Hungary has made many contributions to the fields of folk, popular and classical music. Hungarian folk music is a prominent part of the national identity and continues to play a major part in Hungarian music. It is also strong in the Szabolcs-Szatmár area and in the southwest part of Transdanubia. The Busójárás carnival in Mohács is a major Hungarian folk music event, formerly featuring the long-established and well-regarded Bogyiszló orchestra.
Omega was a Hungarian rock band formed in 1962, which has been described as the most successful Hungarian band in history. They have released more than 20 albums both in Hungarian and English. After several early personnel changes, their classic lineup came together in 1971 and was intact for more than forty years. Singer János Kóbor was with the band continuously from 1962 until his death in 2021; keyboardist/singer László Benkő was present from 1962 until his death in 2020. Guitarist György Molnár and bassist Tamás Mihály joined in 1967, and drummer Ferenc Debreczeni joined in 1971. Omega won several prestigious awards for their contributions to Hungarian culture.
FreshFabrik is a Hungarian industrial nu metal band consisting of Szabolcs Oláh aka (kju:), András Szabó (drums) and Levente Kovács and László Szvoboda. FreshFabrik is the first Hungarian English-singing rock/metal band using DJ and rap performances, and the first Hungarian rock/metal band contracted to a major record label. FreshFabrik is one of the best-selling English-singing Hungarian rock bands of all time. After a three-year break, in 2011 they released a brand-new album MORA. In 2013, after a successful 20 years anniversary tour, FreshFabrik released a new single, and video Higher & Higher with reunited members: Istvan Horvath and Matyas Koncz.
Hungarian rock has been a part of the popular music of Hungary since the early 1960s. The first major bands were Illés, Metró and Omega. At the time, rock was not approved of by the Hungarian Communist authorities. In the 1970s, the Communists cracked down on rock, and Illés was banned from recording. Some members of the other bands formed a supergroup called Locomotiv GT, while the band Omega became very popular in Germany.
17 Hippies is a band from Berlin, Germany, playing largely on acoustic instruments, a radically democratic collective of professionals and amateurs. Their music is a confection of various folk influences. They are most popular in their native Germany and France.
Blind Myself is a Hungarian metalcore band formed in 1995.
Edda Művek is a Hungarian rock band formed in 1973 initially under the name "Griff". Undergoing a brief name change to Edda, the band finally settled for Edda Művek shortly thereafter. The name "Edda" was inspired by the Prose Edda of Norse Mythology while the word, "Művek" (works), is a symbolic reference to the band originally starting its career in the industrial city of Miskolc, also dubbed as the "Steel City". According to frontman, Attila Pataky, "Művek" has also come to represent the band's "labor intensive" work ethic and prolific approach to songwriting, recording and touring.
Pokolgép is a Hungarian heavy metal band formed in the early 1980s. They were among the first heavy metal bands in Hungary along with Moby Dick. The name "Pokolgép" literally means Infernal Machine, but is the Hungarian word for a home-made bomb.
Mandry is a Ukrainian folk-rock/blues/ska band formed in 1998 in Kyiv. The band's vocalist and lead member is Serhiy Fomenko. Their music combines traditional Ukrainian folk music with modern rhythms, influenced by urban life, French chansons, reggae, blues, rock and punk.
Hard is a Hungarian hard rock supergroup formed in late 2004 in Budapest, Hungary by József Kalapács and Gábor Mirkovics. The rest of the band consisted of guitarist Zsolt Csillik, keyboardist Dénes Makovics and drummer Zoltán Váry.
Kaláka is a folk music group formed in Budapest, Hungary on November 26, 1969. The founding members are Dániel Gryllus, Vilmos Gryllus, István Mikó and Balázs Radványi. Later Mikó was replaced by Péter Dabasi who in turn was replaced by Péter Huzella and later by Gábor Becze. Tamás Kobzos Kiss was also a member of the band for a short time. They have been in their current lineup since 1996.
Ági Szalóki is a Hungarian folk singer. She has toured worldwide with world music and folk revival bands such as Besh o droM and Ökrös.
Wisdom was a Hungarian power metal band from Budapest. Formed in autumn 2001, the group was known for its practice of basing each song on a well-known quotation. Many of the band's lyrics and all of the album covers center on the story of an old man, a cult figure called Wiseman.
Tárkány Művek are a group of Hungarian traditional and jazz musicians from Budapest, Hungary. Their sound welds traditional Hungarian folk with classical music and avant garde jazz, more recently with reggae and rock.
An Imaginary Report on an American Rock Festival is a Hungarian musical by composer Gábor Presser, lyricist Anna Adamis and book writer Sándor Pós based on the short novel of the same name by Tibor Déry. The musical premiered in 1973, and being the first successful Hungarian rock musical opened the way for popular music to Hungarian theatres and literature. It is set in a U.S. rock festival and tells a story of a married Hungarian immigrant couple.
Hungarian pop is the pop music scene of Hungary. It is often associated with Rezső Seress's song "Gloomy Sunday" which was covered by numerous artists. The most notable artists include Zsuzsa Cserháti, Kati Kovács, Zsuzsa Koncz, Judith Szűcs, Péter Máté, Locomotiv GT, Omega, Neoton Família, Karthago, Jimmy Zámbó. Among the new talents are Kállay Saunders and Linda Király.
Sexepil is a Hungarian indie-alternative rock band based in Budapest, Hungary. The band was formed by Zoltán Hegyi, Viktor László, Tamás Kocsis, and Tibor Vangel in 1984.
Tamás Szén Molnár is a Hungarian interior designer and architect.
András Petruska, professionally known as Petruska, is a Hungarian singer and songwriter. He is most notable for participating in A Dal 2016.
Gábor Presser is a Kossuth Prize winning Hungarian musician, composer, singer. He was a band member in Locomotiv GT and Omega, and has been a prominent personality in Hungarian pop and rock music.
