Gig Review: Daria Kulesh and Marina Osman aka The Firebirds - Kitchen Garden, Kings Heath, Birmingham. Sunday 11th January 2026

 

The relevance of the firebird came to the fore midway through the second set with folk tales of its magical splendour gleefully devouring golden apples in the Tzar’s garden. Perhaps a metaphor for Daria Kulesh and Marina Osman casting their own musical spells on a heritage bedecked with feats of stoic resistance while striving to preserve an identity. The mid-winter fest of the orthodox calendar is a time for celebration and reflection, a moment when the search for warmth is wrapped in song and dance. January the 11th is right at the heart of this period, four days after Christmas and three before the New Year. Also the day in the UK when an Anglo-Russian folk singer and Anglo-Belarusian pianist combined to deliver a pair of compelling shows a hundred plus miles apart. The people of Walton-on-Thames likely had a marvellous afternoon; those of Kings Heath were definitely granted an inspiring evening.

The audience were singing Russian lyrics within the opening minutes, taught by the most engaging of teachers. Language lessons flitted in and out with popular international anthems such as ‘Those Were the Days’ (Russian origin) and ‘Silent Night’ (Austrian origin) allowing a full expression in English. Kulesh led the way as narrator extraordinaire and pristine vocalist; Osman gracefully guided her fingers across the keys in the glory of an esteemed pianist. The audience were teased with a mixture of English language originals such as ‘Made of Light’, ‘Sea to Skye’ and ‘Watch the Snow’ and traditional Eastern European folk songs depicting struggle, intrigue and pursuit. Personal and fantasy were never far apart. 

A cosy gathering was fully immersed in fact and fiction. We learned of a December snow-less Moscow now in the January midst of a record fall, ironically on a night when torrential rain washed away Birmingham’s own mini winter snow bomb. True stories like Stalin’s persecution in the Caucuses and a grandmother later lured by forbidden Russian love were brought to light with family relevance. The UK may have been Daria Kulesh’s home for many years but a fondness for the motherland runs deep through the music she creates with family stories right at the core. You sensed an artist with immense exhibitive pride, one exuding an alluring gratitude; folk music at its touchingly finest. 

This was the eighth time, or thereabouts, Daria Kulesh had brought her International Christmas Show to the Kitchen Garden, the last few graced by the presence of her friend Marina Osman. The beauty of a permanent fixture like this is that new fans can hop aboard at different times and savour an extension to the traditional Western festive period. It’s a show for a specific time and place, with two appearances in a day marking a desire to maximise a fleeting arrangement in the lives of busy musicians. 

Snippets of shruti box added to the sonic aura, oligarchs were booed and a mutual longing to swamp the heartless souls of Putin and Trump with songs bound by love and peace thrived. Whether besotted by ageless folklore stories such as ‘Vasilisa’ or stomping your feat to a show closing rendition of ‘Kalinka’, a couple of hours in the musical company of two accomplished performers proved an uplifting experience. 

Daria Kulesh weaved a thread of hope, joy and pride through the powerful medium of song. Marina Osman played divine piano. Together, The Firebirds sewed a cultural legacy into the fabric of a music community. The audience departed emotively blessed and linguistically enchanted.