3 Jewish Artists Performing at Music Midtown 2016
The two-day festival at Piedmont Park Sept. 17 and 18 will boast more than a few kosher acts.
David R. Cohen is the former Associate Editor of the Atlanta Jewish Times. He is originally from Marietta, GA and studied Journalism at the University of Tennessee.
This year’s edition of Music Midtown may not be as full of Jewish artists as in years past, but the two-day festival at Piedmont Park on Sept. 17 and 18 will boast more than a few kosher acts.
Here are this year’s Jewish Music Midtown headliners.
Balkan Beat Box
Founded in Brooklyn, N.Y., by Israelis Tamir Muskat and Ori Kaplan in the early 2000s, Balkan Beat Box plays Mediterranean-influenced music that incorporates Jewish, Eastern Europe (mainly Balkan) and Middle Eastern traditions, Gypsy punk, reggae, and electronica. In 2006 the group added another Israeli in frontman Tomer Yosef. Balkan Beat Box’s self-titled debut album (released in 2005) and its 2007 follow-up, Nu Med, received global acclaim. Yosef also produced the debut album of Yemenite-Israeli folk/electornic band A-WA, who performed at the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival in March.
Playing Saturday (9/17) at: The Honda Stage 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Beck
Although he may or may not be a practicing Scientologist, Beck’s mother, Bibbe Hansen, is Jewish, and Beck himself was raised Jewish. The musician has said in interviews that he considers himself Jewish. Beck rose to fame in the early ’90s with his sonically experimental and lo-fi style and became known for creating musical collages of wide genre styles. Today, he musically encompasses folk, funk, soul, hip-hop, alternative rock, country and psychedelia. He has released 12 studio albums (three of them independently), as well as several nonalbum singles and a book of sheet music. In 2015, Beck won Album of the Year at the 57th annual Grammy Awards, as well as the prize for best rock album. He will headline the first night of Music Midtown from the Roxy Stage at 8:30 p.m.
Playing Saturday (9/17) at: The Roxy Stage 8:30-9:50 p.m.
The ShadowBoxers
A local trio of nice Jewish boys Adam Hoffman (vocals, guitars), Matt Lipkins (vocals, keyboards) and Scott Schwartz (vocals, guitars) met at Emory University in 2008. The Shadowboxers have been described by The Nashville Scene as “a harmony-driven, funk-footed quintet, which combines elements of modern pop, ’70s-style AM radio folk … and classic R&B.” The trio is known for captivating lyrics, tight harmonies and soulful R&B style vocals. Catch the group Sunday at 1:45 p.m. on the Roxy Stage.
Playing Sunday (9/18) at: The Roxy Stage 1:45-2:45
Find the full lineup for Music Midtown 2016 here: musicmidtown.com/lineup/
What: Music Midtown
When: Sept. 17-18 (gates open at noon each day).
Where: Piedmont Park, 1071 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. www.musicmidtown.com.
Tickets: $135 for two-day general admission tickets. VIP tickets $600 and Super VIP $1,200. Tickets can be purchased at www.musicmidtown.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
comments