Shir Madness kicks off for 2012
THE Shir Madness Jewish music festival returns to Bondi Beach in March and applications have now opened for performers who want to take part.
The inaugural festival was held 11 months ago when more than 2000 fans flocked to hear music ranging Klezmer and jazz to folk and rock.
Headline acts such as Deborah Conway, Joanna Weinberg and Monsieur Camembert, plus international stars including Israeli singer Ido Lederman and The Jews Brothers Band from New Zealand, shared the stage with community rising stars.
The Shir Madness festival also saw the launch of The AJN’s Ghetto Blasterz competition for young performers, with the title being won by Shannon Gaitz.
Adding to the carnival atmosphere of Shir Madness was a kosher food court, market stalls, a Jewish art exhibition and a kids activity arena.
Festival artistic director Nicola Ossher said: “We received more than 90 applications last year when the festival was a complete unknown, so we’re expecting an even greater response this time.
“The aim of the festival is to present a diverse cross-section of Jewish music, and music performed by Jews, to both the Jewish and wider community.
“We are calling out to all bands, solo acts, choirs and orchestras, whether it’s jazz, blues, hip hop, classical, rock, pop, folk, reggae, Klezmer, Yiddish or Israeli music.”
The 2012 Shir Madness music festival will be at Bondi on Sunday, March 25, 2012. Performers can download application forms at www.shirmadness.com (Closing date is July 31).
REPORT: Danny Gocs
PHOTO: Nadia Golski and Daniel Weltlinger at last year’s Shir Madness festival. Photo: AJN file/Tom Koprowski
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