Fugu Dugu is Chicago’s Wild East Punk band — a female-led collision of Eastern European folklore, klezmer, Americana & punk, delivered with explosive violin, electric guitars, multilingual storytelling and a live energy built to make people move. Rooted in the musical traditions of Moldova and Eastern Europe but unmistakably shaped by Chicago, Fugu Dugu performs in Romanian, Ukrainian, Russian and English, transforming old melodies and folklore into something contemporary, theatrical and defiantly its own. At the center are classically trained violinist and vocalist Olya Prohorova (Madame Broshkina) & guitarist and songwriter Bucky Wanko, whose songs move freely between humor and protest, mythology and modern life. The band has toured 15 cities across the U.S., packed Chicago stages including Old Town School of Folk Music, SPACE and City Winery, and performed and collaborated with artists including The Klezmatics, Vopli Vidopliassova and Enver İzmaylov. Following a breakout appearance at Square Roots Festival, the Chicago Sun-Times described Fugu Dugu as feeling like “attending a raucous Eastern European wedding and standing on the front lines of a revolt at the same time.” This month, Fugu Dugu enters its next chapter with ‘Bucky Wanko and the Legend of Baba Yaga’, an album that pulls Slavic folklore into the present — and its accompanying The Legend of Baba Yaga: East Meets West touring project. The band also appears at Lotus World Music & Arts Festival and heads into 2027 as an Official Showcase Artist at Folk Alliance International.
Fugu Dugu doesn’t preserve Eastern European folklore. They make it dance.
I had such a great time catching up with violinist & vocalist Olya Prohorova (Madame Broshkina) ahead of the October 22nd show in Madison at North Street Cabaret. Olya takes a moment to let us know how she describes just what Fugu Dugu is all about, it’s adventurous way of setting feelings free and a danceable spirit unleashed. During our conversation, it is clear we share a lot of the same views on this music, music in general and part of the job of the sound. I think many people will find that same connection in the music, the live show and the people behind it all. Olya describes the making of the new album ‘Bucky Wanko and the Legend of Baba Yaga’. This leads us down many paths into songs, styles and the Fugu Twist added to a couple of Western Americana classics. At the end of our chat she puts toGether a setlist based around a tune from the new record. No one would be disappointed by any of her choices and let the dancing begin.
