Kalakan is a traditional Basque music ensemble formed in Hendaye, France, in 2009 by Paxkal Indo and Thierry Biscary. Originally established as a txalaparta duo, they invited Frédéric Chambon to form a trio, who was subsequently replaced by singer and percussionist Jamixel Bereau. Their self-titled debut album, Kalakan, was recorded in Biarritz and mixed in Paris, and was released in December 2010. The recording featured collaborations with pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque and the Paris-based Basque choir Anaiki. Following promotional concerts, Xan Errotabehere replaced Indo in the lineup. The trio won the 2011 tremplin polyphonique contest of the Transhumances musicales festival in Laàs and toured Europe before joining Madonna on The MDNA Tour (2012). During the tour, which traveled through Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, they performed arrangements of her hits alongside traditional Basque music, which included the song “Sagarra Jo!”. Their other recordings include the albums Elementuak (2015), B-Aldeak (2015), Da Terra (2016), Lamin (2017), Elementuak II (2019), and Artizar (2021).
