Arie and Gil Gat - Gat Brothers
Arie and Gil Gat - Gat BrothersPhoto credit: Ben Bresky

Thousands attended the third annual Sounds of the Old City festival that took place earlier this month in Jerusalem. A variety of ethnic and traditional concerts were held at mini stages set up throughout the Old City.

Organizer Aner Ozery spoke to Arutz Sheva's Israel Beat Jewish Music Podcast and explained the impetus for the festival.. "We saw that during the day many people come to visit the Old City, " he stated, "but after the sun goes down people feel less welcome,"  he said. 

The event was organized by the Jersualem Development Authority, the Ministry for Jerusalem Affairs and the Municipality of Jerusalem. "I want to show everybody these things that I never saw before I worked here," he added.

For the full interview and an audio tour of the festival, download the podcast by clicking here.

Music featured includes the Gat Brothers, the Atroosh Ensemble, the Hebrews of Dimona, Gole Anar, the Amechaye Klezmer Band, Danny Robas, the Naam Ensemble, and more.

All photos by Ben Bresky.

Ben Bresky is a music journalist living in Jerusalem. He hosts The Israel Beat Jewish Music Podcast interviewing a wide range of Jewish and Israeli musicians from Carlebach to klezmer, from hassidic to trance. For mp3 archives click here. For Facebook click here. For Twitter click here.