The first ever Sydney Jewish music festival SHIR MADNESS™ is set to make a splash at Bondi Beach on Sunday, August 15 this year!

Over 35 acts on four stages over twelve hours at the Bondi Pavilion will showcase an amazing array of talent featuring Jewish music styles such as Klezmer and Ladino, right through to contemporary blues, jazz, folk, rock, world, reggae, rap and dance – all performed by leading Jewish musicians.

There seems to be a festival to suit all tastes. But, as festival director Gary Holzman says, there is one music festival that has been noticeably absent – a large-scale Jewish music festival.

That’s all about to change!

“I’ve always found it surprising that Sydney’s vibrant Jewish community has, for many years, held successful Jewish film festivals and writers festivals but never an equivalent Jewish music festival,” said Holzman.

“Sydney has produced Jewish musical talent of international standing including Renee Geyer, Ben Lee, Lior, Monsieur Camembert, Tal Wilkenfeld & even Jimmy Barnes (yes, Jimmy Barnes… who knew?).

“There’s now a new breed of up-and-coming young Jewish performers playing in a vast variety of musical styles; at the same time there has been renewed interest in all forms of Jewish music from Klezmer and Chassidic to Ladino and Israeli. With so much talent and musical activity, it seemed natural to put together a festival to showcase the best of Jewish music and Jewish musical performers to both the Jewish and wider Sydney community,” Holzman said.

He explained that ‘Shir’ means song in Hebrew and ‘madness’ can mean unrestrained excitement or enthusiasm. There will be an abundance of both at the festival! The festival kicks off with a Gala Opening Concert on Saturday 14 August at the Science Theatre at the University of NSW. The main festival will be held at the Bondi Pavilion the next day, Sunday 15 August 2010, from 11.00am to 11.00pm featuring over 35 acts on 4 different stages.