Bambir

Bambir
Origin	Gyumri, Armenia
Genres	rock, folk rock, Ethnic rock
Years active	1978–present

Website	bambir.band

Bambir is an Armenian rock band from Gyumri. Spanning 4 decades and with more than 50 musicians passing through its ranks, the band has moved into its second generation- as in, sons of the original members are operating as a separate four-piece that is still part of the original ensemble.

Founded by Jag Barseghyan in the 1970s in Gyumri, Armenia, Bambir was lauded as one of the best rock groups in the Soviet Union, performing original material, traditional Armenian songs, and modern arrangements of Komitas and medieval Armenian music. Today, Jag Barseghyan records solo albums, ensemble albums, and performs with original members of The Bambir and other international musicians. In 1982 Bambir won the Folk Music Award at the International Festival in Lida, Belarus. They celebrated their 20th anniversary in Moscow in 1998 and in Gyumri at their first Biennial. On their 30th anniversary, they released Armenian Scotch,^[1] an album dedicated to the 140th anniversary of Hovhannes Tumanyan and the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns.

A separate but connected four-piece rock band The Bambir (Progressive Ethnic Rock'n'Roll) formed in Gyumri later in 1994, by Narek Barseghyan (son of Jag), Arman Kocharyan, Arik Grigoryan and Vardan Paremuzyan. While they started playing together in Armenia, they've earned a reputation in Russia, France, the United States, Turkey, Georgia, Lebanon, Poland and beyond. They were based in Ireland in 2012 and toured in the United States in 2016-2017.

They write and perform their own music written by Narek and Arik, and are known for their vibrant stage presence in their live shows and unique sound.

Early history

In the sixties Jag began traveling to the city of Gyumri, traditionally Armenia's city of arts and one of the cultural centers of the Soviet Union. While there weren't many people listening to rock music in Yerevan at the time, an underground scene seemed to be thriving in Gyumri. It was there that he began to find like-minded individuals and appreciators of the music he loved. He started jamming with Robert Kocharyan (not the former Armenian president) on bass, Suren Martirosyan on guitar, and Levon "Watts" Nouroyan on drums, calling themselves Angin Qarer ("precious stones", in the Armenian language), playing hard rock. They soon morphed into their folk "bard rock" style, arranging pieces by Komitas and moving on to their own original material, changing their name to Bambir. Performances and many albums followed and they toured Armenia, Russia, Europe and the United States. Members of the original band reunite for special concerts, and Jag continues to actively record and collaborate with local and international artists.

He has been awarded by the Armenian Ministry of Culture for his achievements in Contemporary Armenian Music.

Second Generation

Narek (son of Jag) and Arman (son of Robert Kocharyan, an original member of "Angin Qarer"), friends since birth, grew up in Gyumri in the creative environment built by their fathers and community.^[2] They picked up the guitar and bass at a very young age. They met Arik (flute) when they were nine years old, and their trio began jamming and performing on their own. In 1999-2000 they travelled to Los Angeles and New York, and even recorded an album (never released) in California but had to return to Armenia, and school. Ashot Korganyan joined them on drums in 2001. As the boys grew up in Gyumri they became better musicians and started playing more and more. The four-piece returned to Los Angeles in 2007, and Ashot left the band upon their return. That same year, the now trio travelled to Shoushi in Artsakh for a music festival and Narek, Arman, and Arik met Vardan, originally from Vanadzor, Lori region. They continue to work with Jag.

The band's notoriety grew as they finished university and continued to gig, and they started to attract international attention. They played in Moscow, Paris, Istanbul, Beirut, Tbilisi, and all over Armenia, placing third in 2010's Eurovoice Competition in Athens. They made the decision to make a go of breaking into the European market, and moved to Dublin in January 2012. Their incredible musicianship and intense energy on-stage made them stand out immediately, and it wasn't long before they were booked for festivals like KnockanStockan,^[3] No Place Like Dome, Body&Soul,^[4] and Electric Picnic, as well as special events like launches and Tower Records' 19th birthday.^[5] They became known for their relentless gigging, sometimes playing 3 shows/night- their final performances in Dublin, 2012 were on Arthur's Day when they played 3 times in The Mercantile, The Stag's Head, and The Sweeney Mongrel.^[6] State called them "Ireland's hairiest and hardest working band," featuring them as part of their 2012 Electric Picnic coverage.^[7] They appeared on Near FM,^[8] Radio Nova 100FM (Ireland), Dublin City FM, and WDAR. While much of their live sets in Ireland are in English, they continue to perform and write songs in the Armenian language as well.^[9]

They toured in the United States in 2016-2017 (Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Washington,..) performing at SXSW and the notorious The Viper Room.

The band has recorded with international musicians like Dietmar Bonnen.

They write and perform their own music written by Narek and Arik, and are known for their vibrant stage presence in their live shows and unique sound.

From 2019, they’ve embraced the unique sound of Mar Margaryan’s qanun, reputed for her avant-garde way of playing and her diverse collaborations with notorious artists. Together they keep experimenting and revisiting Armenian folk.

Since 2017, Narek and Vardan have been playing as well as a power duo called “ Freedom is Expensive”.

Bambir Members

Present Members:

Gaguik "Jag" Barseghyan (founder) 1978–present
Grigor Mirzoyan -cello-2012–present
Anna Kocharyan -violin-2017–present
Sergo Tonoyan -keyboards-1982-85/2012–present
Narek Barseghyan – guitar, vocals 2002–2017
Arik Grigoryan – flute, percussions, vocals 2002–present
Arman Kocharyan – bass, vocals 2002–present
Vardan Paremuzyan– drums 2007–present

The Bambir Members (Second generation):

Narek Barseghyan – guitar, vocals/1994–present
Arik Grigoryan – flute, percussions, vocals/1994–present
Arman Kocharyan – bass, vocals/1994–present
Vardan Paremuzyan– drums, vocals/2007–present

Past Members:

Tatul Yeghiazaryan† 1993 - 1999
Gourgen Hakobjanyan 1978 -2009
Gaguik Hakobjanyan 1978 - 1983
Artash Harutyunyan 1978 - 1983
Mkrtich Hovhannisyan 1979 -1984
Vrezh Aramyan 1979-1982
Grigor Virabyan 1982 - 2001
Armen Karapetyan 1983 - 1988
Vardan Varosyan 1985 -1988
Armen Sargsyan 1980 - 1998
Edvard Yuzbashyan 1980 - 1984
Murad Gasabyan bass 1983 - 1993
Hrant Melqonyan bass 1987 - 1993
Hakob Yesayan 1989 - 1993
Vladimir Voskanyan 1997 - 1999
Artour Hovhanisyan 1986 -1993
Varouzh Vardanyan 1989-1990
Ashot Hovhanisyan 1987 - 1993
Seiran Vardanyan 1998 - 2002
Levon Davtyan 2002 - 2004
Ani Arakyan 2009–2015
Armen Karjyan 2012-2015
Ashot Korganyan - drums/2001 - 2007
Mher Vardikyan - guitar/1997 -2002
Garik Barseghyan 1992 - 1993

'Angin Qarer - "Priceless Stones

Gagik "Jag" Barseghyan - Guitar 1969-1978
Souren Martirosyan - Guitar 1969-1978
Levon Nouroyan - Drums 1969-1978
Robert Kocharyan - Bass 1969-1978
Matos Margaryan - 1969-1978

Discography and Releases

Bambir (Jag):

1999 – "Quake" Album
2003 - Quake Released by Pomegranate Music Label http://pomegranatemusic.com/recordings/bambir/ http://www.allmusic.com/album/quake-mw0000670482 http://www.globalrhythm.net/WorldMusicCDReviews/MiddleEastNorthAfrica/BAMBIR.cfm
2003 – "J&G" Album
2005 – "Blind Alley" Album
2008 - Alexandropol- recorded with “Dietmar Bonnen" (Live)
2011 – "Armenian Scotch" Album
2020 - "Home" Jag.Bonnen.Barz Album
2021 - "Armabeton" Album

Recorded albums, EP sessions, Singles by The Bambir (Second generation):

2003 - "Alabalanitsa" (Nursery Rhymes) Single
2004 - "Dark City Train" Single
2005 - "BBR". Best Folk Rock Album 2005 at the Armenian Music Awards. LA, California, in 2005.
2007 - "The Black" Album
2010 - "Thats Fine with Us" Single
2012 - "Urbane/Urban" Single
2013 - "Do You Love Me" Single
2013 - "Index Sessions" EP
2013 - "Imitate" Single
2015 - "Upsessions" Album
2017 - "Bambir Anthology Vol. 1" Album
2018 - "Arev e Elel" Single
2018 - "Sev Kshoghas" Single
2019 - "Migutse" Single
2019 - "Eveline " Single
2020 - "Gzhi Harsaniq" Album
2020 - "S.O.S" Single
2020 - "2 Kes" Single
2022 - "Sea Inside" Album

Awards

2003 & 2004 - Best Rock Band, Armenian National Music Award (Yerevan, Armenia).

2005 - Best Folk Rock Album, Armenian Music Awards (Hollywood, California)

2010 - Super Finalist, Eurovoice Music Contest 2010 (Athens, Greece)

2015 - For music development, Caucasian Music Awards Phoenix (Tbilisi, Georgia)

2015 - Best Ethnic Project, Zolotaya Gorgulya Awards, 16 Tons Club (Moscow, Russia)

Music videos

2003 - "Alabalanitsa" Music video
2007 - "Children's games" Music Video
2004 - "Dark City Train" Music Video
2010 - "Thats Fine with Us" Music Video
2012 - "Urbane/Urban" Music Video
2013 - "Do you love me" Music Video
2013 - "Khio" Music Video
2014 - "Black Blouse" Music Video
2020 - "2 Kes" Music Video
2020 - "Gzhi Harsaniq" Music Video

References

^ ARAJINLRATVAKAN. “Album Launch of Bambir’s Armenian Scotch” 1in.am. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
^ Kavanagh, Paul. “Some Words With The Bambir chewyourownfat.wordpress.com. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
^ Hot Press News Desk. "Knockanstockan: first acts revealed!" Hot Press. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
^ Hot Press News Desk. "UPDATE: Body and Soul Festival" Hot Press. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
^ Hot Press News Desk. "Happy Birthday Tower" Hot Press. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
^ Hot Press News Desk. "Stag's Head Gears Up For Arthur's Day" Hot Press. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
^ White, Hilary A. "Electric Picnic '12: The Bambir" State.ie. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
^ near tv productions “Near FM Sessions- The Bambir- July 26th 2012” neartv.ie. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
^ CIVILNET TV. “The Bambir have Returned” civilnet.am. Retrieved 5 December 2012.