Editing Orthodox Celts

{{Short description|Serbian band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Orthodox Celts
| image           = Orthodox Celts Railroads.jpg
| image_size      = 250px
| caption         = Orthodox Celts in 2021
| background      = group_or_band
| origin          = [[Belgrade]], [[Serbia]] 
| genre           = {{flatlist|
* [[Irish folk music|Irish folk]]
* [[Celtic rock]]
}}
| years_active    = 1992&ndash;present
| label           = Take It Or Leave It Records, ITMM, [[Metropolis Records (Serbia)|Metropolis Records]], Automatik, O'Celts Records
| website         = [http://www.orthodoxcelts.com// www.orthodoxcelts.com]
| associated_acts = Roze Poze, Pachamama, [[Nikola Čuturilo|Čutura i Oblaci]], [[Ruž]], [[Irish Stew of Sindidun]], Despot
| current_members = Aleksandar Petrović<br/>Dušan Živanović<br/>Dejan Lalić<br/>Nikola Stanojević<br />Vladan Jovković<br />Dejan Grujić<br />Dragan Gnjatović
| past_members    = Ana Đokić<br />Dejan Jevtović<br />Dejan Popin<br />Bojan Petrović
}}

'''Orthodox Celts''' is a [[Serbia]]n  [[band (music)|band]] formed in [[Belgrade]] in 1992 which plays [[Folk music of Ireland|Irish folk music]] combined with [[Rock music|rock]] elements. Despite their uncharacteristic genre in their home country, the band has been one of the top acts of the [[Serbian rock|Serbian rock scene]] since their formation, and has influenced a number of younger Serbian bands, most notably [[Irish Stew of Sindidun]] and [[Alfapop|Tir na n'Og]].

The band started their career performing traditional Irish songs and, gradually, introduced more and more of their own material (lyrics mostly written by the band's frontman Aleksandar "Aca Seltik" Petrović, music mostly written by band's [[violin]]ist Ana Đokić). All their lyrics are in [[English language|English]], but the group has composed some purely instrumental songs as well. They traditionally celebrate [[St. Patrick's Day]] with a large concert in [[Belgrade]]. The group has released six studio albums to date.

==Band history==
===1990s===
During the mid-1980s, Dušan Živanović, [[Drum kit|drummer]] of the [[Pub rock (United Kingdom)|pub rock]] band [[Roze Poze]] (''Pink Poses''), wanted to form a band which would perform cover versions of Irish folk songs. Even though he had partially managed to fulfill this idea through some of the songs recorded by Roze Poze, in 1992 he took up playing the [[accordion]] and, with Ana Đokić ([[violin]]) and Dejan Lalić ([[mandolin]], [[banjo]], [[tin whistle]]s), formed Orthodox Celts, which initially gathered occasionally for club performances.<ref name="janjatović372">{{cite book|last=Janjatović|first=Petar|title=Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960–2023|year=2024|publisher=self-released / Makart|location=Belgrade|page=372}}</ref> The band had their first official public appearance on [[Saint Patrick]]'s day in 1992, at the [[Great Britain|British]] Council in Belgrade.<ref name="janjatović372"/> At the end of the following year, vocalist Aleksandar Petrović joined the band and their performances became more frequent. The band had their first performance with Petrović on 9 November 1993 in [[Belgrade Youth Center]].<ref name="janjatović372"/><ref name="glas javnosti">[http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2003/02/21/srpski/R03022001.shtml "Irska muzika među Srbima", Glas javnosti]</ref> Soon the band completed the lineup with the arrival of guitarist Vladan Jovković and bassit Dejan Jevtović, with Živanović swtching back to drums, also playing [[bodhrán]] on the band's performances.<ref name="janjatović372"/>

The band released their debut [[Orthodox Celts (album)|self-titled album]] in 1994, featuring cover versions of twelve Irish folk songs. Among the covers appeared the songs "[[The Wild Rover]]", "[[The Irish Rover]]", "[[Weela Weela Walya]]", "[[All For Me Grog]]", "[[Poor Old Dicey Riley]]", [[football chant]] "[[The Celtic Song|A Grand Old Team]]", and others.<ref name="janjatović372"/> The album featured guest appearances by Viktorija Jevtić on vocals, Sava Đustibek on guitar, Predrag Guculj on bass guitar and Lusila Gluščević on flute. The band presented the album on a series of concerts, mainly in [[Belgrade]]'s Club of Technical Sciences Students, but also performed acoustic sets in smaller venues.<ref name="janjatović372"/> At the same time, the band started writing their own songs, keeping up with the existing musical style.<ref name="janjatović372"/> On 15 September 1995, at Synagogue in [[Novi Sad]], they held a performance with the band Pachamama, which performed [[Andean music]]. The recording of the concert was released on the split live album ''[[Muzičke paralele]]'' (''Musical Parallels'') in 1996.<ref name="janjatović372"/>

For the next album, ''[[The Celts Strike Again]]'', the band, beside the cover versions of traditional songs, included two of their own songs, "Drinking Song" and "Blue".<ref name="janjatović372"/> As guests on the album appeared actress [[Ana Sofrenović]], who recorded vocals for the track "Loch Lomond", vocalist of the band [[Vampiri]] Aleksandar Eraković, who recorded backing vocals, member of the band Stočari Branko Vitas, who played banjo, Pachamama member Miljan Mihaljčić, who played [[khene]] and thin whistle, and Renesansa member Žorž Grujić, who played [[Zurla (instrument)|zurla]] and [[Gajde|Serbian bagpipes]].<ref name="janjatović372"/> Three promotional videos were recorded for the album, for "Drinking Song", "[[Star Of The County Down]]" and the title track. In 1997, the band, with [[jazz]] and [[world music]] singer [[Madame Piano]], recorded the song "Galija" ("Galley"), which was released on her album ''Predeli'' (''Landscapes'').<ref name="janjatović372"/> At the time, the band presented their new member, Dejan Popin (tin whistles), and started working on their new release.<ref name="janjatović372"/> In September 1998, the band represented [[FR Yugoslavia]] on the GEA ethnic music festival in [[Salonica]].<ref name="glas javnosti"/>

''[[Green Roses]]'', released in 1999, featured sixteen songs, half of which were covers of traditional songs, and the other half their original songs.<ref name="janjatović372"/> The album was produced by Aleksandar Radosavljević, and as guests appeared Dragoljub Marković (keyboards), Aleksandar Eraković (keyboards) and Goran Stojković (backing vocals).<ref name="janjatović372"/> Promotional videos were recorded for the tracks "[[Rocky Road to Dublin]] / Down The River", "Merry Sisters", "Far Away", and the title track.<ref name="glas javnosti"/>

===2000s===
In 2001, [[Metropolis Records (Serbia)|Metropolis Records]] re-released Orthodox Celts debut album with the band's songs from the split live album ''Muzičke paralele'' as bonus tracks.<ref name="janjatović372"/> The following year, the band released their fourth studio album, ''[[A Moment Like the Longest Day]]''.<ref name="janjatović372"/> The album songs were written by Đokić (who also sang lead vocals on "Can You Get Me Out?"), Petrović, new bass guitarist Dejan Grujić (formerly of [[Nikola Čuturilo|Čutura i Oblaci]] and [[Ruž]]) and Colette Ioanniduoi.<ref name="janjatović372"/> The album featured only one cover of a traditional song, "Humors Of Scariff".<ref name="janjatović372"/> [[Block Out (band)|Block Out]] leader [[Nikola Vranjković]] produced the album, and the band moved to a more rock-oriented sound than on the previous releases.<ref name="janjatović372"/> Promotional videos were recorded for "Can You Get Me Out" and the title track. In 2002, Orthodox Celts performed on the [[Exit festival]] alongside [[Shane MacGowan]], and Petrović appeared on the stage with MacGowan performing "The Irish Rover" with him.<ref name="janjatović372"/>

In 2007, the band released their fifth studio album, ''[[One, Two... Five]]''. The album, produced by Nikola Vranjković, brought eleven songs, two of which are covers of traditional songs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popboks.com/tekst.php?ID=5099 |title=''One Two... Five'' review at Popboks |publisher=Popboks.com |date=2011-03-24 |access-date=2012-02-28}}</ref> and one of them being a cover of the [[Thin Lizzy]] song "[[Sarah (Thin Lizzy song)|Sarah]]".<ref name="balkanrock.com">{{cite web|url=http://balkanrock.com/aca-celtic-orthodox-celts-spremamo-album-nabijen-emocijama/|title=Aca Celtic (Orthodox Celts): Spremamo album nabijen emocijama|work=Balkanrock.com|access-date=15 May 2016}}</ref> Unlike the band's previous releases, for which most of the band's songs were composed by Ana Đokić, songs for ''One, Two... Five'' were composed mostly by Dejan Grujić.<ref name="janjatović372"/> Several months after the album release, Đokić left Orthodox Celts, and was replaced by Nikola Stanojević.<ref name="janjatović372"/> During the same year, [[PGP-RTS]] released the [[DVD]] ''World Music Stage'', featuring the recording of performances from the Exit festival World Music Stage, including Orthodox Celts' performance.<ref name="janjatović372"/>

In 2009, the band wrote and recorded the music for the [[Yugoslav Drama Theatre]] play ''Prevođenje'' (''Translating''), directed by Dejan Mijač.<ref name="janjatović372"/>

===2010s===
In 2012, Dejan Popin was replaced by Bojan Petrović, leader of the [[Celtic rock]] band [[Irish Stew of Sindidun]].<ref name="janjatović372"/> In Orthodox Celts Petrović played whistles and sung backing vocals, continuing to front his own band.<ref name="janjatović372"/> In March 2012, the band held their traditional [[Saint Patrick's Day]]'s day tour, including two 20th anniversary celebration concerts at the [[Studentski kulturni centar (Belgrade)|Students' Cultural Centre]] in Belgarade, one being an [[Acoustic music|unplugged]] set for a limited number of visitors, and the other a standard tour set.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/kultura/vesti.php?nav_category=271&yyyy=2012&mm=02&nav_id=586369 |title=Kultura - Vesti - Ortodoks Kelts u SKC-u 17. marta |publisher=B92 |access-date=2012-02-28}}</ref> On 12 July 2013, the band performed at the 47th [[Montreux Jazz Festival]].<ref name="janjatović372"/> In 2016, Bojan Petrović left Orthodox Celts and Dragan Gnjatović came to his place.<ref name="janjatović372"/>

[[File:Orthodox Celts "Many Mouths Shut".jpg|thumb|250px|Orthodox Celts in 2017]]
On 13 January 2017, the band released their latest studio album, ''[[Many Mouths Shut!]]'', previously announced by singles "Save Me", released in March 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://balkanrock.com/orthodox-celts-objavili-novu-pesmu-i-spot/|title=Orthodox Celts objavili novu pesmu i spot|work=Balkanrock.com|access-date=15 May 2016}}</ref> and "One / Milk & Honey", released in March 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://balkanrock.com/novi-spot-ortodox-celtsa/|title=Novi spot Orthodox Celtsa|work=Balkanrock.com|access-date=15 May 2016}}</ref> The album featured seven songs authored by the band and six covers of traditional Irish songs.<ref name="janjatović372"/> It was produced by Dejan Lalić and released through the band's own label, O'Celts Records.<ref>[http://www.rockomotiva.com/fresh/albumi/orthodox-celts-cujte-i-pocujte-many-mouths-shut/ "Orthodox Celts: Čujte i počujte ‘Many Mouths Shut’", rockomotiva.com]</ref> The album artwork was designed by [[Italy|Italian]] comic book artist Walter Venturi and inspired by Venturi's work on ''[[Zagor (comics)|Zagor]]''.<ref name="janjatović372"/> In 2018, the band performed in Ireland for the first time, in the club Fibber Magees in [[Dublin]].<ref name="janjatović372"/> In June 2020, the band, in cooperation with the Gvint brewery, launched their own brand of beer, Orthodox Celts Irish Red Lager.<ref name="janjatović372"/><ref>[https://www.telegraf.rs/pop-i-kultura/muzika/3201466-bend-ortodox-celts-promovisao-svoje-pivo-crveni-irski-lager "Bend Ortodox Celts promovisao svoje pivo: Crveni irski lager", telegraf.rs]</ref>

===2020s===
In 2023, the remastered edition of the album ''One, Two... Five!'' was released on green [[Vinyl record|vinyl]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Album „One, Two…Five!“ grupe Orthodox Celts reizdat na zelenom vinilu |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTXG9zKTqC8 |website=Balkanrock.com |access-date=15 February 2025 |language=sr-RS |date=31 July 2023}}</ref> In February 2024, the band appeared in the non-competitive part of ''[[Pesma za Evroviziju '24]]'', the [[Radio Television of Serbia]]-organized contest for [[Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024|Serbian entry]] for the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2024|2024 Eurovision Song Contest]], performing a cover of "[[Does Your Mother Know]]" as a part of [[ABBA]] medley.<ref>{{cite web |title=PZE24: Orthodox Celts - Does Your Mother Know |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTXG9zKTqC8 |website=YouTube |access-date=15 February 2025 |language=sr-RS}}</ref>

==Legacy==
In 2021, the band's album ''[[Green Roses]]'' was polled 57th and the album ''[[A Moment Like the Longest Day]]'' was polled 91st on the list of 100 Best Serbian Albums Since the Breakup of [[SFR Yugoslavia]]. The list was published in the book ''[[Kako (ni)je propao rokenrol u Srbiji]]'' (''How Rock 'n' Roll in Serbia (Didn't) Came to an End'').<ref name="antonić">{{cite book|last=Antonić|first=Duško|title= Kako (ni)je propao rokenrol u Srbiji|year=2021|publisher=Take It Or Leave It|location=Belgrade|pages=151–238}}</ref>

==Members==
===Current members===
*Aleksandar Petrović - vocals (1993–present)
*Dejan Lalić - octave mandola, mandolin, banjo, backing vocals (1992–present)
*Nikola Stanojević - violin (2009–present)
*Vladan Jovković - acoustic guitars, backing vocals (1993–present)
*Dejan Grujić - bass guitar, backing vocals (2001–present)
*Dušan Živanović - drums, bodhran (1992–present)
*Dragan Gnjatović - tin whistles (2016–present)

===Past members===
*Ana Đokić - violin (1992–2009)
*Dejan Jevtović - bass guitar (1993–2001)
*Dejan Popin - tin whistles (1997–2012)
*Bojan Petrović - tin whistles (2012–2016)

== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
*''[[Orthodox Celts (album)|Orthodox Celts]]'' (1994)
*''[[The Celts Strike Again]]'' (1997)
*''[[Green Roses]]'' (1999)
*''[[A Moment Like the Longest Day]]'' (2002)
*''[[One, Two... Five]]'' (2007)
*''[[Many Mouths Shut!]]'' (2017)

=== Live albums ===
*''[[Muzičke paralele]]'' (split live album, with Pachamama; 1996)

=== Other appearances ===
*"Galija" (with [[Madame Piano]]; ''Predeli'', 1997)

== References ==
<references/>

==External links==
{{commons category|Orthodox Celts}}
* {{Official website|http://www.orthodoxcelts.com/}}
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Orthodox+Celts Orthodox Celts at Discogs]

{{Orthodox Celts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Serbian rock music groups]]
[[Category:Serbian celtic rock groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Belgrade]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1992]]