Central-European music & dance: The Tam Fest in SF

Turning our attention to things to come back home I would like to let everybody know about the Tam Fest at the newly renamed "Croatian-American Cultural Center" in San Francisco. If you don't know what a Tam (short for Tamburitza) is or if you have never been to what was formerly called the "Slavonian Cultural Center" you have missed something.



This small hall for max. 300 people is one of San Francisco's hottest venues when it comes to authentic music and dance from Central-Eastern Europe. Last fall a concert by the Boban Markovic Orkestar, a lively brass band, cought my attention and since then I have been to several events, each different and each memorable. Let me just name two other concerts so that you get the gist and the reach of the Center's programming: One evening Esma Redzepova, "the queen of Romani (Gypsy) music" from Kosovo enchanted the audience and created a vibrant scene with everybody clapping hands and dancing wildly. The next week it was a totaly different ambiente with candle lights celebrating an evening of American avantgarde music. From the concentrated silence emerged the complex sounds of both, a computerized Yamaha Disklavier and a traditional acoustic grand piano played by distinguished pianists Sarah Cahill and Kathleen Supové. You see that the management of this center loves music and is open to present a wide variety of styles and types always with a great sense for quality and direction.

But back to the Tam Fest: In the past decade the Croatian American Cultural Center has annually showcased the best tamburitza music in California and presented nationally renowned tamburitza orchestras. On President's Day weekend each February; the Center is filled with singing, dancing, and the music of the tamburitza. For two days the hall reverberates with a rich tapestry of tambura music both traditional and contemporary. The ensembles perform for listening, play dance tunes, polkas and waltzes and circle dances, and sing Becar tunes until the bar closes late at night.

So make time this coming weekend to visit the San Francisco Tamburitza Festival, a wonderful musical experience is guaranteed for all. For more info on the venue and the program and what a tamburitza is turn to the Cultural Center's web site. You'll see that there are many more interesting events coming up in the next couple of weeks.
February 18, 2005 8PM $15 - Welcome Dance and Performances
February 20, 2005 1:30PM $15 - Concert and festivities.
(there will be no programs on Sat 2/19).

Disclosure: In my professional life as a wine merchant I supply wines to the Croatian-American Cultural Center. But believe me, their events are good!