Despite covering a huge swath of Europe, Balkan and Eastern European sounds have insanely cross-mutating tendencies that make it hard to isolate what’s coming from where. So we're sticking with Balkan in the headline, because it's punchy, but really we're talking more territory than that. No matter. Throw up your hands, pound back a few shots and get dancing. Here are this summer’s proudest cross-territory sounds, from a panel of people in the know.

Mark Marczyk (Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Toronto)

At this point, anyone who’s come anywhere near Kensington Market in Toronto is familiar with the Lemon Bucket Orkestra, to say nothing of their (viral) performance at Pearson Airport. They are quite simply one of the city’s great party bands.

Mark Marczyk is the ringleader in the group, and he suggests “Dikhél Khelél” by Taraf de Haïdouks and Kocani Orkestar. “The loping riff at the beginning is so catchy and Kocani?'s rhythm section is just unrelenting throughout," he says. "The solos are killer. Just one of the many awesome tunes on this album from two monsters on the scene.”

Jef Touski (Montréal East)

Jef Touski throws the definitive Balkan Beat parties in Montreal. For his pick, he declares, “I would definitely go with a track from Shazalakazoo. This duo of DJ/musicians comes from Belgrade in Serbia and produce the sickest electronic music from the Balkans. 'Bang!' from their latest album delivers a wicked beat mixed with some fine wobbles and gets you high with a powerful brass section. I love how it gets people crazy on the dance floor.”

Brigitte Dajczer (Briga, Montreal)

Briga Dajczer pushes the envelope with her mix of traditional Macedonian, Bulgarian and Serbian songs mixed with the contemporary energy of turbo-folk. She’s digging “MMA” by Bulgarian chalga star Azis for more than just the music.

“Azis is one of the most controversial Balkan pop superstars in the world," Dajczer says. "This is mainly due to the fact that he is of Romani descent, and he's gay. These two elements are feared and loathed in the Balkans, and, to me, Azis represents a mirror that pushes all the buttons people don't want to get pushed. And the obvious bonus: damn! I wanna dance and f--k to this track! Pure vicerality, my friend.”

Richard Medicineman is always a philosopher when asked for a musical comparison.

“I really struggle with the concept of favourites....” he begins via email, before I invoke ellipsis prerogative and cut straight to “this little ditty 'Wochenend Sonnenschein' hits the mark, hot off the press from accomplished German musician and producer, Wolfgang Lohr. This tune checks so many boxes musically that there's literally something for everyone ... it keeps the dance floor bumping on a classic house 4/4 beat, but still manages to swing rhythmically, all the while toying with that signature oom-pah polka sound and clearly not taking any of it too seriously.

"On top of all that, it just happens to be a top-notch recalibration of one of the most recognizable anthems from 1930s ragtime, with a German twist no less. It all adds up to an uber?-fun banger that has nothing and everything to do with Balkan Beat!"

Dmitri Vietze (Rock Paper Scissors publicity)

Dmitri Vietze is a busy guy, as one of North America’s top world-music-and-beyond publicists. He doesn’t hesitate to recommend Kottarashky & the Rain Dogs’ “Pancho Says” (and being a publicist, he urges me to look out for the recent cover by Montreal’s Socalled and Fanfare Ciocarlia).

Sometimes, there’s no time to spare for words when the dance floor beckons.

Listen to Kottarashky & the Rain Dogs' "Pancho Says."