Dance, sing, laugh and cry on a musical journey from the Baltic to the Black Sea – and beyond.

Dance, sing, laugh and cry as the London Klezmer Quartet takes you on a musical journey from Eastern Europe to Australia via Thailand, Turkey, the US and London. LKQ plays old and new traditional music of Jewish eastern Europe on fiddle, clarinet, accordion and double bass, and presents songs of love, life, food and drink.

From festivals to front rooms, village halls to classical and jazz venues, this versatile group's technical wizardry and interactive presentation style captivate audiences and draw in fans from across the musical spectrum. LKQ has produced four well-received toe-tapping and tear-filled CDs and appeared around Australia in person and via national media during six sell-out tours.

In 2018, LKQ's regional touring in Australia included performances for Arts North West ON TOUR in NSW. Co-ordinator Nicci Parry-Jones said: "People right round our region raved about you! I’d love all tours to be as successful and easy as the LKQ."

Audiences love the band. “You were amazing and I'm so glad I travelled the five hours to see you” (Nora, Perth).

Presenters also like the show: “Sensational performance, audience loved it, I loved it.” – Zoli, Music by the Sea series, Sandgate QLD

Venue Format
Theatre, Hall, Black Box Venue, Outdoor
Technical Rating
D, The production can be modified to suit most venues
Touring Party
4 musicians
Considerations

  • The show can be 2 x 45-50 mins with interval, or a 60-70 minute performance without interval, suitable for lunchtime and matinee concerts.

  • The band are happy to perform without amplification for smaller audiences and in venues with good acoustics.

  • Any necessary PA and other sound equipment to be supplied by the venue.

The London Klezmer Quartet was formed in 2009 by four of Europe's top klezmorim (pl. Jewish folk musicians), to popularise a rich but almost-lost tradition of wonderful tunes played by professional folk musicians to move wedding guests to dancing, laughter and tears. LKQ is one of a handful of bands in the world also leading the dances this music would traditionally accompany.

In 2012, the first of six Australian tours added a Melbourne double bass player to the ensemble, which has since toured in Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Holland, Latvia, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, as well as all over the UK. Media during LKQ's Australian tours of stages ranging from national festivals to regional tours and small halls has included reviews in Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian, and coverage on ABC's The Music Show, The Rhythm Divine, & Classic FM's Morning Programme.

Melbourne Recital Centre, where LKQ regularly sells out the Salon venue, says: "Klezmer now has wide appeal in Australia, bolstered by LKQ's virtuosic and enthusiastic approach to bringing not just repertoire, but colourful anecdotes about its origins to audiences, helping to make the music accessible.“

Company Website
londonklezmerquartet.com

Unique Selling Point

According to Melbourne Recital Centre:

"Klezmer now has wide appeal in Australia, bolstered by LKQ's virtuosic and enthusiastic approach to bringing not just repertoire, but colourful anecdotes about its origins to audiences, helping to make the music accessible. “

British Museum's Membership Events Manager says:

“You sounded wonderful and I really liked the added touch of explaining the background of each piece, not to mention you are the first performance to ever have got the members up and dancing!”

Ed in Melbourne: “You all play with so much joy, love and sincerity for the music you are sharing with your audiences.”

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Community Engagement

We are experienced in various types of community engagement, including:

  • schools shows and workshops appropriately tailored to students’ ages. We introduce the music and the instruments, and involve the students in singing, rhythm exercises, and dancing where appropriate;

  • playing in therapeutic and special needs environments, including aged care and residential homes, day centres and hospitals;

  • introducing klezmer through talks and hands/feet-on workshops to community groups ranging from amateur musicians and dancers, to religious and cultural groups, and classical musicians and music appreciation societies;

  • parent and child events.