Re: The 10th Safed (Tsfat) Klezmer Festival

[KLEZMER313 <KLEZMER313...>]

I have been to the Klezmer festival twice, the most recent time last summer.

The outdoor venues are ok and you can find a couple of interesting acts
there, but the real big "names" usually appear in the main auditorium and you
must buy tickets for that venue.   

I thought that the outside acts left a lot to be desired last year as opposed
to the 1991 Festival.  In 1991 we saw Andy Statman, The Duo Amranim, Shuli
Natan, and other well known folks in the free areas.  Last year we didn''t
see any "names"in the free areas.

If you are going to go.....check Egged for the ride into Tzfat and make sure
that they are running buses out of Tzfat late at night.  In 1991 they did not
run buses back out after 9 pm or so....but I believe that they did last year.
 If you drive leave very, very early as the two lane road leading up to Tzfat
from Tiberias (and the Rosh Pinah area) moves bumper to bumper for miles.  I
assume that the same is true from the other side.  Last year parking was
outside of town and people were shuttled in by bus.  I led a tour to Israel
last year and we were able to talk our way past 2 or 3 very inept and funny
policemen andeneded up with our bus in Tzfat.

If anyone does get to go this year.......please stop at Judith Gallery, which
is at the bottom of the artist colony and tell Sandy Hazen that I said HI!!!

Also......any questions please contact me directly

Mike Eisenstadt
klezmer313 (at) aol(dot)com