BUDAPEST, with its dramatic location on the Danube, is one of Europe’s great cities, half of the twin hearts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and a cultural Mecca with a dark and enthralling history. Perhaps its greatest period was the late 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th – the music of that period draws you into the explosive, passionate atmosphere of the times.

No-one brings that heady Central European musical cocktail of klezmer, gypsy, Balkan, Romanian doina, Russian folk and Hungarian czardas to life better than the Budapest Cafe Orchestra with its charismatic leader, violinist Christian Garrick, whose lengthy national tour comes to the south west from 21st November, and has 12 dates scheduled between then and early May.

With their snazzy clothes and sassy banter, this quartet evokes vivid images of Tzigane fiddle maestros, Budapest café life, gypsy campfires and the often war-battered landscapes of Eastern Europe with their brilliant arrangements of traditional folk and ethnicmusic, plus their own re-imaginings of classical favourites.

Featuring Eddie Hession (accordion), Adrian Zolotuhin (domra/balalaika/guitar/saz) and Kelly Cantlon (double bass), the Budapest Café Orchestra was established in 2009 by composer and violinist Christian Garrick. Now, with 17 albums to their name, the group has legions of fans – early booking is strongly advised.

The dates include The Cause at Chippenham on  21st November, Royal Manor Theatre at Portland on 9th December, Halstock village hall on  10th, Woodgreen village hall on Friday 11th and Corfe Castle village hall on 12th December. After the Christmas break, the band continues its journey, stopping at Forest Arts at New Milton on  21st January, The Arc at Winchester on  23rd January, the Gateway at Seaton on 22nd April, Warminster’s Athenaeum on 23rd April, Combeinteignhead village hall on 25th April, Chagford village hall on 27th April, and you can also see them at Salisbury Arts Centre on  7th May.