‘Hailing from Brighton, Buffo’s Wake assault your ears like a musical hurricane. Destined to make you dance with wild abandon or ‘like someone being attacked by bees’ (Richard Cadence of egigs.co.uk) this six piece ensemble fuse punk and gypsy rhythms with the sounds of the funfair’
– Mojo Hobo
‘You can expect them to be jumping, screaming, climbing, wandering around the audience, throwing instruments around and everything else, in their spooky musical punk circus’
– Muzika.hr
Buffo’s Wake formed in Brighton, UK, in the Winter of 2009 with the idea of combining traditional Eastern European folk music and instrumentation with the modern aesthetics of Punk and Rock. They have been developing their sound ever since, incorporating elements of dark cabaret, Drum ‘n’ bass, Metal, as well as extending their understanding and experience of the traditional folk and klezmer music that inspired their sound.
2026 sees the start of a new chapter in the Buffo’s Wake story, with a permanent, expanded 10-piece line-up, featuring trumpet, trombone, clarinet, tuba, saxophone, french horn, and an indecently large accordion pedal board. Work has begun on their new album Stupid Clown Music for Stupid Clown People, which brings a heavier, more intense sound, and an unfathomably powerful live show to match.
On Halloween 2014, Buffo’s Wake released their debut album Carniphobia. Recorded in an array of bedrooms and studios (and everywhere in between), Buffo’s Wake decided not to use any synthesised instruments on their songs, instead opting for entirely acoustic instruments, effects and atmospherics. The album was created using singing saws, wine glasses, old rusty pipes, handmade percussion instruments and anything else they could get their grubby little paws on. The result is the haunting sound of an abandoned circus that flows throughout the album, inspiring the title Carniphobia.
Halloween 2019 saw the release of their follow up album Dybbuk – a collection of chaotic klezmer-punk and carnivalesque Balkan bangers, that has pushed their song-writing in new directions. A sold out launch party with a 16 piece orchestral band saw the album birthed into the world in the most fitting way possible – a cacophony of sweaty klezmer-punk chaos. Crowd-funded and DIY-produced, Dybbuk was a collection of songs that summarised the previous 4 years of their relentless touring schedule. Traditional folk songs sit alongside horns, ska-punk, drum ‘n’ bass breaks and elaborate string arrangements, to create something unique and unforgettable.
Their spirit of cross-border cultural collaboration was manifested in a global compilation CD/Video release (Fresh Lenins presents: Gypsy Punk Compilation No.1 – 2020) featuring the bands Buffo’s Wake, Los Kamer (Mexico), The Freeborn Brothers (Poland), Gypo Circus (Hungary) and Jorge’s Hot Club (UK), which was recorded live in Brighton, UK. The project involved the exchange of local traditional folk songs and styles – Buffo’s Wake recorded traditional songs from Mexico, Hungary and Poland (even singing in Polish and Spanish), whilst Los Kamer recorded an Irish/English folk tune and Gypo Circus took a more contemporary approach with a modern UK rock/ traditional Klezmer mixture. The CD was released in April 2020, with all profits going to Médecins Sans Frontières.
In 2020 they found the time to record an EP of traditional and original music with the Hungarian cimbalom maestro Janos Kallai, entitled Balos, Bulgar (and other steps). Released during lockdown, they performed various online and socially distanced concerts with this lineup, which eventually formed into its own sister project – The Skeleton Crew, showcasing their love of the traditional influences that contribute to their unpredictable sound.
2025 sees the release of another compilation album – this time displaying a more experimental and electronic side to their music. Producers from across the globe (and members themselves) have contributed remixes of various Buffo’s Wake songs, culminating in a 19 track juggernaut of ridiculous, experimental and extremely fun music. Jumping from DnB to gabba, breakbeat, lo-fi, donk and some sounds that cannot really be categorised, Everything is a [Dybbuk] Remix was released at their favourite DIY venue in Bristol (The Red Lion) on the 21st November.
This unique sound has developed alongside a frenetic live show, incorporating circus performances, audience interaction, huge expanded lineups, natural showmanship and a fair few stage invasions! During a typical Buffo’s Wake performance, you can expect to hear traditional Ukrainian folk music, jump up DnB, and Norwegian classical excerpts, whilst hearing lyrics inspired by Russian folk-tales (updated for the modern day) and headbanging to nu-Metal inspired breakdowns – all played with the visceral energy and unexpected humour of a Punk band.
Due to their wildly interactive (and often chaotic) live shows, Buffo’s Wake have built a strong and dedicated cult following around the world. Tours throughout Europe and America over the previous 12 years have cemented this following, along with regular appearances at Glastonbury Festival (2015, 2017, 2024), and a huge number of other UK and European festivals (Goulash Disko 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023; Gitanekesfoor – Belgium, 2017; Shambala – UK, 2017 + 2018; Boomtown – UK, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2023; Iboga – Spain, 2015; Xtreme Folk Scene Festival – USA, 2017; Balter Festival – UK, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024, 2025, amongst many others!), securing their reputation as festival veterans.
The band has so far taken its show on the road through 22 different countries and 15 states of America, and its not unusual for them to play over a 100 shows in a year!
Their more unusual shows include being handpicked by comedian Arthur Smith (Grumpy Old Men, Money for Nothing) to participate in the touring roadshow House of Fun (various venues – 2015), running workshops and acoustic concerts for primary school children in Paris at the end of a two month run of shows around the Alps and the Balkans (Ecole Maternelle Marcel Lachiver – 2017), and performing for homeless people in a shelter and charity canteen on Kings Day in Amsterdam.
‘THE band to watch out for at Glastonbury 2015’
– Marc Radcliffe (BBC 6 Music)
‘You may recall a desolate band of misfits in Tim Burton’s ‘Nightmare Before Chirstmas’ that popped up every now and then with musical interludes of damp and haunting melodies that were, in their own way, quite captivating. Well Buffo’s Wake have a very similar allure; that is intriguing violins and erratic accordions, both utterly besmirched with wonderfully gloomy undertones and lingering vocals.’
– Boomtown Fair
‘…Buffo’s Wake, whose idiosyncratic mix of traditional European folk with vibrant on-stage antics is, there’s no other word for it, weird.’
– ThePublicReviews.com
‘Combining fast-paced folk, carnivalesque humour, lewd tango and gypsy intricacies into a highly energetic, gleefully anarchic explosion. As influenced by the grime and darkness of Nick Cave as they are by Balkan folk and Ukrainian hooligans Gogol Bordello, Buffo’s Wake delight in sudden gear shifts, baffling non-sequiturs and a healthy sense of the absurd, and are undoubtedly the perfect accompaniment to an evening of knees-up silliness, preferably having consumed an obscene quantity of cider. Come and have a go if you think you’ve got the stamina!’
– Electric Harmony
Buffo’s Wake continue to develop their sound, live show, and distinct aesthetic style with a variety of different projects.
For their sold-out album launch party (October 31st 2019, Brighton, UK) Buffo’s Wake organised and scored a small chamber orchestra (16 piece band including string and horn sections) in order to perform their studio album Dybbuk from beginning to end, featuring almost all of the musicians from the original recordings. This expanded line-up grew for later concerts, culminating with a 2024 show featuring a 36-piece band performing a collection of their music at The Old Market theatre in Brighton, featuring klezmer clarinet Maestro Merlin Shepherd, Polina Shepherds Slavic Voice Choir, Janos Kallai on the cimbalom, a 7 piece horn section and a 5 piece string section!
In 2026, the band have balanced the excitement and energy of expanded line-ups with the practical logistics of touring and have created a new 10 piece lineup, that is adaptable, relentless, exciting and unstoppable!
‘Twisting folk with a heavy smattering of pounding gypsy dance music’
– Two For Joy
‘Dark and twisted, and full of energy!’
–Simon Price (BBC Introducing DJ & Music Journalist for The Independent)
‘It was late at night when Buffo’s Wake debuted, but people were still hidden somewhere waiting for the main course of the evening. Another band unknown to us, but we were impressed. They presented their debut album, Carniphobia (2014), with songs like Drunk Girls, which drew in the audience. With their Gypsy, Balkan and Ska sounds, the British band played a short but very respectable set, with violin, accordion and bass masterfully accompanying the eccentric singer.’
–La Mancha Rock
‘Arguably confirming every Daily Mail reader’s prejudice about our fair city, Buffo’s Wake’s latest video sees the Brighton band on a debauched romp along the seafront, ending in violence, vomit and bus-stop cop sex. Having already played an impressive string of festivals and gigged in over 15 countries, the gypsy punks are now off on a fifty date tour of the UK, beginning and ending with shows in their hometown. Like demented circus freaks running riot at a Day of the Dead carnival, Buffo’s Wake blend Eastern European folk music with classical touches and a punky anything-goes sense of absurdity. Their debut album, fittingly released on Halloween, features its fair share of soaring violins, sinister vocals and rampant, rousing choruses. Slowing down is not an option.’
-Source Magazine
‘Opening like a bouncier version of Rodrigo Y Gabriela’s Re-Foc album and strutting confidently through ten tracks of cool and elegant gypsy punk, Carniphobia is party music par excellence’
–TheMusicalMeltingPot.com
‘Storming gypsy bangers! Twisting folk with a heavy smattering of pounding gypsy dance music – while very new to the scene, Buffos Wake work the crowd like pros, jumping, dancing and bringing you headfirst into the world of eastern European madness – we love them! Sounds Like: the gate has swung shut behind you at the abandoned fairground.’
–Playgroup Festival
When we thought that the atmosphere could not get any better, the members of Buffo’s Wake convinced us otherwise. Sympathetic, energetic, persuasive, playful and professional, they kept up the energy levels throughout the gig. It was easy to see from the looks on their faces that they were very pleasantly surprised by Zagreb’s audience – being so well received even though it was their first time in our region. They completely ruled the moment….. an explosion of energy and dancing…..the audience was insatiable, and called for an encore several times. The highlight of the evening was during the last two songs, when about 20 people from the audience climbed onto the stage and become one with the band, who visibly enjoyed every moment.
– Balkanrock.com