The Gypsy Rebels

Michael T Butch founded The Gypsy Rebels in 2005 with the dream of bringing the traditional Gypsy repertoire he learned from his parents and grandparents to a wider audience here in Canada. His goal is not only to keep the music of his ancestors alive, but also to add a new dimension to each song with original arrangements and a unique reggae, funk, and soul sound. Michael is also an accomplished songwriter who sings from the heart about his passions, his philosophies, and his way of life.

The band's music is influenced by the sounds of Michael's neighborhood, Kensington Market, a bohemian and culturally rich community in downtown Toronto. One of the the band's most popular songs, Nassau Street, is the story of how Michael fell in love during a chance encounter one evening in the Market. Many of The Gypsy Rebels' earliest performances took place at the bars, restaurants, and festivals nearby, including regular shows at The Piccadilly, The Press Club, Lola's, and Kensington Pedestrian Sunday street festivals. Over time, the band expanded their audience with performances at some of Toronto's top live music venues including The Gladstone Hotel, Hugh's Room, and the main stage at The Harborfront Festival.

With the arrangements cemented and the band's musicians performing together several times per week, the time was right to record their first album, Between Worlds, at QED Media in Toronto. The album will be officially released at the end of January 2009, and pre-release versions of some of the tracks, including the band's version of the de facto Gypsy national anthem "Jelem Jelem", have enjoyed online popularity on YouTube and the band's website, http://thegypsyrebels.com.