About us

Hetret is a group from south-western Hungary, a part of the country that has always been the melting pot of different cultures and traditions. Three countries meet here: Hungary, Austria and Slovenia, and this region gives home to several minorities, thus it is exceptionally rich in musical traditions. Hetret originally played traditional Irish music and later made its repertoire more colorful with Transylvanian, Balkan, Moldavian and Finnish musical elements.

Hetret was born in the summer of 1998. The five Hungarian musicians coming from western and southern Hungary were completed with two American violinists in the autumn of 1999 which made up the ensemble for the first album.

The title of the first album is Hetric Free Folk, which suggests that though their music is traditional, it is typically "Hetric" at the same time.

In 2004 there has been considerable changes in the group. Besides the original members (Boa Veronika Setanta - lead vocal; Hochrein Judit - whistles, accordion, vocals; Kardos Endre Bozi - flute, whistle, bagpipe, vocals; Tóth István - guitar, charango, bodhran, vocals) you can see Kása Ilka (violin, vocals), Óvári Miklós (guitar), Szantner László (bass guitar), Radics Igor (drum and percussion), Lőrincz Tamás (drum and percussion) on stage whose presence make the music of Hetret even more exciting and complete. From time to time, former members, Kim Coleman and Jon Hanson ride into town from America and join Hetret for a special concert or two.

The group claims that the year of 2004 will be theirs (within the style). If the successes and achievements of last year are added to this assertion we can state that they are not far from the truth. Last year they had a successful concert on the Stage of World Music in the Island Festival (where only seven Hungarian groups could play) besides they fulfilled many invitations to programs in different parts of the country. Hetric Free Folk, their first album was received with love and appreciation by both the profession and the audience and takes pride in excellent sales.

The new Cd, coming out in summer, hopefully will have the same success.