2010

2010-11

Since returning from the fantastic Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto, the Red Hot Chachkas have been working up a batch of new material. Coming up in the next month, we have a few public performances, of very different types:

Sunday Nov. 21 at Ashkenaz, Berkeley

“Sunny Sundays” Kids’ Series at Ashkenaz Community Center, 1317 San Pablo at Gilman, Berkeley. 3-4:30 pm. $4 kids / $6 adults. We'll play some especially kid-friendly material.

Dec. 5 & 6 at Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco

We're thrilled to perform again in the San Francisco Symphony's Deck The Hall 30th Anniversary Celebration holiday shows for children: 11 am & 3 pm public shows Sunday, plus one for school groups Monday. We'll play Julie's composition, "Little Gouda," with full symphonic accompaniment!

Saturday Dec. 11, at Armando's, Martinez

Armando's is an intimate, close-to-the-music, get-to-know-the-performers, hot-spot for local talent, located at 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, CA [ map ]. 8-11 pm. $10 cover. We plan to debut some brand new compositions, along with material from "Beats Without Borders" and our earlier CDs.

2010-09

It’s time, again, to let you know what the Red Hot Chachkas have been up to!

We just came back from the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto, Canada, over "Labour Day" weekend. Yes, folks, we are now International Artists, and we were a big success there. We performed on the main stage to a large and enthusiastic audience (see picture), and were applauded by the likes of Michael Alpert, Elaine Watts Hoffman, Eric Stein, and Adrienne Cooper. It was very exciting!

Back home, we continue to perform both in public and at private events:

On September 25^th, we will be featured at the Fiddling Cricket Music Series at the Mission City Coffee Roasting Company, 2221 The Alameda, Santa Clara. Our friends The Klezmakers start the show at 8pm. $15/$17

On September 28^th at 12 noon, we’ll be playing on the Quad plaza at San Francisco State University. Come and enjoy.

And we’re thrilled to be performing again in the San Francisco Symphony's "Deck The Hall" holiday shows for children at Davies Symphony Hall, their Thirtieth Anniversary, on December 5^thand 6th. We will be performing Julie's composition “Little Gouda” from our "Spice It Up!" CD, with orchestral accompaniment.

In addition, we're planning dates next year for shows at places like Ashkenaz in Berkeley, The Palms in Winters, and a couple of House Concerts around the Bay Area.

2010-07

We're back from our 9-day Northwest tour, and want to call your attention to two upcoming local events:

Jewish Music Festival

SUNDAY, JULY 11 - 12pm-5pm

SIMCHA! JMF 25^th Anniversary Party

Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco

Bring a picnic and i

Red Hot Chachkas at Armando's in Martinez, Saturday July 17, 8-11 pm

Armando's is an intimate, close-to-the-music, get-to-know-the-performers, hot-spot for local talent, located at 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, CA [map].

$10 cover.

2010-06

Warm weather is finally here! The Red Hot Chachkas will be playing near and far, including a tour up the West Coast (Weaverville, Eugene, Portland, Seattle, Salem, and Ashland, see specifics below). On tour, Aaron's accordion-shamisen duo, Shamalamacord, will join us. If you have friends in any of those places, please let them know we'll be in town.

Saturday June 12 - Fairfax Festival

We'll be performing outdoors at the Fairfax Festival in downtown Fairfax, just off Sir Francis Drake Blvd., on the Redwood Stage from 2:30-3:30pm. FREE!

Sunday June 13 - San Francisco Free Folk Festival

The festival is all day Saturday and Sunday. We'll play Sunday at 5:50pm on the Faith Petric Stage. Aaron will lead workshops at 12:00 and 2:00, and Shamalamacord will perform at 3:50. Tony will also perform with Jubilee American Dance at 5:10. Presidio Middle School, 450 30th Ave. at Geary, S.F. Info at SF Free Folk Festival. FREE!

Saturday July 3 and Monday July 5 - Marin County Fair

Members of the Chachkas will perform at the Marin County Fair, San Rafael Civic Center, Saturday at 3pm on the Global Stage (Julie and Aaron), and Monday [time TBA] (Julie, Aaron, Tony)

Sunday July 11 - Jewish Music Festival - Yerba Buena Garden, SF

All-day outdoor Jewish Music Festival event at the Yerba Buena Gardens, between Mission & Howard and 3rd & 4th Sts. (across from the Contemporary Jewish Museum), San Francisco. FREE!

Saturday July 17 - Armando's, Martinez

Armando's is an intimate, close-to-the-music, get-to-know-the-performers, hot-spot for local talent, located at 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, CA [map]. Saturday July 17th, 8-11 pm. $10.

Monday September 6 - Ashkenaz Festival, Toronto www.ashkenazfestival.com/

WEST COAST TOUR:

• Friday, June 18, 8:00 PM 2010 $12-15 - WEAVERVILLE, CA - Mamma Llama - 490 Main Street 96093 - http://www.mammallama.com
• Saturday, June 19 9:00PM $5 - EUGENE, OR - Sam Bonds Garage - 407 Blair Blvd. 97402 - http://www.sambonds.com/
• Sunday, June 20 9:00PM $10 - PORTLAND, OR - Mississippi Pizza - 3552 North Mississippi Ave. 97227 - http://www.mississippipizza.com/
• Monday, June 21 7:00 PM - SEATTLE, WA - House Concert - 1210 18th Avenue East 98112 - Call (510) 368-1450 to get the ticket phone #!
• Tuesday, June 22 7:30PM $12 adv, $15 at door - SEATTLE, WA - Triple Door - 216 Union St. 98101 - http://www.thetripledoor.net/
• Thurs., June 24 - SALEM, OR - Grand Theater - 187 High St. 97301 - http://www.grandballroom.info/
• Fri. June 25 9:00 PM $10 - ASHLAND, OR - Culture Works - 310 Oak St. 97520 - http://culture-works.net/

The Red Hot Chachkas features Julie Egger on violin, Michael Arrow on drums, Breck Dielbel on bass, Barbara Speed on clarinet, Aaron Seeman on accordion, and (on tour for Seattle shows only) Tony Phillips on mandolin . They are taking klezmer into new territories with their original and new approach to this rich genre. Never before on tour, don't miss this rare opportunity to hear what this band can do!

Shamalamacord is Aaron Seeman and Mike Penny, the accordionist and shamisen virtuosos who made up one-third of the Gypsy/Flamenco/klezmer fusion group Fishtank Ensemble. They play an exiting blend of styles that seem to have been made for this unusual combination, from Japanese traditional music, Balkan/Gypsy, Klezmer, Classical, Gypsy Jazz, and original compositions.

Don't miss this chance to hear some of most exiting music being played today!

Check the websites for updates.

2010-05

The Red Hot Chachkas have some exciting local shows coming up soon, and you can check out a video on one tune from a show in March on YouTube (or on our website,RedHotChachkas.com).

Saturday May 1 at Red Poppy, SF

Concert at the Red Poppy Art House, 2698 Folsom at 23rd St. (near 24th St. BART), San Francisco. [map] Doors open 7:30pm, show at 8pm.

Thursday May 20 at Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

Red Hot Chachkas, Kugelplex, and The New Klezmorim join forces to present a klezmer extravaganza at the Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St. (near Shattuck Ave. & BART), Berkeley. Doors open 7pm, Concert at 8pm.

Saturday June 12 at Fairfax Festival

We'll be performing outdoors and free at the Fairfax Festival in downtown Fairfax, just off Sir Francis Drake Blvd., on the Redwood Stage from 2:30-3:30pm.

Sunday June 13 SF Free Folk Festival

The festival is all day Saturday and Sunday. We'll play Sunday at 5:50pm, and Aaron will lead workshops at 12:00 and 2:00. Presidio Middle School, 450 30th Ave. at Geary, San Francisco; info at SF Free Folk Festival.

Sunday July 11 Jewish Music Festival, Yerba Buena SF

FREE all-day outdoor Jewish Music Festival event at the Yerba Buena Gardens, between Mission & Howard and 3rd & 4th Sts. (across from the Contemporary Jewish Museum), San Francisco.

Saturday July 17 at Armando's, Martinez

Armando's is an intimate, close-to-the-music, get-to-know-the-performers, hot-spot for local talent, located at 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, CA [map]. Saturday July 17th, 8-11 pm.

West Coast Tour in June

Fri June 18: Weaverville, CA: Mamma Llama

Sat June 19: Eugene, OR: Sam Bond's Garage

Sun June 20: Portland, OR: Mississippi Pizza Pub

Mon June 21: Seattle, WA: House Concert

Tues June 22: Seattle, WA: The Triple Door

Wed June 23: Seattle/Mercer Island, WA: Stroum JCC

Thurs June 24: Salem, OR: Grand Ballroom & Theater

Fri June 25: Ashland, OR: CultureWorks Cafe

2010-04

The Red Hot Chachkas are very busy right now with local gigs, as well as preparing for a tour. Come out and see us.!

Local gigs:

May 1st: Red Poppy House, San Francisco

May 20th: Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

June 12th: Fairfax Festival

June 13th: San Francisco Free Folk Festival

July 3rd: Marin County Fair, San Rafael

July 11th: Jewish Music Festival, Yerba Buena Gardens, SF

July 17th: Armando's, Martinez

In this edition, you will find some requests from us. We have been around for the past 12 years, playing those weddings and Bar Mitzvahs, playing clubs and putting out those CDs. You have all been great fans, coming to hear us play, buying our CDs. But now we ask for some help.

The Red Hot Chachkas are going on our first tour, the I-5 tour up to Seattle and back. We are very excited about spreading our wings, and have a favor to ask. Here is our itinerary. We would love it, if you have friends or family or even some enemies in the vicinity of any of these gigs, give them a call or email and ask them to come see us. We want an audience wherever we roam.

June 18th: Weaverville, CA: Mamma Llama

June 19th: Eugene, OR: Sam Bond's Garage

June 20th: Portland, OR: Mississippi Pizza Pub

June 21st: Seattle/Mercer Island, WA: Stroum JCC

June 22nd: Seattle, WA: TBA

June 23rd: Seattle, WA: TBA

June 24th: Salem, OR: Grand Ballroom & Theater

June 25th: Ashland, OR: CultureWorks

That’s the first favor. Second favor: Our new CD Beats without Borders was released in January. It is a great CD, if I say so myself. But, as a woman over 50, I am discovering that CDs are Out and iTunes is In. So now we are on iTunes. We would love for you to buy one tune (only 99 cents), and then post a review. It would start a buzz. Cool.

We love you all, that’s how we stay alive.

Thanks and happy spring.

2010-03

Lots going for for the Red Hot Chachkas soon:

Beats Without Borders CD

Our new CD, featuring all original compositions, is now available on our website, from CDBaby, by download from iTunes Store, and of course from us at any of our upcoming shows.

Saturday March 6 at The Sleeping Lady, Fairfax

We're returning to this great club, which is host to some of the best musical artists in the Bay Area and beyond! It's located at 23 Broadway Blvd, in central Fairfax, just 4 miles west of San Rafael on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., with easy parking. It's a restaurant, beer & wine bar, with live music starting 9:30pm.

Saturday March 13 on West Coast Live

We'll be musical guests on Sedge Thompson's West Coast Live radio show on KALW-FM 91.7 (and many affiliated NPR stations), 10am-noon on Saturday March 13. Live broadcast from San Francisco's Ferry Building -- or you might enjoy attending the show.

Saturday March 13 at Art House Gallery, Berkeley

Concert at the Art House Gallery & Cultural Center, 2905 Shattuck Ave. (near Ashby BART), Berkeley. [map] Show at 8pm.

Saturday May 1 at Red Poppy, San Francisco

Concert at the Red Poppy Art House, 2698 Folsom St., San Francisco. [map] Doors open 7:30pm, show at 8pm.

Thursday May 20 at Freight & Salvage, Berkeley

Red Hot Chachkas, Kugelplex, and Steven Saxon present an evening of klezmer at the fantastic new Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St. (near Shattuck Ave. & Downtown Berkeley BART), Berkeley. 8pm.

West Coast Tour in late June

We are currently planning a week-long tour from the San Francisco Bay Area to Seattle in late June. Specific locations and dates coming soon. If you're interested in putting on a show or house-concert somewhere along that route, please contact me at klezmer@redhotchachkas.com ASAP!

2010-01

Our new CD, Beats Without Borders, is here!!! It marks another step forward for the Red Hot Chachkas, with all original compositions by band members, and no stylistic boundaries. Chris K. did a great job of recording and engineering, and Lisa Berman and Fletcher Oakes did a fantastic job with the artwork. Copies will be available at all our gigs, a few of which are listed below, as well as for order online at RedHotChachkas.com, CDBaby.com, and local retailers soon. We've even made a few samples available for download (but of course the CD versions sound much better than the mp3s):

"Beats Without Borders" New CD

CD Release Shows (with more to be added):

Saturday January 9 at Armando's, Martinez

Armando's is an intimate, close-to-the-music, get-to-know-the-performers, hot-spot for local talent, located at 707 Marina Vista, Martinez, CA [map]. Saturday Jan. 9th, 8-11 pm.

Sunday Jan.17 Santa Rosa

Concert 2-4 pm Absolute Music Series at the Friedman Center, 4676 Mayette Ave., Santa Rosa CA [map]

Saturday March 6 at The Sleeping Lady, Fairfax

is host to some of the best musical artists in the Bay Area and beyond! It's located at 23 Broadway Blvd, in central Fairfax, just 4 miles west of San Rafael on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., with easy parking. It's a restaurant, beer & wine bar, with live music from 9:30 to Midnight.