Haydamaky, a Ukrainian band formed in 1991, initially known as Aktus, began their career playing reggae, ska, and punk music within Kiev's underground scene. The group's shift towards incorporating traditional Ukrainian folk elements into their sound was influenced by the addition of Oleksandr Yarmola on vocals and Ivan Lenyo on accordion. In 2001, they signed with EMI Records in London and changed their name to Haydamaky, honoring the historical Haidamaka rebellion against Polish nobility. Their album Bohuslav (2004) featured notable contributions from Ukrainian folk musicians like Vasyl Hekker on violin. In 2006, they released Ukraine Calling, which entered top 20 of the World Music Charts Europe. The following year, their album Kobzar (2008) peaked at seventh place in the same charts. Haydamaky has performed at various international festivals, including Sziget Festival (2009) and Womex (2006), and collaborated with Polish rock band Voo Voo on Voo Voo i Haydamaky (2008).
