Originally from Leeds, Cossack folk-punk pioneers The Ukrainians have brought Ukrainian music and culture to the attention of the West and taken it to people of Ukrainian heritage across the globe. And their music has gone into orbit, with NASA astronaut Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper playing their songs on the International Space Station. 

 

Written and compiled by the band’s Peter Solowka and Len Liggins, The Ukrainians: Taking Kyiv to the Kosmos celebrates the band's 35-year career. 

 

This large format hardback, with over 200 full colour images from the band’s archive, is packed with stories from current and former band members along with fans, friends and musical collaborators, including David Gedge (The Wedding Present), Jah Wobble, Andrew ‘Whitey’ White (Kaiser Chiefs), TV Smith (The Adverts), Harri Kakoulli (Squeeze) and Shaun Charman (Jetstream Pony, The Wedding Present).

 

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Len Liggins was awarded the honorary title of ‘Legendary’ by no less a person than DJ John Peel more than 35 years ago. A singer and violinist, Len is a founding member of The Ukrainians, which plays traditional Ukrainian music heavily influenced by Western post-punk. 

 

Peter Solowka - Guitarist and co-author Peter was a member of Indie legends The Wedding Present until 1990.