The pre-Rosh Hashannah Bandcamp Friday roundup
Once again, it's Bandcamp Friday (well, tomorrow—I'm posting this on Bandcamp Friday eve). This is the day to make purchases from Bandcamp, the first Friday of the month, because all of the proceeds go 100% to the musicians. Here's what we've been listening to on the KlezmerShack this month:
- Frank London has been having fun wih a New Orleans style version of a New England fife and drum corp: <Frank London & The Loisaida Fife and Drum Corps / Touzle your kurchy, 2025 (review 30-Jul-2026)
- Speaking of New Orleans, Neta Elkayam came up as one of the results of my daily "Jewish Music" search. She has written wonderful new Arabic songs, heavily influenced by both her current New Orleans jazz scene and her Moroccan roots, and inspired by oral histories of French Jews she heard that were recorded in 1965 in a French transit camp: Neta Elkayam / Arénas, 2026 (reviewed 1-Sep-2026)
- Next week is ראש השנה Rosh Hashannah. This set by Zach Mayer / Saxophone Prayers, 2025 (reviewed 1-Sep-2026) should help put you there.
- If Zach doesn't do it, this set from Khazones Underground should inspire you: Golden Ages: Brooklyn Chassidic Cantorial Revival Today, 2025 (reviewed 20-Aug-2026)
- I discovered this band from New Zealand on Bandcamp, and they turned out to be wonderful. This is a recent live set coupled with over two decades of favorites from previous albums: Klezmer Rebs / Back to Futuna & Repertoire Best of 23 1/2 Years of Klezmer Rebs, 2025 (review 13-Aug-2026)
- This West Massachusetts band is playing klezmer from more of a rock perspective. I had a lot of fun listening, and especially enjoyed the Middle Eastern jam that makes up half of the release: Myrtle Street Klezmer / Fun Vanen?, 2026 (reviewed 1-Sep-2026)
- I've been listening to Polish artist Maria Ka for a few years, but I think this recording from last year, which features her own original Yiddish songs captures the electronica/rock spirit of her show best, so far: Maria Ka / די מאַשין Di Mashin, 2025 (reviewed 25-Aug-2026)
- I'm also very excited by former Levyosn bandmember, Chaia, as she strikes out with pure beats, samples, and electronica. She is still doing some shows (see the KlezmerShack calendar) in SF and Brooklyn before she takes a breather for a while: Chaia / Yiddish Electronic, 2025 (review 13-Aug-2026)
- Finally, veteran avant garde jazz guitarist Jon Madof has a new trio. If you hurry, you can catch their album release concert down on Loisaida, in NYC, Sep 9 (see the KlezmerShack calendar): Jon Madof Trio / Netzach, 2026 (review 20-Aug-2026)