Tuesday, October 2
Ashkenaz
1317 San Pablo
(at Gilman), Berkeley.
Dance lesson 7:30, music 8:30;
$10.
Yeah, we know, it's hard being an East Bay Balkan music fanatic. We've tried it ourselves. It's always "Amnesia this" & "Ebonic Center that." What happened to all the Roma that used to live in the Berkeley flats anyway? (It's true!) I guess they had to move out of their chic 4th St. storefronts eventually.
Well relief is nigh. Stalwart Ashkenaz, arguably the midwife of Bay Area the Balkan music & dance scene, is here to help: Balkan Tuesdays are back! & we intend to kick em off in style.
Featuring Kaladrios (formerly known as the Greg & Aya band) playing beautiful traditional Greek music, and then, well, us. Come on down!
Sunday, October 14
KKUP 91.5FM
Cupertino/Santa Clara.
8-9pm.
Saturday, October 20
Dan Cantrell & his group of supremely talented performers forge a resonant new sound from a blend of Roma, Jewish, & Eastern European influences. Cantrell received a prestigious award from the Creative Work Fund to become the 22nd Annual Jewish Music Festival's commissioned artist for the opening night extravaganza, Musical Fortunes. An Emmy-award winning film composer, front man for the Balkan rock outfit the Toids, and performer with acts ranging from Joanna Newsom to Tom Waits, his creations beckon you to listen. This unique performance is augmented with circus arts, & features a host of prodigious musical talent.
Eliyahu & Qadim guide you through Middle Eastern deserts, North Indian mountains, & the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The group is composed of Indian, Iranian, Jewish, Moroccan & Syrian musicians & celebrates the common musical & spiritual heritage of the troubled region's ancient cultures.