The Tamar Festival is an annual festival held near the Dead Sea in Israel during the Sukkot holiday. This five day festival is one of Israel’s largest music festivals, featuring some of Israel’s greatest musicians as well as music from around the world all in a unique and powerful setting in Israel’s Negev Desert. The 2011 Tamar Festival will run between October 15-19 and will feature the likes of Infected Mushroom, Mosh Ben Ari, Aviv Geffen, and The Churchills and The Styles.

Sunrise from the top of the breathtaking Masada is stunning by Flickr user Tmuna Fish

The festival takes place in the Negev Desert at three venues; Nakhal Zohar, a magical setting in the desert, amazing at night for concerts, the Masada National Park, where many of the sunrise concerts enable the breathtaking sunrise over the desert and Dead Sea to provide a unique ambiance, and the beautiful lawns of the Kibbutz Ein Gedi Botanical Park.

Micha Shitrit at a previous Tamar Festival by ogimogi, on Flickr

The program for the 2011 Tamar Festival is as follows:

October 15, 2011

• Yehudit Ravitz/ Shalom Hanoch – Rock Concert | Zohar Canyon | 21:00

On the opening night, the Wadi Zohar complex plays host to a historicand nostalgic Israeli rock concert. It is hard to imagine what Israeli rock would sound like without the huge input of Yehudit Ravitz and Shalom Hanoch. Two writers and performers whose songs make up the quintessential Israeli soundtrack. And both are still kicking, exciting audiences and always innovating with their music.

October 16, 2011

• The Middle East Awakens – Yemen Blues/ Dudu Tassa hosts Shlomo Bar/ Omar Faruk | Zohar Canyon | 21:00

The Middle East Awakens – An original Tamar Festival 2011 production in which some of the top virtuoso performers in the Middle East come together on one stage: Omar Faruk Tekbilek, the Sufi music master, and his international band, Yemen Blues – the Israeli band creating waves in festivals all over the world and Dudu Tassa, who affably combines traditional Iraqi music with contemporary rock n’ roll. His latest album, “Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis” won critical praise and impressive commercial success. Tassa will host Shlomo Bar – the driving force behind the Natural Choice and the ultimate revolutionary musician.

• Avraham Tal | Massada | 03:30
• Tomer Yosef | Ein Gedi (Free) | 18:30

October 17, 2011

• Ehud Banai “Slivers of Night”/ Barry Sacharoff “You are Here” | Zohar Canyon | 21:00

There is not much more to say about these two artists – Ehud Banai and Barry Sacharoff, the two troubadours of modern Israeli music. Musicians who have never stopped creating and innovating. Ehud Banai and Barry Sacharoff are appearing at the Tamar Festival 2011 as part of their new album tours.

• Mosh Ben Ari | Massada | 03:30
• Alma Zohar | Ein Gedi (Free) | 18:30

October 18, 2011

• Infected Mushroom in a Video Rave Desert Concert, Opening act Knesiyat Hasechel | Zohar Canyon | 21:00

A dazzling hypnotic performance by Infected Mushroom. Direct from Los Angeles and in the midst of their world tour, Infected Mushroom are coming to Israel for one live show at Wadi Zohar – a desert experience so powerful you have to see and hear it to believe it! There is no need to make any comment about the international sensation that has conquered almost every corner of the globe (apart from Antarctica) and has a 15-year following of millions of faithful fans.

• Eviatar Banai with Erez Lev Ari | Massada | 03:30
• The Churchills and The Styles | Ein Gedi (Free) | 18:30

October 19, 2011

• Aviv Geffen and Yehonatan Geffen | Massada | 03:30

Information on the other performers can be found on the festival website www.tamarfestival.com

For tickets and booking information contact Bimot – *6226, 02-6237000, www.bimot.co.il