Shir Madness Jewish Music Festival: The line-up is complete
Following last year’s smash hit Melbourne debut, SHIR MADNESS (The Jewish Music Festival) returns to Sydney and its Bondi Pavilion home this year.
With more than 30 acts on four stages, the organisers say there will be something for everyone.
The final artists to be revealed are disco party fun band Confetti, 2016 YouthRock winners the Haze Trio, irreverent musical funsters from Perth Jones of ARK, ARIA-nominated African-indy folk blended Miriam Lieberman Trio, rock/blues/roots band Rick Melick & The Self-Made Men, Aussie-born Israeli singer-songwriter Simon Shaw and his band, meditative new-age artist and ‘DidjeriJew’ Steve Mazabow, the improvising crowd musicians who connect people and break barriers Human Sound Project, Mark Ginsburg’s award-winning Jazz Band and – in its 30th anniversary year – the Sydney Jewish Choral Society.
They join gypsy world music dance fiends Monsieur Camembert, soulful Melbourne duo Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier, Klezmer Divas (stars of the documentary Pockets of Hope), classical activists Music for Refugees, zydeco/cajun band Squeezebox Boogaloo, the Bashevis Singers (featuring Husky Gawenda and Gideon Preis), infectious Brazilbeats, piano-comedy revue legend David Scheel, multi-lingual chanteuse Dahlia Dior, soulful singer-songwriter Glenn Cardier and the Sideshow, cabaret sensations Joanna Weinberg with Pandora’s Bag and Alexis Fishman (NYC) with Boychicks of Broadway, Sam Joole, student band Before the King, fragrant melting pot Masha’s Legacy, high-energy rhythm show Junkyard Beats, Sydney’s “Phattest Funk/Hip-hop Collective” Beatlab, yoga and kabbalah-inspired Tree of Life, award-winning pop/R&B fusion star Adam Katz, 
Josh Oshlack (bringing African Drumming and Didgeridoo into Jewish music and prayer), Leonie Cohen and her jazz trio, colourful dance-rock worldbeat band Azadoota and a special presentation of highlights from blockbuster hit Atomic – the Musical (featuring stars from both the Sydney and US productions with a full stage band). Gary Holzman will also present Yid Rock – a multimedia presentation of the Jewish composers behind some of Rock & Roll’s greatest hits!
A major attraction again this year is SONG OF SONGS – where some of Australia’s favourite singers are invited to pick and perform a song by their favourite Jewish composer which might have moved them, excited them or has a special, personal meaning. Latest additions to the all-star line-up include Steve Kilby from The Church, father and son international Australian cantor duo Shimon & Dov Farkas and Aussie legend Deborah Conway. Backed by the Band of Bands (led by Jonathan Zwartz) they join Tina Harrod, Bernie Hayes, Virna Sanzone, Yaron Hallis, multiple Hall of Fame inductee Dave Faulkner (from the Hoodoo Gurus), soulful rock’n’roll powerhouse (and daughter of Jimmy Barnes) Mahalia Barnes and shooting young Aussie music star Martha Marlow.
For more detail, see the fuller artist brief bio document under separate cover.
Shir Madness takes place on Sunday 18 Sept 12noon to 10pm at the Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive Bondi Beach. Advance tickets until 31 Aug are $70/$50 (with generous concession and family discounts plus special VIP packages). Children under 12 are free! September sales (and on the day unless sold out) are $85/60
Visit www.shirmadness.com and on Facebook.
