Welcome to the 1st (and possibly the last) New Klezmer Music Fest - The Seykhel Revolution: one hundred years in the making! This is a mini-fest, a spin-off from KlezKanada that aims to build on the same vibe, the same culture and the same enthusiasm. This inaugural year we will host three international and one local ensemble in the span of 5 days. 

Montréal-based band Ichka follows the journey of Ashkenazi jews from eastern Europe to New York City in the 1910s and 1920s. As many jews left Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova for a better life in the "new world", they brought their violins, clarinets, and accordions with them. Upon arriving in New York, their music was affected and influenced by jazz and other American styles. This evolution is of particular interest to clarinetist Zilien Biret, who has spent years studying the particular styles of playing of two clarinetists who made this journey - Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras. 

www.ichkaklezmer.com