AJMF Reveals 2016 Lineup, Bus Service

Jewish music won’t be the only thing riding into town this March for the seventh annual Atlanta Jewish Music Festival: As AJMF stretches to cover a third weekend, it also will stretch across the region with a new bus service to connect communities to the festivities around Atlanta.

Headlining the 2016 edition of the festival are A-WA, three Israeli sisters who combine Yemenite folk with electronic dance music, and Jaffa Road, a Toronto group that mixes Jewish roots, jazz, Indian, Arabic, electronica and dub. They will perform at AJMF’s marquee event Saturday, March 26, a Purim party at Terminal West in West Midtown.

“Our signature Spring Festival will once again be bigger and better as we expand from two to three weekends and increase programming by over 50 percent,” said Russell Gottschalk, the festival’s founder and executive director. “We’re blessed by the incredible support of both the Jewish Atlanta and Atlanta arts communities. Backing from these communities enables AJMF to thrive while solidifying Atlanta as the Jewish cultural hub of the South.”

AJMF7 features 16 events from March 10 to 27 with a broad range of local, national and international artists.

Festivities kick off at Steve’s Live Music in Sandy Springs with New York-based jazz group the Hadar Noiberg Trio and close with a teen battle of the bands at the 595 North Event Center (apply by Jan. 30 to compete). In between the festival brings to the stage such acts as Soulfarm, Andrew & Polly, FSQ, Joe Buchanan, and an array of local artists, including Sammy Rosenbaum and Klezmer Local 42.

Full AJMF7 LINE UP:

Thurs, March 10th – OPENING NIGHT feat. Hadar Noiberg Trio

Award Winning NY based trio led by flutist and composer Hadar Noiberg.

Two Shows. 7:30pm and 9:30pm Tickets $10-$20 ALL AGES

Steve’s Live Music, 234 Hildberbrand Dr, Sandy Springs, 30328

Fri, March 11th – Jazz SHABBAT SERVICE w/ Hadar Noiberg Trio

Award winning trio joins Or Hadash’s talented house band for a unique service.

6:30pm FREE & ALL AGES

Or Hadash, 7460 Trowbridge Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

Sat, March 12th – JOE BUCHANAN – Americana with a Jewish Soul

Texas based, folk singer/songwriter joins local musicians to conclude Shabbat outside.

Doors 4:30pm, Music 5:00pm, FREE & ALL AGES

Dunwoody Nature Center, 5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody, GA 30338

– In partnership with Temple Emanu-EL

Sun, March 13th – AJMF ALL-STARS feat. Sammy Rosenbaum @ Hunger Walk/Run

AJMF stage at Atlanta’s biggest fundraiser to support organizations fighting hunger.

Begins Noon, Walk/Run 2:00pm, See ACFB website for registration details

Downtown Atlanta

– In partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

Sun, March 13th – KLEZMER LOCAL 42

Traditional Jewish Klezmer energy returns to Beth Shalom for a night of toe-tapping fun.

Doors: 7:00pm, Music: 7:30pm, FREE & ALL AGES

Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30360

Fri, March 18th – RUACH SHABBAT feat. Beth Tikvah musicians

Beth Tikvah’s house band ushers in Shabbat with a rockin’ service.

6:30pm FREE & ALL AGES

Temple Beth Tikvah, 9955 Coleman Rd, Roswell, GA 30075
Fri, March 18th – KIRTAN SHABBAT ft. Gayanne Geurin, Will Robertson & Sunmoon Pie

Longtime collaborators celebrate their independently released chant CDs with a double service on Shabbat night and morning.

7:30pm, FREE & ALL AGES

Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30327

Sat, March 19th – KIRTAN SHABBAT feat. Gayanne Geurin, Will Robertson & Sunmoon Pie

10:00am, FREE & ALL AGES

Congregation Bet Haverim, 2074 Lavista Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329

Sat, March 19th – Andrew & Polly CHILDREN’S CONCERT

Award winning, interfaith kids’ musicians will entertain children and young families at multiple public performances.

Two Shows: 5:30pm, 7:00pm FREE & ALL AGES

Venkman’s, 740 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

*Food & Drink available for purchase

Sun, March 20th – Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s PURIM FAMILY CONCERT feat. Andrew & Polly

10:00am, FREE & ALL AGES

Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30338

Sun, March 20th – Soulfarm at KEHILLA FEST

The Kehilla’s annual fundraiser features American music rooted in Israeli flavor.

Doors 6:00pm, Music 7:00pm, $36 Door, Early bird and family discounts available, ALL AGES

Atlanta Jewish Academy, 5200 Northland Dr, Atlanta, GA 30342

Tues, March 22nd – AJMF HOUSE OF PEACE feat. FSQ (Chuck “Da Fonk” Fishman and Sa’D “The Hourchild” Ali)

Interfaith DJs unite to start the party at AJMF’s first ever Spring Festival EDM event.

Doors 9:00pm, Music 10:00pm, $5 Advance, $10 Door, 18+

Aisle 5, 1123 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Thurs, March 24th – MUSIC AT THE MIKVAH feat. Aviva Chernick & Aaron Lightstone

Leaders of Jaffa Road powerfully connect to the mikvah through intoxicatingly soulful music.

Music 7:30pm, $10 ALL AGES

MACoM, 700-A Mount Vernon Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30328

Fri, March 25th – THE WELL feat. Rabbi Spinrad & Sammy Rosenbaum and other local musicians

Come with spirit, leave with soul at The Temple’s monthly service.

Doors 8:00pm, Service 8:30pm, FREE for young professionals

The Temple, 1589 Peachtree St, NE, 30309

Sat. March 26th – PURIM PARTY feat. A-Wa and Jaffa Road

Award winning international world music artists bring the beat to this community wide Purim Party. A mesmerizing combination of traditional, Middle Eastern melodies with contemporary music genres.

Doors 8:00pm, Music 9:00pm, $20 Advance, $25 Door, 18+

Terminal West, 887 West Marietta St, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

– Wear a costume; it’s a Purim Party!

Sun. March 27th – TEEN BATTLE OF THE BANDS

AJMF’s inaugural Teen Battle of the Bands. Teen bands wanted!

Doors 1:00pm, Music 1:30pm, FREE & ALL AGES

595 North Event Center, 595 North Ave, Atlanta, GA 30318

*Apply online by 1/30 to compete. http://www.atlantajmf.org/tbotb/