Shalom Tour: Shantala & Mikey Pauker, Sacred Chant, World Music

How fortunate and Grateful to be able to welcome and host this beautiful lineup in Ashland June 13: SHANTALA (Benjy and Heather Wertheimer) and MIKEY PAUKER sharing the stage for one glorious evening at The Casbah at Jackson WellSprings. This ShalOM tour is a synthesis of sacred chanting in the languages of Sanskrit and Hebrew and uplifting songs in the style of world folk music. The music is a blend of East and West, meditative and ecstatic, ancient and contemporary. Everyone is welcome, and there will be a lot of audience participation and invitation for all to sing. The roots of religion all have their origins in the same soil. We believe in building bridges across the lines of different faiths, trusting in the ground that anchors those bridges. When we move deeply enough into sacred space, we find common truths and shared experiences. We want to sing to God in many different languages. We believe in honoring the sacredness of spirit and nature. One sun is shining down upon us all. SHANTALA (BENJY and HEATHER WERTHEIMER) have been leading kirtan (sacred chanting) worldwide since 2001 as the duo SHANTALA. They are known for their special gift of bringing the audience into a vast and loving experience through their unique blend of exquisite voices with instruments of India and the West. Together they create music with beauty, passion, and reverence. Heather and Benjy have released five beautiful and well-loved albums of sacred chant music since 2003, including Living Waters, Jaya, LIVE in love, Sri, and The Love Window. They also have a passionate international online following, with hundreds of thousands of YouTube video views, millions of iTunes/Apple Music downloads, and millions of streams on Spotify in 2018 alone. Shantala has performed and recorded internationally with such sacred music luminaries as Krishna Das, Deva Premal & Miten, and Jai Uttal. For more info: www.shantalamusic.com Watch the video, “Mahadeva” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPhTckRknvY MIKEY PAUKER is a folk/world artist from Berkeley, California. His new album, ASCENSION, is an invitation to listen to the call of our inner wilderness and to greet our darkness with understanding and an open heart. It was recorded in raw, live instrumental sessions — a departure from Mikey’s more electronic past recordings — under the guidance of Grammy-nominated producer Warren Huart (The Fray, Trevor Hall, Matisyahu). With songs like “Say Yes” and “I AM”, listeners are elevated with catchy melodic hooks and reggae/rock beats. Inspired by the recent California wildfires and hurricanes that have swept Texas and Florida this past season, “Believe” reminds us that these tragedies are opportunities to rebalance our relationship with our planet and the communities we surround ourselves with. Growing up in Orange County, Mikey¹s early experiences at underground shows exposed him to the intense, primal energy of live music, as well as the strong community bonds that form in an authentic and close-knit scene. Inspired by teachers who blend yoga and mystical practices he went to study in Jerusalem, soaking up the hidden teachings of his ancestral lineage. These spiritual dimensions guided his artistic development as he explored ecstatic music festivals and mystical religious traditions. His music implores us all to look within, sit with our darkness, and transform it into light. Mikey¹s sound blends elements of folk, reggae, and hip-hop, incorporating English and Hebrew roots into his devotional songwriting. Mikey¹s music draws from influences such as early Bob Marley, Van Morrison, and The Police, and listeners will immediately identify his style to the likes of Michael Franti, Trevor Hall and artists such as Mike Love and Stick Figure. This past year Mikey has supported Rebelution, Stephen Marley, Matisyahu, Dovavon Frankenreiter, The Polish Ambassador, Mike Love, and Stop Light Observations. Notable performance highlights include Reggae On The Rocks, Electric Forest, Beloved, Bhakti Fest, Enchanted Forest and Chant 4 Change on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Mikey has been featured in TIME magazine as one of the 10 Stars of The New Jewish Music. He is also the music director of the center of earth-based judaism: Wilderness Torah. Stay connected at www.mikeypauker.com. Watch the video, “Rise” – https://www.facebook.com/mikeypauker/videos/781887735346102/ or go to https://mikeypauker.com/media/ tickets also available at Music Coop downtown Ashland presented by Lloyd Barde Productions & RELAXPANSION Unlimited. info: 541.488.8282