Jacob's Ladder climbs into place

The festival site will once again hop to the sounds of bluegrass, country, rock, reggae, Celtic, klezmer and a host of other related musical acts.

By BARRY DAVIS
Music good 88 (photo credit: )
Music good 88
(photo credit: )
The annual "Anglo" spring Jacob's Ladder Festival (as opposed to the somewhat pared down winter version) is almost upon us again. This year, from May 7 to May 9, the festival site at Nof Ginosar, at the northwestern corner of the Kinneret, will once again jive, groove and hop to the sounds of bluegrass, country, rock, pop, reggae, Celtic, klezmer and a host of other related musical acts. The imported frontliners include Canadian bluegrass quintet The Foggy Hogtown Boys from Canada, compatriot Americana-oriented singer-songwriter Howard Gladstone from Toronto, and British-born, now California-based singer-songwriter Jason Feddy. There will also be many of the festival perennials on hand to entertain the faithful thousands, including Galilee-based act Diane & Ada & Friends, veteran troubadour Shai Tochner, Beit Shemesh-based singer-songwriter Sandy Cash, riotous klezmer band Oy Division and reggae, African, country, rock-pop and yodel outfit The Tsanchani Brothers. Founders and organizers Yehudit and Menahem Vinegrad are sticking with the extended three-day format they instituted last year. This, naturally, allows more time for off-stage activities, too, and these will be available in abundance over the long weekend. At midday on May 8, Foggy Hogtown Boys (FHB) member Andrew Collins will present a mandolin workshop, followed by a similar activity presented by FHB banjo player Chris Quinn. On the morrow, Dov Hammer will enlighten patrons about the intricacies of blues harmonica playing and, as every year, Cyrelle Forman-Soffer will lead a couple of square-dancing sessions over the weekend. Add that to the regular impromptu jam sessions, tap dancing, an Irish dance workshop, yoga and kiddies' activities, and you get the usual fulsome, wholesome and funsome Jacob's Ladder offering. For information: www.jlfestival.com contact@jlfestival.com or call (04) 685-0403.