SoundWaves
media release: Klez Fest Midwest (KFMW) is an annual music festival in Madison, Wisconsin, presenting great klezmer music as a living and evolving creative tradition. Launched in 2024 at the Mead Witter School of Music at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the main festival takes place in the fall, with occasional events at other times of the year. Past performers have included Alicia Svigals (2024 headliner, the “queen of the klezmer violin”), clarinet superstar David Krakauer (2025 headliner), Laura Elkeslassy, Donald Sosin, and Kathleen Tagg, with band members including Aaron Alexander, Jim Guttman, Curtis Hasselbring, Jordan Hirsch, Will Holshouser, Michael Sarin, Ilya Shneyveys, and Leo Traversa. Klez Fest Midwest has also proudly presented Madison groups Yid Vicious, Kanopy Dance, Elm Duo, and Tsuzamen. In 2026, we are excited to welcome our headliners The Klezmatics, along with Fugu Dugu, the Nigunim Trio, and returning performers Yid Vicious, Tsuzamen and Elm Duo. Past KFMW events have included masterclasses, a dance performance, a film with live music, and a children’s concert.
Thursday, October 22
7:00 PM, North Street Cabaret, 610 North Street
Local band Tsuzamen and Chicago’s Fugu Dugu
Indie klezmer (Tsuzamen) and Balkan brass/klezmer soul/gypsy fire punk (Fugu Dugu).
FREE
Friday, October 23
7:30 PM, Collins Recital Hall, Hamel Music Center, 740 University Ave
SoundWaves: Music and Science Together
A Wisconsin Science Festival event. UW–Madison faculty explore the theme of “Origins” from a variety of perspectives in 15-minute talks directed at the lay audience, and The Klezmatics speak about the origins of klezmer and perform songs from their 40-year repertoire.
FREE but registration required here
Saturday, October 24
11:00 AM, Lee/Kaufman Rehearsal Hall, Hamel Music Center, 740 University Ave
Children’s Concert with Elm Duo
Klezmer for the whole family.
FREE
2:00 PM, Mead Witter Foundation Concert Hall, Hamel Music Center, 740 University Ave
Showcase Concert with The Klezmatics
For nearly four decades, The Klezmatics have brought their unique sound to audiences around the world—blending klezmer with jazz, gospel, punk, classical, Latin, and Balkan styles. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear the band free of charge in a great concert hall!
FREE
7:00 PM, East Side Club, 3735 Monona Dr
Dan’s World Music Fest
Dance party fundraiser for WORT celebrating world music DJ Dan Talmo, with Szászka (Hungarian/Transylvanian dance music), LuLu Quintet (French/Romany jazz) and Yid Vicious (Klezmer).
$20 Donation to WORT-FM
Sunday, October 25
4:00 PM, North Street Cabaret, 610 North Street
Nigunim Trio
The Klezmatics’ Lorin Sklamberg (vocals/accordion) and Frank London (trumpet/keyboard) with pianist Rob Schwimmer in a program of Yiddish Hasidic spiritual songs.
FREE
