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The 12th annual Oud Festival at Tel Aviv’s Tzavta venue will take place next month, among other events around the country.

By BARRY DAVIS
Oud band playing 430 (photo credit: Pazit Denk)
Oud band playing 430
(photo credit: Pazit Denk)
Oud and more
The 12th annual Oud Festival at Tel Aviv’s Tzavta venue will take place next month, and artistic director Eli Greenfeld is clearly looking to stretch the boundaries of musical entertainment, having lined up all kinds of acts on the periphery of the main genre.
In addition to the prerequisite Arabic music, the six-day program, which runs from July 7-12, takes Greek music, electronic works, jazz, liturgical music, Persian material and sounds from this country.
There are some big names on the artist roster, which features singer-songwriter Amir Benayoun and veteran singer Ruhama Raz.
One of the more intriguing shows features classical double bass player Gilad Efrat, along with cellist Hila Epstein and violinist Keren Tennenbaum, who will play special arrangements of Hebrew songs as well as original scores by Efrat. Pop, rock and jazz guitarist Avi Singolda will guest in the show.
In addition to the aural entertainment, there will be a feast for the eyes as well when the Sahara City belly-dancing troupe take the stage in the opening slot of the program.
Fans of quality vocal sounds from the Middle East can revel in the efforts of liturgical singer Moshe Habusha, who will be supported by a heavyweight instrumental sextet that includes qanoun player Elad Gabai and bassist Hagai Belitzky. Singer David Menachem will put in a guest appearance.
Other slots include Sari Alfi’s electronically enhanced mix of Iraqi material and original scores, with the vocalist leading a tribute to some of the titans of the Arabic music world – among them iconic Egyptian composer, singer and oud player Muhammad Abd Alwahab, Egyptian singer El Halim Haffez and Lebanese singer, oud player and composer Wadih El Safi.
For tickets and more information: (03) 695-0156 or www.tzavta.co.il
Helping women drug addicts
The Letzidech organization, which helps drug-addicted women, will hold a fundraising event at the Lola Hall of the Tzavta venue in Tel Aviv on July 6. Letzidech is a nonprofit that provides support and information for women aged 18 and up who are addicted to drugs and who have experienced sexual violence.
The association has lined up a top-class roster of artists for the evening’s program, which begins at 8:30 p.m., including singers Din Din Aviv, Ruth Dolores Weiss, Hani Dinor, Hodaya Bonar and Ronit Shachar, in addition to thespians Shiran Gross, Ma’ayan Amrani, Tamar Stein and Muna Hava.
Tickets cost NIS 100-NIS 500, with all proceeds going to Letzidech.
For more information: (03) 695- 0156 or (03) 695-0157
Dancing on the Edge
The Warehouse 2 venue in Jaffa Port will host a couple of top-line shows next week when the Edge troupe from the Place contemporary dance center in London performs.
In the shows, which will take place on July 2 and 3 at 9 p.m., the dance group will perform a number of works created by various choreographers from Israel and abroad. The local choreographers include Maya Levy and Idan Cohen, and the foreign lineup includes such illustrious artists as American postmodern dance pioneer Trisha Brown and British choreographers Joe Moran and Ben Wright. Accompanying the works will be electronic and opera music.
For more information: (03) 902- 1563 or www.choreographers.org.il
Use your head
The country’s largest interactive brain-based exhibition, “Work Your Brain,” will open at the Clore Garden of Science at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot on July 9.
The exhibit will feature interactive activities that engage visitors with the mysteries of the human brain, and will offer a fascinating glimpse of the inner workings of animal brains as well.
A wide variety of optical illusions will be on display, and visitors will be able to get a handle on the brain’s structure by entering a huge inflatable brain model. There will be guided tours for families and children.
For more information: (08) 934-4528 or www.davidson.weizmann.ac.il