Folksong Society to host Haimish Harmonies klezmer music series this fall

The Philadelphia Folksong Society works to promote the past, present and future of folk music, and now that the organization is at home in a new performance venue, it has even more time and space to accomplish that goal. This fall, new Roxborough venue will host Haimish Harmonies: A Series of Klezmer Connections, showcasing the centuries-old tradition of Jewish folk music through the sounds of some of today’s best performers.

Curated by Philadelphia-based trombonist and klezmer advocate Dan Blacksberg, the series will include performances by a variety of artists whose unique approaches to klezmer music are evident in their distinct sounds, ranging from traditional to contemporary. Kicking things off on September 23 with a more traditional performance will be Susan Watts, who is known for her preservation of music that’s been passed down through generations of family. The following month brings Joey Weisenberg, who combines Jewish and American folk music, and will lead a sing-along. November’s performance will be from Brooklyn-based new-traditional klezmer band Tsibele; led by women, queer and non-binary musicians, they perform songs with a liberatory message. The final show in December will feature a newer, re-imagined approach to klezmer, with performances by Radiant Others, Judith Berkson and Michael Winograd.

Listen to music from some of the artists below, and find more information on the concert series at the XPN Concert Calendar and pfs.org.