Vasil Ziu & The Soul of Myzeqe

Vasil Ziu & The Soul of Myzeqe started performing together in 2002 with four musicians from the villages around Lushnja, central Albania. Having a long experience performing and cultivating the traditional music of Myzeqe, they have participated in many events and festivals both within Albania and abroad, such as in Treviso (Italy), North Macedonia, and Kosovo.

Vasil Ziu is the clarinetist and leader of the group. He was born in Lushnja in 1968 and lives in the village of Gorre with his family. He was named “Best Instrumentalist of the Folklore Festival” in Kosovo in May 2019 and has taken part in many other international festivals.

Vasillaq “Petsi” Kola is called the spirit of the group for the way he plays the tambourine (def). He was born in 1954 in the village of Mertish where he lives with his family.

Sokrat Çuni is the main singer of the group, having performed old traditional songs with his accordion for over forty years. He was born in 1955 in the village of Mertish.

Mihal Gjoka has been playing the accordion and singing in folklore festivals for over forty-five years. Born in 1954 in the village of Goricaj, he still lives there with his family.