New festival KlezMargate to be held in Cliftonville

A new festival celebrating Yiddish culture, music and dance will be held in Cliftonville this October.

KlezMargate celebrates the popular eastern European Jewish music known as ‘klezmer’, featuring some of the world’s best-known performers and teachers of the genre.

Francesca Ter-Berg is the festival’s artistic director as well as being the co-founder of ARK Cliftonville.

An internationally-recognised folk/experimental/sound artist, she is also a Cliftonville resident.

She said: “What better way to highlight the historical and cultural significance of this area, once a hub for British Jewish holidaymakers, than with a world class, totally inclusive weekend celebrating Jewish diasporic music, dance and community-building?

“I can’t wait to introduce local residents to the genre. It’s going to be a fun weekend.”

KlezMargate will include an all-star klezmer concert; singing, dance and music workshops; late evening jamming and a big Sunday afternoon dance event where no previous experience is necessary.

KlezMargate is working with local arts spaces including ARK, Rosslyn Court, CAMP and Tom Thumb Theatre to create space for people of all backgrounds to experience Yiddish culture.

There is a predominantly female and queer-led faculty and an affordable and flexible ticketing structure to ensure the festival is open to as many people as possible, regardless of experience or means.

The festival takes place from October 18-20.

Festival schedule:

Friday from 7.30pm – registration, meet the artists, jamming

Saturday 10am-5pm – registration, instrumental workshops

Saturday 3.45-5.15 – dance workshop

Saturday from 8pm – klezmer concert (faculty plus special guests), followed by jamming

Sunday 10am-1pm – instrumental workshops, Yiddish song workshops

Sunday 11.40am-1pm – dance workshop

Sunday from 2.30pm – klezmer ceilidh, followed by jamming

Tickets are on sale at: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/klezmermargate