Orthodox Celts

During the mid-1980s, Dušan Živanović, drummer of the garage 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, Živanović took up playing the accordion and, with Ana Đokić (violin) and Dejan Lalić (mandolin, banjo, tin whistles), formed a band which performed occasionally at clubs.[2] The band had their first official public appearance on Saint Patrick's day in 1992, at the British Council.[2] At the end of the following year, vocalist Aleksandar Petrović, also known as Aca Celtic, joined the band and they started performing more often. Soon the band was joined by Vladan Jovković on guitar and Dejan Jevtović on bass.[2]

The band released their debut self-titled album in 1994, featuring cover versions of twelve Irish folk songs. Among the covers appeared the songs "Nancy Whiskey", football chant "A Grand Old Team", "The Wild Rover", "The Irish Rover", and others.[2] The band presented the album live, mainly in Belgrade's Club of Technical Sciences Students.[2] The band also had acoustic sets in chamber arrangement. At the same time, the band started writing their own songs, keeping up with the existing musical style.[2] On September 15, 1995, at Synagogue in Novi Sad, they held a performance with the band Pachamama, which performed Latin American music. The recording of the concert was released on the split live album Muzičke paralele (Musical Parallels) in 1996.[2]

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".[2] As guests on the album appeared actress Ana Sofrenović who did vocals on the track "Loch Lomond", vocalist of the band Vampiri, Aleksandar Eraković, who did backing vocals, member of the band Stočari Branko Vitas, who played banjo, Pachamama member Miljan Mihaljčić, who played the traditional instruments and Renesansa member Žorž Grujić, who played zurla and Serbian bagpipes.[2] 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).[2] At the time, the band presented their new member, Dejan Popin (tin whistles), and started working on their new release. Green Roses, released in 1999, featured sixteen songs, half of which were covers of traditional songs, and the other half their original songs. The album was produced by Aleksandar Radosavljević, and as guests appeared Dragoljub Marković (keyboards), Aleksandar Eraković and Goran Stojković (backing vocals).[2] Promotional videos were recorded for the tracks "Rocky Road to Dublin / Down The River", "Merry Sisters", "Far Away", and the title track.

In 2001, Metropolis Records re-released Orthodox Celts debut album on CD, and as bonus tracks appeared the songs from the live album Muzičke paralele.[2] The following year, the band released their fourth studio album, A Moment Like The Longest Day. The album featured the songs written by Đokić (who also sang lead vocals on "Can You Get Me Out"), Petrović, new bass guitarist Dejan Grujić (formerly of Čutura i Oblaci and Ruž) and Colette Ioanniduoi. The album featured only one traditional cover, "Humors Of Scariff".[2] Block Out member Nikola Vranjković produced the album, and the band moved to a more rock-oriented sound than on the previous releases.[2] Promotional video was recorded only for 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.[3]

Orthodox Celts performing live in Banja Luka in 2008

In 2007, the band released their fifth studio album, One, Two... Five, through Automatik records. The album, produced by Nikola Vranjković, brought eleven songs, two of which are covers of traditional songs,[4] and one of them being a cover of the Thin Lizzy song "Sarah". In 2009, Ana Đokić left Orthodox Celts, and was replaced by Nikola Stanojević.

In the early 2010s, Bojan Petrović, leader of the Celtic rock band Irish Stew of Sindidun, joined Orthodox Celts, playing whistles and singing backing vocals, continuing to front his own band.[5] In March 2012, the band held their traditional Saint Patrick's Day's day tour, including two 20th anniversary celebration concerts at the Students' Cultural Centre in Belgarade, one being an unplugged set for a limited number of visitors, and the other a standard tour set.[6] On July 12, 2013, the band performed on the Music in the Park Stage on the 47th Montreux Jazz Festival.[7]

In March 2014, the band released the singlee "Save Me".[8] In March 2015, they released the single "One / Milk & Honey".[9] In May 2016, Bojan Petrović left Orthodox Celts and in June 2016 Dragan Gnjatović came to his place.

On January 13, 2017, the band released their latest studio album, Many Mouths Shut. The album featured seven song authored by the band and six covers of traditional Irish songs. It was produced by Dejan Lalić.[10] The album artwork was designed by Italian comic book artist Walter Venturi.[11] In 2018, the band performed in Ireland for the first time, in the club Fibber Magees in Dublin.[12] In June 2020, the band, in cooperation with the Gvint brewery, launched their own brand of beer, Orthodox Celts Irish Red Lager.[13]

• 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)

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

• 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)

• Muzičke paralele (split live album, with Pachamama; 1996)

• "Galija" (with Madame Piano; Predeli, 1997)