One of Atlanta’s premier international musical events, The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival (AJMF), returns for its eighth year with a robust musical lineup sure to please all music loving crowds. The two and a half week festival will run March 2-19 in various locations throughout metro Atlanta.
AJMF is the largest Jewish music festival in the South and is known for featuring a diverse bill of artists ranging from jazz to hip hop to world music. This year’s festival continues the propensity to surprise and delight audiences with unique sounds, soul stirring melodies and energetic, foot stomping fun.
“One of the most diverse music festivals in the South and one of the largest Jewish music festivals in the world, AJMF defies the traditional definition of ‘Jewish Music,’” said AJMF Director Russell Gottschalk. “This year’s lineup includes Jewish artists from around the globe and some of the best musicians from our local community, including a first ever commission of new Southern Jewish music,” Gottschalk said.
Here are a few AJMF8 highlights you don’t want to miss!
AJMF8 Opening Night (March 2) at City Winery Atlanta featuring Jewish-Cuban ensemble Odessa / Havana. Lead by virtuosic trumpet player and composer David Buchbinder, this international group of musicians (from Toronto, Canada) will present an exhilarating and unprecedented project of musical discovery.
The celebration of Ladino culture continues with a multi-day artist residency by singer/songwriter Sarah Aroeste. Aroeste will perform an adult concert at AJMF8’s International Night on March 9 at Eddie’s Attic. Her residency also includes a kids’ concert at the MJCCA’s Family Purim Concert on March 12th.
For the first time in AJMF’s history, the festival is partnering with Atlanta’s favorite group of local musicians, ATL Collective, to recreate the first hip hop album to ever top the billboard charts – Beastie Boys’ Licensed to Ill. Israeli hip hop artists Peled, Axum and Sagol 59 will join ATL Collective musicians at Buckhead Theatre to perform the album in a way never heard before. This act is sure to bring down the house!
AJMF8 includes the holiday of Purim and many Atlanta synagogues, including Ahavath Achim, Bet Haverim, Beth Shalom, Beth Tikvah, Or Hadash and Temple Sinai, are partnering with AJMF to create music-fueled Erev Purim celebrations for Jewish Atlanta.
From the return of AJMF’s Teen Battle of the Bands to presenting acclaimed international superstar Idan Raichel, AJMF’s Spring Fest provides a wide range of artist genres, styles and experiences for all music lovers.
THE OFFICIAL AJMF8 LINEUP:
Thursday, March 2
Opening Night featuring Odessa/Havana
City Winery Atlanta, 650 North Avenue NE #201 30308
6:00 PM doors, 8:00 PM music
Friday, March 3
The Well featuring Rabbi David Spinrad, Sammy Rosenbaum and other local musicians
City Winery Atlanta, 650 North Avenue NE #201 30308
Service Time TBA
FREE AND OPEN TO YOUNG ADULTS
Saturday, March 4
Sefardic Musical Journeys featuring Jazz pianist David Marcus and other local musicians
Congregation Bet Haverim, 2074 Lavista Road 30329
7:30 PM doors, 8:00 PM music
$15 advance, $20 door, ALL AGES
Saturday, March 4
Young Adult Purim Party
Orpheus Brewing, 1440 Dutch Valley Pl NE 30324
8:00-11:00 PM, admission includes 6 beer tastings
$15 advance, $20 door, OPEN TO 21+
Sunday, March 5
ACFB Hunger Walk / Run featuring AJMF All-Stars
Location TBD
Begins NOON, Walk/run 2:00 PM
OPEN TO ALL, see hungerwalkrun.org for full details
Sunday, March 5
ALOMA House Concert featuring Yotam Silberstein Quartet
Location: TBD
5:00 PM doors, 5:30 PM music
$25 advance, $30 door ALL AGES
Thursday, March 9
International Night featuring Nick Edelstein, Foad Naraghi and special guest Sarah Aroeste
Eddie’s Attic, 515 N McDonough St 30030
6:30 PM doors, 7:30 PM music
$10 advance, $15 door, OPEN TO 18+
Friday, March 10
Acoustic Shabbat featuring Rabbi Brian Glusman, Drew Cohen and other musicians
Crema Espresso Gourmet, 2458 Mt Vernon Rd 30338
7:00 PM service, FREE AND ALL AGES
Friday, March 10
Ladino Shabbat Jam featuring Sarah Aroeste and Or Hadash musicians
Congregation Or Hadash, 7460 Trowbridge Rd 30328
6:30 PM service, FREE AND ALL AGES
Saturday, March 11 –
PURIM CELEBRATIONS – Join our congregation partners for a music-fueled celebration:
– Ahavath Achim’s Purim Schpiel feat. The Marlatov Cocktails
600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW 30327, Time TBA
Details: aasynagogue.org
– Beth Shalom’s Megillah and Tequila feat. Chaverim
5303 Winters Chapel Rd 30360, 7:30 PM Megillah reading, 8:30 PM Tequila and dancing
Details: bethshalomatlanta.org
– Bet Haverim’s Intergenerational Purim Celebration
2074 Lavista Rd 30329, 6:00-8:00 PM
Details: congregationbethaverim.org
– Or Hadash’s Lading Musical Purim Party featuring Sarah Aroeste
7460 Trowbridge Rd, Atlanta, 30328, 7:30 PM Purim Party
Details: or-hadash.org
– Beth Tikvah’s Mel brooks Themed Purim Schpiel
9955 Coleman Rd 30075, 7:30 PM Maariv and Havdalah, 8:00 PM Shpiel and Megillah Reading
Details: bethtikvah.com
– Temple Sinai’s Adult Only Purim Schpiel featuring adapted lyrics from Chicago
5645 Dupree Dr NW 30327, Time TBA
Details: templesinaiatlanta.org
Sunday, March 12
Purim Family Concert feat. Sarah Aroeste
Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd 30338
MUSIC 10:00 AM, FREE AND ALL AGES
Sunday, March 12
Teen Battle of the Bands
Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Dr 30338
4:00 PM doors, 4:30 PM music
$5 per person or $18 per family ALL AGES
Friday, March 17
Shabbat Service featuring Noah Aronson
The Temple, 1589 W Peachtree St NE 30309
6:00 PM service, FREE AND ALL AGES
Friday, March 17
City Winery Atlanta, 650 North Avenue NE #201 30308
Sets at 7:00 and 10:00 PM
$48-$75, VIP and Premier seating available
Saturday, March 18
ATL Collective presents Beastie Boys’ Licensed to Ill
featuring Peled, Axum, Sagol 59 and ATL Collective musicians
Buckhead Theatre, 3110 Roswell Rd NE 30305
8:00 PM doors, 9:00 PM music
Sunday, March 19
Molly Blank Jewish Concert Series featuring Theatrical Outfit
The Breman Museum, 1440 Spring Street NW 30309
4:00 PM doors, 5:00 PM music
$18 ticket with code “AJMF2”, ALL AGES
We would like to thank our AJMF8 2017 Sponsors:
The Marcus Foundation, Fulton County Arts and Culture, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, The Molly Blank Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Atlanta Jewish Times, Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast, The Davis Academy, Ellen and Howard Feinsand, Mimi Hall and Russell Gottschalk, Becky Herring, Jewish Rock Radio, Carole and Sid Kirschner, Lefkoff, Rubin, Gleason and Russo, MailChimp, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), Morris Family Foundation, Raychel Robbins and Peter Scourtis, Diane Roosth and Amos Hall, The Weber School
For more information and to view the entire lineup visit www.atlantajmf.org.