Magic Violin

The Devil is in the details... and the lentils! 🥣🎻✨

We’ve had so much fun sharing the story, the sounds, and the (slightly chaotic) kitchen secrets behind our album, The Devil’s Lentil Soup. From the folk archives to the boiling pot, this remastered journey has been a labour of love for the Magic Violin team.

If you haven’t had a chance to dive into the full folklore behind the music, the kitchen is still open! You can read the story, listen to the album, and grab the recipe for the soup inspired by this project right here: https://www.magicviolin.uk/devils-lentil-soup-remastered

A massive thank you to everyone who has been listening, cooking, and sharing this with us.

But don't put your aprons away just yet... 😉

We are already back in the "musical kitchen" polishing off our next EP. Let’s just say, if The Devil’s Lentil Soup was the main course, our next project is a particularly delightful dessert you won't want to miss. Watch this space — the sweet notes are coming soon! 🍰🎶

🎻 Chichester, we’re coming your way! ✨

We are so looking forward to bringing our 20th-anniversary journey to the lovely, historic Chichester Inn on June 27th!

We’ve spent two decades exploring the soul of the Balkans together, and for this special performance, we’ve reached deep into our archives to hand-pick our most cherished pieces. You can see a snippet of the magic we're preparing in this video 🥰

Whether you’ve been following our journey for the full twenty years or you’re just discovering the "Magic Violin" sound, we’d love to share this evening with you. Come for the stories, stay for the spirit! 💚🍀💫

📅 When: 27th June, 20:00 – 22:00
📍 Where: Chichester Inn, 38 West St, Chichester PO19 1RP
🎟️ Free entry! (We suggest a donation of £5-7 to help us keep the music playing)
❗More information: https://www.chichesterinn.co.uk/

See you soon!

https://youtube.com/shorts/X6iEW7Lr4vk

🎻 Chichester, we’re coming your way! ✨ We are so looking forward to bringing our 20th-anniversary journey ...

The secret ingredient to The Devil’s Lentil Soup? A very specific kind of musical seasoning 🥣🎻✨

You’ve heard the music, now it’s time for the recipe. Making The Devil’s Lentil Soup is an exact science, though, perhaps slightly more chaotic than the average cookery tutorial.

There’s a reason this album has the name it does. In our house, music and food are never really separate; they both require a bit of fire, a lot of patience, and a dash of something entirely unpredictable.

Making the infamous "Devil’s Lentil Soup" while celebrating the release of our remastered album of the same name is an experience everyone should live at least once in a lifetime.

While you simmer your lentils, I invite you to immerse yourself in the remastered sounds of the album that started it all. We’ve poured just as much soul into these tracks as I have into this pot.

💿 Buy the album: https://www.magicviolin.uk/devils-lentil-soup-remastered
🎧 Stream on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5qPUpID91b5pfzmJSWWDmi?si=gNUQvqCOS6CkGbR7vqqzoA

Grab a bowl, turn up the volume, and let the golden energy settle in!

https://youtube.com/shorts/-zvkZwwiy_E?feature=share

Making the "Devil's Lentil Soup" (Yes, it's a real recipe!) 🥣 Is it a cooking show? Is it an ethnographic music study? It’s a bit of both. Making the infamous "Devil’s Lentil Soup" whilst celebrating the release of our ...

London, it has been far too long... ✨🎻

We are so much looking forward to this Saturday's performance. We have not performed in London for ages, as the art venues where acoustic artistic music is welcome are dying out.

A huge, heartfelt thank you to the wonderful team at Folkandroots for making this evening possible — it is such a joy to work with people who care as much about acoustic music as we do.

The repertoire for this show is really special to us. I have chosen songs and pieces from Hungary all the way down the Silk Road — a lot of songs that radiate golden energy, and are very special to Jeremy and me, and our special guests Karen (percussion) and Fraser (cello).

We would absolutely love to share this warm, rare evening of music and stories with you.

The Details:
📅 When: Saturday, 23rd May 2026
⏰ Time: Doors 7:00pm, Live Music 7:30pm
📍 Where: St Paul’s Church Gardens, Camden Square, London NW1 9XG
🎟️ Tickets: £14 Advance (£11 concessions) — book here: https://folkandroots.co.uk/magic-violin-duo

Come warm your soul with some live, acoustic fire this weekend. See you there! 🥂❤️

Celebrating life, love, and a beautiful send-off 🕊️✨

Usually, my violin and I are here to celebrate the dance, the feast, and the joy of a new beginning. But sometimes, music is called upon to do something even more sacred: to celebrate a life fully lived, and the love left behind 🕯️🎻

This particular arrangement of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" holds a special place in my heart. It was originally commissioned of me for a funeral as a bespoke request to give someone a truly personal, soulful farewell.

There is an immense beauty in honoring a late loved one with music that carries their unique spirit. Whether it is a song they hummed every morning, a piece that defined their journey, or a grand anthem like this one, it is a privilege to weave those memories into acoustic strings. (And yes, if you fancy a bit of a dramatic, beautiful exit, you could absolutely have this played on yours too! 😉)

Whether as a duo or a trio, we are honoured to collaborate with independent funeral planners, crematoriums, and families to craft moments that feel genuinely personal.

If you are planning a celebration of life, a memorial, a funeral, or a special private gathering in London or the surrounding areas, we would love to bring live, heartfelt acoustic music to your special moments.

📧 Drop me a line at [email protected] or visit our website at www.magicviolin.uk to discuss how we can help!

Let's celebrate the stories that define us 💚💫🙌🏻

https://youtube.com/shorts/55tKQsnNdVo?si=Dt3TjVGyWgXwSTwu

Celebrating Life "My Way" 🎻 Custom Funeral Violin Music in London A live acoustic performance of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" arranged by Gundula Stojanova Gruen and performed by the Magic Violin Trio). Originally commissioned ...

20 Years in the making... and still rediscovering gems! ✨🎻

This is "Jalganay." I found this old performance in the archives and realized I still love it to bits! (Even if the video quality didn't age as well as the music... 😅🎥)

We are bringing this musical jewel back to the stage for our 20th Anniversary Concert at Camden Square on Saturday, 23rd May.

Organised by the wonderful Folkandroots. Let’s celebrate 20 years of music and rediscovered gems! 🙌🏻

✨ The Plan: Play it live, record it properly, and celebrate two decades of music with you all.

📍 St Paul’s Church Gardens, NW1 9XG

📅 Saturday 23rd May | 7:30pm

🎟️ Grab your spot: https://folkandroots.co.uk/magic-violin-duo/

https://youtube.com/shorts/FrDd902yGJA

Jalganay rediscovered for our 20th Anniversary 💫🎻 Please bear with me on the video quality here — this snippet is from a very long time ago! 😅 Despite the graininess, I had to share it because this tune is ...

This is your final nudge that our Balkan Music Workshop at the wonderful Bridge Farm Bristol is happening this Sunday, May 17th!

What’s in the secret bag? 🤫
I’ll be sharing a couple of gems from my private collection, including a charismatic, odd-metered dance piece that hasn't really made its way into the UK Balkan circles yet. We’ll learn by ear (it’s more intuitive that way!), but I’ll have sheet music as a "safety net" for those who want it.

The Details:
📅 When: Sunday 17th May | 10.30am – 2pm
📍 Where: Bridge Farm, Glenfrome Road, Bristol BS16 1BQ
🎟️ Fee: £25 / £20 Concession
🎻 Who: All melodic instruments welcome!

We are also officially listed on the Bridge Farm "What’s On" page now! You can check it out here: https://bridgefarmbristol.co.uk/whats-on/

Expect a session that is detailed, relaxed, and properly joyful. Let’s grab a tune and make it sound fantastic! 🥂🙌🏻

Secure your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bristol-balkan-music-workshop-tickets-1986775392682

See you soon! 🤩🥰

https://youtube.com/shorts/IC9pHxgk4DE

Balkan Music Workshop - Bridge Farm, Bristol - Sunday, May 17th This is your final nudge that our Balkan Music Workshop at the wonderful Bridge Farm is happening this Sunday, May 17th!What’s in the secret bag? 🤫I’ll be s...

OPRE ROMA! 🌻

Today we are celebrating Ederlezi, the most important festival for Romani people around the world. It is a day that marks the arrival of Spring, and a time of rebirth, awakening, and the enduring strength of the Romani spirit 🌿✨

To celebrate, I’m sharing this special memory from my years with the London Gypsy Orchestra. Playing this iconic melody always feels like a prayer and a celebration all at once. For many, Ederlezi is about coming together, decorating homes with flowers, and welcoming the new season with music that carries the weight of history and the joy of the future 🌹🎻

May this music bring a bit of spring sunshine to your heart today, wherever you are.

Baxtalo Ederlezi! (Happy Ederlezi!) 🙌🏻

OPRE ROMA and Happy Ederlezi! OPRE ROMA! 🌻 Join us in celebrating Ederlezi, the most significant festival for Romani communities worldwide. Marking the official start of Spring, Ederlezi...