Croatia 2005 - Lado & Friends, look happy in front of these wine barrels.
«CROATIA 2005 - LADO & FRIENDS» headed by JOE LONCARICH Several members of the LADO folklore group from Hamilton, Canada, which has been active over the past 25 years, decided to organise a visit to Croatia. The last time they visited, then too under the auspices of the Croatian Heritage Foundation, was in 1989 and many of them still recall that unforgettable musical tour.
This year, «CROATIA 2005 - LADO & FRIENDS» headed by Joe Loncarich will tour Croatia from 10 to 26.08.2005. Mr. Loncarich was only three when together with his parents he left his place of birth in Donji Bukovac, near Jurovski Brod in the Karlovac Municipality and migrated to Canada. In Canada and Northern America, the name Joe Loncarich is known to all lovers of the tamburitza because he has taught this instrument for more than sixty years. Generations and generations of young Croats were his students and so were these eighteen tamburitza players aged from 38 to 80. The group will be accompanied by 26 guests and friends, all lovers of the tamburitza. They describe themselves as „proud Canadians but also as proud Croats who are nurturing the heritage of their homeland and their love towards it. It is in fact love for tamburitza that brought us together and led us to the decision to visit our homeland. As our teacher, Joe Loncarich, often says, ' we can't get any worse, we can only get better!' We practised hard for this tour and are happy to be able to show what we have learned. We hope that we will have an opportunity to play with some Croatian tamburitza players and learn some new techniques. We are so happy that we are going to play and sing in our homeland. With a little dose of 'sljivovice' – plum brandy, we'll be even better!!!!“
For some members, this will be their first visit to Croatia.
As soon as they arrive on 10 August, the group is immediately going off to Slavonia – Osijek and then they will visit Plitvice, Zadar, Zagreb and it environs. The group will hold concerts in Osijek, Nin, Ribnik, Virje & Sesvete, near Zagreb.
Young lads?
Young fillies
We can’t wait!
"When I hear the tamburitza… Joe jumps on the barrel!!"
Croatia 2005 - Lado & Friends posing in front of a fresco
