The band Bambir gave a concert dedicated to the 25^th anniversary of the Spitak Earthquake at Atchemyan State Dramatic Theater within the framework of the Gyumri as CIS Capital of Culture in 2013 Program on November 24. The concert was anticipated not only because the band was performing its big hits on the stage after a long break, but also because the old and new members of Bambir were all on one stage.

In an interview with ArmenPress, the band’s leader Gagik Barseghyan (Jag) mentioned that another goal was to let people know that there is only one Bambir.

“People always mix things up and say “Small Bambir” or “Big Bambir”. With this concert, we want to show that there is only one Bambir. If necessary, the young performers can give a concert by themselves. It’s safe to say that the young performers have surpassed the elders,” Jag said.

Talking about the creation of the band, Jag mentioned that the band will be celebrating its 35^th anniversary next year. The band was initially called Precious Stones, but it paid heed to sculptor Zaven Koshtoyan’s proposal and renamed it Bambir. “More than 50 musicians have been replaced. The youth sing songs that are more passionate. We perform songs in the folk-classical genre more than any other genre. But we collaborate with other bands and have songs with them as well. We hope this will be a new start and will continue,” Jag added.

The concert featured performances of the band’s old and new songs. The first part of the concert was devoted to the 25^th anniversary of the Spitak Earthquake, but the second part, as the leader mentioned, was more in the “major key”. The band performed songs that are mainly written by Jag. “This concert is very symbolic. With this we want to leave a part of the post-earthquake period in the past and turn a new page over. Now, the main issue of concern is to eliminate the consequences and not just state the facts,” vocalist, guitarist Narek Barseghyan (Bars) mentioned.

“I have been working with Jag for over two years now. We have any plans to hold concerts in Armenia and abroad. We’re scheduling a concert in Yerevan in March 2014. Next year, we would like to give concerts in the United States, France and Canada. We have big plans ahead of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, as well as for the next two years,” producer Gohar Danielyan mentioned in an interview with ArmenPress, adding that the band’s success is due to the spirit that Jag conveyed to the band members, as well as his individuality and motivating force.

The band was established in 1978 in Gyumri. The band’s members, including Gagik Barseghyan-Jag (vocals, guitar), Gurgen Hakobjanyan-Koko (vocals, flute) and Tatul Yeghiazaryan (cello), received a Folk Music Award at the Lid Festival in Belarus in 1982. Young members formed the new band in 1992 and continued the tradition of their elders. Those young members are talented musicians Arik Grigoryan (vocals, flute), Arman Kocharyan (bass-guitar) and Ashot Korganyan (drums), who perform with Jag’s son, Narek Bars (vocals, guitar).

In 2003, the members of Bambir won an award for Best Rock Band at the Armenian National Music Awards. In 2010, the band took part in the Eurovoice international contest and won third place with the song That’s Fine With Us.

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