To hear Yonatan Strier say it, nightlife is so passé.
“We’re talking daylife. It’s the new Thursday night, Saturday night. Now everybody looks forward to Friday afternoon.” Friday afternoon in Jerusalem is normally thought of as either a hectic mélange of pre-Shabbat preparation as crowds mob the Machane Yehuda shuk, the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall, the central bus station en route out of town, and all points in between, or as a quiet day off free from anything resembling a party. So why would anybody look forward to it? Three words: Massive street party.
This summer, as last summer, Strier and gang have concocted a series of free street bashes drawing some of the top musical talent Israel has to offer and bringing the people to the streets for the best reason possible: to have a good time.
The Front Stage concert series, which kicked off last year, is raising the stakes this time around by bringing Israel’s version of “arena-worthy bands” to play in Jerusalem, totally gratis. It won’t be easy to top 2008’s craziness, seeing as last year saw both Matisyahu and Mosh Ben Ari take the stage. This year Strier has Avraham Tal, until recently of Shotei Hanevuah fame, Balkan Beat Box, Hatikva 6, and a reunited Kaveret, which Strier calls Israel’s Beatles, set to perform in front of thousands of Jerusalemites.
“Most artists we have have at least one or two songs on the radio right now,” he says. “Nobody has ever brought this level of artists to perform in the streets of Jerusalem.”
The Front Stage also usually has a DJ or two spinning trance, house or whatever the kids are listening to these days to keep the party vibe going even after the bands leave the stage.
The parties movie among different venues, but most are outside, taking up whole blocks in and around the city center, and usually drawing crowds upwards of 5,000 people. On July 17th, two blocks of Hillel Street will close to make room for Tal and the world music Matbucha Project, in conjunction with Dublin, so you can get your beer or Irish whiskey on while hearing some hi-fi tunes.
Oh, and did we mention that every concert is absolutely totally 100 percent free.
Not bad for a Friday afternoon.
