Venetic Sessions: Untamed Carols

December 23, 2021 | Evangelical Church of Șomartin

On December 23rd, 2021, the Evangelical Church of Șomartin hosted the first edition of Venetic Sessions, featuring a unique concert of ancient carols reimagined in a contemporary style – Untamed Carols.

The event brought together the Avant’n’Gard ensemble, offering the audience a profound sonic experience at the intersection of tradition and modern experimentation. The Untamed Carols project was born from the desire to keep the caroling tradition alive while giving it new life — creating a musical dialogue between past and present.

Initially released as a bootleg album, Untamed Carols was later published by Thirsty Leaves Music, and the group performed these reinterpretations in several Romanian cities – Bucharest, Cluj, and Timișoara. In 2021, the project reached Jimbolia, Bistrița, and finally Șomartin, where this special concert turned the church into a space of resonance, warmth, and shared celebration.

Guests were invited to come warmly dressed and in good spirits, to celebrate Christmas together with carols, mulled wine, and tea.

Venetic Sessions is part of the broader Venetic initiative, launched earlier that year in September with the Venetic. First Take festival in Gherdeal.

The event encouraged donations for the artists, continuing Venetic’s mission to support independent culture and reinterpret traditional heritage through new creative expressions.