The 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, The 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 The 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,ARAJINLRATVAKAN. “Album Launch of Bambir’s Armenian Scotch” 1in.am. Retrieved 5 December 2012. 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.Kavanagh, Paul. chewyourownfat.wordpress.com. Retrieved 5 December 2012. 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,Hot Press News Desk. "Knockanstockan: first acts revealed!" Hot Press. Retrieved 5 December 2012. No Place Like Dome, Body&Soul,Hot Press News Desk. "UPDATE: Body and Soul Festival" Hot Press. Retrieved 5 December 2012. and Electric Picnic, as well as special events like launches and Tower Records' 19th birthday.Hot Press News Desk. "Happy Birthday Tower" Hot Press. Retrieved 5 December 2012. 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.Hot Press News Desk. "Stag's Head Gears Up For Arthur's Day" Hot Press. Retrieved 5 December 2012. State called them "Ireland's hairiest and hardest working band," featuring them as part of their 2012 Electric Picnic coverage.White, Hilary A. "Electric Picnic '12: The Bambir" State.ie. Retrieved 5 December 2012. They appeared on Near FM,near tv productions “Near FM Sessions- The Bambir- July 26th 2012” neartv.ie. Retrieved 5 December 2012. 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.CIVILNET TV. “The Bambir have Returned” civilnet.am. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
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 ReleasesBambir (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" AlbumRecorded 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
10. http://www.allmusic.com/album/quake-mw0000670482
11. http://www.globalrhythm.net/WorldMusicCDReviews/MiddleEastNorthAfrica/BAMBIR.cfm
12. SXSW 2016. https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2016-01-29/sxsw-list-no-5/
13. US Tour 2016
14. Mid West Music Fest 2016
15. RockWood Music Hall, New York 2016
16. Erevan Report 2017
17. Vnews 2018
18. The Armenian Weekly 2020
19. "Arev e Elel" Album Launch 2020 https://azat.tv/the-bambir-y-nerkayacrel-e-gzhi-harsaniq-steghcagorcutyuny/ https://168.am/2020/05/22/1306032.html
External links The Bambir - Armenia In Rock Youtube Channel Spotify Bandcamp Deezer Soundcloud iTunes The Bambir's Facebook Page The Bambir's Instagram Jag's Facebook Page Armenia Vibes