Chabad of the Grove will present The Avenue J Music Festival, the first-ever in Florida Alternative/Indie Jewish inspired outdoor concert January 14, 2014, from 6:30-10:30 p.m. at The Barnacle at 3485 Main Highway, Coconut Grove.
This is a serious alternative rock concert. Bands from New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Israel, with different sounds ranging from classic rock to cutting-edge, bring a Jewish flavor to their work in various ways, but none of it is what you may have come to expect. In other words: this is not a klezmer concert.
The Avenue J headliners come straight from Jerusalem: The Times of Israel and Associated Press have reported on “The Breslov Brothers”, reality TV rock stars Ari and Gil Gat, who perform classic rock standards such as “Hotel California” and “The Sound of Silence” in full Hasidic garb. Their stunning success on “Rising Star”– the Israeli answer to “American Idol”–points to a wide audience outside the ultra-Orthodox community to which they belong, as ultra-Orthodox Jews typically do not watch much TV. Neither of the brothers owns a television. Their appearance at Avenue J will be their first appearance since their success on “Rising Star”.
Distant Cousins is a multi-layered collaboration of three musicians from Los Angeles who are actual cousins. Their stirring debut single, “Raise It Up,” was featured on Graceland in the opening scene of the “Smoke Alarm” episode.
Levi Robin of Brooklyn, currently touring and opening for Matisyahu, recently released an alternative rock EP titled “Levi Robin”, very well reviewed by listeners on iTunes and Amazon.
Aaron Holder’s debut album “Something Stronger” blurs the line between Jewish and mainstream music, blending elements of folk, pop, country, rock and even a hint of reggae in an eclectic and listenable style. He is a local—Miami Beach.
The website for the event is: www.avenuejfestival.com. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased from the website. Bring a blanket and enjoy the music under the stars. See the website for information about sponsor packages.
The Barnacle, on the shore of Biscayne Bay, is a historic state park and museum tucked away in Coconut Grove, its historic home placed in tropical hardwood hammock offering a picturesque and unforgettable venue.
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Bet Ovadia-Chabad of the Grove is one of ten Chabad locations in Chabad of South Dade, which was founded in 1989. Around the world, more than 4,000 full-time emissary families apply 250-year-old principles and philosophy to direct more than 3,300 institutions (and a workforce that numbers in the tens of thousands) dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide. Chabad of the Grove offers Shabbos services, Minyan, Torah discussions, and many study opportunities and exciting events dedicated to enriching Jewish life.
