Bringing music to the streets of Jerusalem

Front Stage Productions launches a sixth summer of street parties in the Holy City.

By DEBBIE KANDEL
Jerusalem, music festival370 (photo credit: Nadav Ariel)
Jerusalem, music festival370
(photo credit: Nadav Ariel)
The first Friday in July saw the start of a great summer of street parties, with the launch party of Jerusalem Front Stage productions in the Russian Compound.
DJ Dalit Rochester opened the event and warmed up the crowd of hundreds of young Jerusalemites. Balkan Beat Box front-man Tomer Yossef then played an energetic set, jumping on and off the stage to get closer to the crowd. Finally, The Young Professionals (TYP), led by Ivri Lider and Johnny Goldstein with Lady GaGa-esque backup dancers, closed the afternoon with their new act that combines electronic beats with live performance. The band was only in Israel for a few days during their European tour, and this was one of their few shows in the country this year.
Although there will be fewer street parties this summer, it seems to be a case of quality over quantity, and most are free of charge. The next event, dubbed the “Jerusalem City Rave,” is a trance party on Hillel Street, from 4 p.m. on Friday, July 19.
The psychedelic party will feature Ace Ventura and Captain Hook.
That event is followed by a two-day Indie City festival, which starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, in the parking lot of the Russian Compound and continues at 4 p.m. the next day. This festival will include a headphone party, a vintage fashion show and a street art fair. Acts include Mercedes Band, Habiluim, The Apples and Boom Pam. This event is also being broadcast live on KZ Radio.
Friday, August 2 sees the street parties return to Ben-Yehuda Street, with two stages and a headphone party. The rock stage will feature Eifo Hayaled, while the trance stage will feature Goa trance band Cosmosis and Ritmo.
The summer continues with the Beer Festival on August 7 and 8 in Independence Park, with over 120 kinds of beer and performances from Monika Sex, Girafot, Mercedes Band and Toy Bar resident DJ Elad Varon.
Tickets for this festival are NIS 35 or NIS 30 for students or Jerusalem cardholders, and can be purchased on the door.
The season ends with an afternoon party in Independence Park on Friday August 9, with Israel’s top funk/hip hop act Ha’Dag Nahash, who will be joined by Greek music legend Trifonas.Presale tickets are NIS 40 or NIS 35 for students, via Bimot, or can be purchased at the door for NIS 50 or NIS 40 for students.For more information on all these events, go to www.young-city.co.il