Janam is thrilled to return to The Back Room! Janam ("My Soul") unites some of the Bay Area's most playful and imaginative devotees of southern Balkan and American roots music, weaving these diverse traditions with their original compositions. Janam has been sharing their music in intimate concert settings and ebullient dance parties up and down the west coast for almost 2 decades. The group’s bittersweet modes, driving tunes, and sultry ballads invoke the nightingales and dark eyes, the hot love and cold hollows of Europe and America’s most musical mountains.

This evening's concert will benefit Community Kitchens, a wonderful Oakland non-profit whose mission is "to bring together our whole community to harness the power of food to change lives, uplift communities and protect our environment." We are on board with that mission and happy to give back to our community. We hope you can join us for this special evening!

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More info and ticket information

The Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal at the Starry Plough Presents Lucas Antonio and Jesse Stremski (10 pm) and Mendo Music Camp Revue (8pm)

Doors open at 7 pm; Show starts at 8 pm; Tickets: $20 general/$15 students. All ages before 10 pm. 21+ after 10 pm.
Food, beer and wine available from the bar until 10 pm.

Catch the debut performance of a new group led by Lucas Antonio Roemer Cominos (violin) and Jesse Stremski-Andrews (sax and clarinet), also featuring Faisal Zedan (derbeki) and Leo Peringer (bass). Together, they explore the microtonal traditions of the Balkans and Turkey with a fresh, contemporary approach. Violinist and arranger Lucas Antonio Roemer Cominos performs Greek, Turkish, and Balkan music, with a particular focus on makam and a modern, jazz-influenced approach to traditional styles. Jesse Stremski-Andrews is a clarinetist and saxophonist specializing in Bulgarian, Turkish, and Roma musical traditions. After spending eight years living in Bulgaria, where he studied and performed alongside master folk musicians, Jesse has developed a deep knowledge of Bulgarian folklore and a distinctive voice as a performer.

This month’s Bacchanal will also include a special showcase of a new project featuring music taught at workshops held at Mendocino Woodlands this summer: EEFC’s Balkan Camp, Lark Camp, and Mendocino Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp. Led by Berkeley Balkan Bacchanal producer Peter Bonos (trumpet and oud), and a rotating ensemble of musicians from the Bay Area’s Balkan, Middle Eastern, and international folk music communities. Featured performers include vocalists Fiore Grey, Slava Zonova and Ellie Ganelin (flute) Evin Sellin (violin), Larry Klein (oud and saz), Calvin Lai (clarinet), Jesse Hix (bass), Clement Hudson (accordion), Willow Crocker (violin), Daniel Goldberg, (sax) and more. Please contact Peter if you'd like to get involved in this project.

We will start out the evening with a dance lesson by Janetta Redžić, who will continue to lead dances with her colleagues and students throughout the evening.

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Mark your calendars for another awesome Kafana Balkan. Inspector Gadje Balkan Brass will deliver along with the awesome dancing from Jill Parker and the DJ Zeljko will drop some beats. We will feature some great guest artists. More details to come. Stay tuned!