Sat, Aug 23 - 9pm - $10

 ChickenFat Klezmer Orchestra is a Chicago-based band that plays various klezmer styles influenced by vaudeville, Roma, Greek, Romanian, Turkish and Bulgarian music.

Like their name, a palindrome derived from the Arabic word for beauty, these five creative musicians take the music of our global ancestors and turn it inside out creating something fresh and innovative yet true to its roots.The group formed in 2004 after meeting for late night jam sessions at a belly dance store in Chicago. Since then they have played events such as the 2006-2008 Chicago World Music Fest, Chicago Turkish Festival, Milwaukee's Global Union fest, the Chicago Arabesque Festival, Chicago Cultural Center, CBS morning news, as well as local venues likt the Empty Bottle, the Hideout, the Double Door, Martyrs', and many more. Whether its a folk fest or an underground dance club, Lamajamal is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most energetic live “gypsy party” bands in Chicago.In 2007 Lamajamal released the album "Gypsy Surf", an edgy interpretation of Balkan and Arabic classics done on guitar, drum set, oud, clarinet and electric bass. Their follow up to Gypsy Surf, to be released this year, is a highly danceable blend of original music, and dance music from Turkey, the Balkans and the Middle East, recorded with a tasteful influence of urban production techniques such as dub and hip-hop.In 2010, Lamajamal is also happy to release an album of Kashmiri folk music which was commissioned by the Funkar International Organization for the purpose of the preservation of the Kashmiri language and culture.“…Lamajamal is a band without borders." - Tony Sarabia, Chicago Public Radio"…when they're on, they're on, arriving at a fuzzy, garagey take on Roma music thanks to a knack for sexy, serpentine grooves and a mean, mean oud player." - Monica Kendrick, Chicago Reader“Lamajamal--it must be said--isn't a novelty act. Nor are they taking traditional Gypsy music and simply updating it. They take folk music from all over the world and they put their own spin on it. The response for what they have performed and released has been very encouraging.” - Pioneer Press"So, here's my thumbs-up to Lamajamal for creating a fun and accessible musical experience that offers the full range of expression from silly to sophisticated. Some of the tight harmonies and culturally-mixed lines and phrases stopped me cold as I found myself transported to who-knows-where. The skill and confidence it takes to be that relaxed playing complex material can only be achieved through much hard effort. What ensemble work!” - Roxane Assaf, Public Relations, Chicago Arabesque

 Hot Club Thing performs "Gypsy Jazz", as pioneered by the European Gypsy guitarist, Django Reinhardt, in the early to mid 1900's. This is a music that is born of the Gypsy tradition of trans-border (also trans-atlantic) travel and integration of whatever they find suitable to their mode of life. New and old songs, along with their arrangements, are really just a launching point for Hot Club Thing's improvisational endeavors.