Jewish Cultural Celebration Major Performance: Heavy Shtetl Klezmer Band

About this event

Heavy Shtetl was “born” in October of 2016 when four members of the klezmer ensemble Klezm’Or’Ami’m (which started in 1994 and is still going strong.) recruited vocalist Jessica Sims to start a “side project” to perform in smaller spaces like restaurants, coffee shops and bars. We played our first gig in August of 2017 and have since performed at over 60 gigs in Central Virginia

Heavy Shtetl performs klezmer, an up-beat, joyful music that originated in Jewish communities of Eastern Europe when small groups of wandering musicians traveled from village to village, playing klezmer music for both Jewish and non-Jewish events. In addition to rousing instrumentals, you will hear vocals sung in Yiddish, English, Hebrew and Ladino– an old-world language spoken by Sephardic Jews from the Mediterranean region. So, get ready to party and dance the Hora to some lively tunes!

Heavy Shtetl is Malik Riley, Peter Sims, Steve Shapiro, Bruce Gould and Jessica Sims with guest appearances by members of Klezm’Or’Ami’m.