If you ever find yourself at a Bedford Falls’ live show, the first thing you’ll notice is the unmistakable connection between the band and the audience. Their performances are defined by shared energy, where the crowd becomes part of the act – a fifth member of the band, turning every song into a collective chorus. And their music, free from genre boundaries, leaves you no choice but to sing along.
Formed in 2014, Bedford Falls — Dato (vocals), Mikho (guitar), Migro (bass) and Sandro (drums and backing vocals) — has grown into one of the leading forces in Georgia’s music scene. Inspired by Frank Capra’s classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life, the band took its name from the fictional town, where the story unfolds – a place where the lives of its residents are deeply intertwined, where community, kindness and human connections shape everyday city life.
“We were discussing, before the interview, what we’d answer if you asked us why Bedford Falls: because we believed ‘it’s a wonderful life,’” they say, talking about the band’s name, which, at the beginning was a challenge for listeners to remember, however today it’s more associated with the band rather than the film. “I specifically asked Mikho to watch the movie before I told him the name I had in mind,” recalls Dato, the band’s frontman, who came up with the idea. “I wanted him to understand the story behind it, to feel the meaning that made it right for us.”
In the band’s early days, the name seemed to shape their sound. Early releases, such as “Sazamtro” (which means ‘watermelon’ in Georgian, but also sounds like ‘for winter’) evoke a calm, cozy and homelike atmosphere, wrapped in the gentle warmth of the Christmas spirit. Today the band’s music is diverse, transcending genres and breaking conventional rules. They sing in both English and Georgian, believing that, like their creativity, music has no boundaries. And no matter what language you sing in, music remains a universal language itself.
When asked which of their songs represents Bedford Falls best, their responses are as diverse as their music, with each member naming a personal choice: “Kino,” “Come,” “Idaho,” “Calipso.”
But there is definitely a thing that unites all of their songs – the unique emotional bond the audience forms with them.
It’s also the main reason they don’t record in studios, but at home. A home environment allows them to be their true selves and share their raw emotions that resonate so deeply with the audience.
“We’ve tried recording in professional studios, but we didn’t like the results. It often felt soulless and didn’t match our mood. The usually sterile environment of big studios makes it challenging to find the right sound and mood for our songs. Recording in your natural setting feels better: you can wake up, get an idea and record it instantly.”
Sandro: “In the beginning we didn’t even have a licensed recording program on a computer. And in case the program crashed, we lost everything. There were times when the power went out and it was over – everything was gone. And yet it was on this demo version that we recorded tracks like ‘Dreamer Once’ and ‘Thrill is Gone,’ the latter of which has the most views on YouTube.”
Dato: “We would work all night, afraid to sleep, because if the computer went into sleep mode, we’d lose everything. We worked like this for about two to three years.”
Migro: “Yes, but everything that happened worked out for the best, and we have arrived here through the right decisions. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.”
Since its formation, the band has been exceptionally active – constantly moving forward, releasing new music and performing live. Last year, they embarked on a European tour, playing at festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the Fusion Festival in Germany. They also performed at the famous Paradiso in Amsterdam. Most recently, the band held a pair of sold-out concerts with a symphony orchestra, presenting audiences with fully re-orchestrated, brand-new versions of Bedford Falls’ iconic songs.
The band is now preparing to release its new album, LAZYBONES, which is scheduled for 2026.
“This album is our emotional reflection on the past year, which proved especially challenging for everyone. The new songs explore feelings of hopelessness, the struggle with apathy, the desire to escape, and, at the same time, the effort to hold on to love during dark times. These themes may not always appear explicitly in the lyrics or context, but emotionally, each crisis is directly reflected in the music, as most of the tracks were written during this period.”
“Sonically, the album introduces new elements that will feel fresh to listeners, while the signature sound they know and love remains intact.”
When asked what they themselves listen to, the band’s answers were just as varied and eclectic. The conversation began with bands like Geese, Of Montreal, The Velvet Underground, Arcade Fire, and eventually drifted into mainstream pop.
But despite their different tastes, the band still shares a point of intersection, just as they do in everything else: The Beatles. “There was a time we could talk about The Beatles for hours, and honestly, nothing has changed in these ten years,” they agree.
However, a lot has changed over these years in their music and career. Started out as an unknown band, playing wherever they could, in every small bar, Bedford Falls’ name now appears on the lineups of major festivals and stages.
“Once, we asked the owner of one of the small bars for a bit more pay for a gig. Instead, he offered us the chance to sell tickets, letting us keep all the proceeds. That was the moment we first dared to sell our show. And when the bar filled with people who knew our songs by heart, it became an iconic moment for us, when we realized we were on the right path.”
Bedford Falls
Saba Gorgodze
Asked about dreams, listed among them were performing at the Glastonbury Festival, appearing on Saturday Night Live, serving as the opening act for a renowned musician’s tour and even gaining a spot on Barack Obama’s annual playlist. However, their main and most important wish was expressed as follows: “In today’s world, when artists have to act as their own promoters but often lack the skills to do so, there’s a persistent feeling that your work could reach so many more people – not just in Georgia, but around the world – if only you had the right resources. We feel a real sense of loss that our music could resonate with more people globally. This isn’t about chasing profit, it’s about the feeling that something meaningful could reach further and you want more people to experience it. There’s always an underlying hope that your work will find its way to someone, giving them the chance to decide for themselves whether it speaks to them. That’s the main desire – to connect with a wider audience.”
“Personally, I believe even Tyler, the Creator would enjoy our music if it reached him,” Sandro added joyfully.
And to the final question – what they would like to say to the audience just discovering Bedford Falls – they replied, with their usual humor, lightness and confidence: “You’re late!”
Then added: “We would just tell them to listen to us. Valuable music is being made in every corner of the world, no matter the origins, it can hit home just as deeply as something local. And we hope our songs become a part of their own story.”
This article originally appeared in Billboard Georgia.
Bedford Falls
Saba Gorgodze
