The Klezmatics live in Amherst

Experience The Klezmatics live on July 12th

The Klezmatics will perform at the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts on July 12, 2026. The Klezmatics are a prominent American klezmer band known for revitalizing and expanding the traditional Eastern European Jewish instrumental music known as klezmer. Their style blends traditional melodies and instrumentation – typically clarinet, violin, accordion, bass, and drums – with influences from jazz, rock, and world music. They frequently incorporate Yiddish poetry and vocals into their performances. The group has been active since 1983 and has released numerous albums, earning a Grammy Award in 2006 for their album “Happy Joyous Hanukkah.”

The National Yiddish Book Center, founded in 1980 by Aaron Lansky, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of Yiddish books. Recognizing the imminent loss of a vast literary heritage following decades of persecution and assimilation, Lansky initiated a nationwide effort to rescue Yiddish books from attics and basements. The Center’s collection now comprises over 11,000 titles, making it the largest collection of its kind in the world.