Kommuna Lux

As part of a tour spanning the Midwest and East Coast, Ukrainian folk group Kommuna Lux returns to Lansing Wednesday, on a mission to “share the spirit of Ukraine through music that heals, unites and refuses to be silenced.”

Hailing from the coastal city of Odesa, the band comprises clarinetist Volodymyr Gitin, vocalist Eugene Beltukov, accordionist Taras Luka, drummer Mykola Shevelyov and trombonist Serhii Zhuravel. Through a blend of musical styles reimagined for the modern age, including klezmer, Balkan swing and traditional Ukrainian folk, Kommuna Lux delivers “a joyful sound that makes it hard to sit still while hearing it,” as described by the alternative newspaper Isthmus. The group aims to provide a sense of home to displaced Ukrainians while highlighting the country’s rich traditions for American audiences.

Through the band’s nonprofit, KMLX, its shows raise money for those on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine. Recently, the band partnered with the Rotary Club of Ukraine to fund specialized hospital beds for burn victims.

“You’d be hard-pressed to think of a more fun, entertaining way to support Ukraine than to see Kommuna Lux,” Ann Arbor District Library entertainment site Arts Around Ann Arbor wrote in 2024.

Tickets are available at urbanbeatevents.com or at the door. For more information on Kommuna Lux, visit kommunalux.com.