KNOXVILLE — Israeli musician Idan Raichel will bring with him a host of international performers when he visits the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, campus Monday, Nov. 9, as part of the 2009-2010 Cultural Attractions Series.
The Idan Raichel Project will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Cox Auditorium of the Alumni Memorial Building. Tickets are $5 for students, $20 for faculty and staff and $25 for the public. Tickets will be available at the door, but may still be reserved through http://knoxvilletickets.com, by phone at 865-656-4444 or in person at the University Center Central Ticket Office. For parking information, call 865-974-5455.
The Idan Raichel Project debuted on Israel’s music scene in 2002 with a blend of African, Latin American, Caribbean, Ethiopian and Middle Eastern sounds fused with Hebrew texts. In a region of the world where headlines are often dominated by conflict, the message of tolerance and love found in Raichel’s lyrics is changing the face of Israeli popular music. The project’s self-titled album involved artists from around the world and went on to sell more than 150,000 copies, establishing Raichel as a new type of Israeli pop star. The Idan Raichel Project has become one of the most unexpected success stories in Israeli music history.
Music from the Idan Raichel Project was released worldwide in the fall of 2006, bringing even more attention to the inspirational collective. Billboard Magazine called the international release “one of the most fascinating titles to emerge in world music this year…a multi-ethnic tour de force.” The New York Times selected the album as one of the top world music releases of the year, and media from Peru to Portugal were unanimous in their praise. The album also received a nomination as one of the best world music albums of the year by the BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music.
Each year, UT Knoxville’s Cultural Attractions Series brings top-notch performing arts to the campus and community. Highlighting diverse music and dance programs, past performers include the Moscow Festival Ballet, Irish troupe Gaelic Storm and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Other 2009-2010 events include La Bottine Souriante, the celebrated traditional roots band from Quebec; Brazilian hip-hop dance company Grupo De Rua; and TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming. For more information on the 2009-2010 Cultural Attractions Series, visit http://cpc.utk.edu/Committees/cac.
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C O N T A C T :
Rebekah Winkler, (865-974-8304, rwinkler@utk.edu)