrace a Might 6 Musicians for Ukraine profit live performance on the Dakota with Orkestar Bez Ime and SlovCzech; a Band-Help for Ukraine pageant Might 8 on the Minnesota Music Café with UVB’s rock ‘n’ roll friends Curtiss A, the Hypstrz, Jiggs Lee and Trailer Trash; a June 5 live performance with klezmer music star Jake Shulman-Ment on the Cedar Cultural Heart, plus summer season gigs at breweries and diverse festivals to be introduced.

Usually, the band members are donating their efficiency charges. They hope attendees will equally take cash out of their pockets to assist Ukrainian reduction efforts — usually funneled by means of the Stand With Ukraine fund arrange by the Ukrainian Heart (standwithukrainemn.com), or by means of St. Katherine Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Arden Hills.

Search for them on the free levels on the Minnesota State Honest, too — a major instance of how UVB’s members hope to additionally educate Ukrainian tradition and emphasize the nation’s impartial identification to Minnesotans.

‘Our personal stress and grief’

“To me, there isn’t any hyphen between Ukrainian and American,” stated drummer Stefan Iwaskewycz. Like Bryn, he is a first-generation immigrant and has lengthy studied and taught dance and anthropology from the area.

“It is my manner of understanding the distinctive manner I used to be introduced up,” he stated. “I’ve at all times wished different folks to know and respect that tradition. Particularly now.”

Iwaskewycz based the Ukrainian Village Band in 2007, beginning with performances on the Worldwide Competition of Burnsville. Since then, the group has put out two CDs and turn into a go-to for weddings and different events inside the group. It additionally places on an Ivana Kupala (summer season solstice) celebration each June.

Usually, they’ve a number of enjoyable, offstage in addition to on. At a current band assembly, members comfortably joked with one another as they easily downed a Ukrainian brandy that challenged this skilled reporter.

They clearly loved themselves finally weekend’s live performance, too. However even whereas having a superb time, UVB’s members say they may by no means lose sight of what is most essential proper now.

“My grandma reminded us till the day she died of the evils of conflict,” stated guitarist Lev Frayman, who additionally performs round city together with his Ukrainian spouse as the folks duo Lev & Olga.

Lev is definitely from Moscow. His Jewish grandparents wound up there after fleeing Ukraine in the course of the Nazi invasion.

“It is heartbreaking to see one other technology of our folks dealing with that type of evil,” he stated.

Bryn’s mother and father fled Ukraine on the onset of the Chilly Conflict, shortly earlier than he was born. They went on to be outstanding musicians and organizers in northeast Minneapolis’ Ukrainian group. In the present day, round 17,000 folks of Ukrainian descent are scattered throughout Minnesota.

“Most of us are right here as a result of Ukrainians have been dealing with these identical forms of brutal, Leninist regimes for 100 years,” Bryn lamented. “We owe it to our folks to attempt to lastly put an finish to it.”

And if they’ve a little bit enjoyable whereas doing so, they notice now that is OK.

“We’re all going by means of our personal stress and grief, too,” Khrystych stated. “I believe it is OK for us to blow off a little bit steam as we attempt to do some good.”

Ukrainian Village Band
Wednesday: 7:30 p.m. at Schooner Tavern, 2901 twenty seventh Av. S., Mpls., free with donation.
Might 6: 7 p.m. on the Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., with Orkestar Bez Ime and SlovCzech, $20-$35, dakotacooks.com.
Might 8: Band-Help for Ukraine, 4 p.m. at Minnesota Music Cafe, 499 Payne Av., St. Paul, with Curtiss A, Jiggs Lee and extra, free with donation.
Extra information: Fb.com/UkrainianMinnesota