July 9, 2026: Yiddish Jazz and Roots

'Tis the time of the season for festivals, and we’ve got two headed to Hampden and Hampshire counties for folx to get out in the sun and get some music along with their Vitamin DWe’ll hear about this year’s Yidstock bringing the newest, innovative yiddish music to Amherst. Starting today and going through July 12th, the four-day festival features seven concerts, workshops, talks, and special tours, all in celebration of Yiddish music, language, and culture. We’ll hear one of the bands joining that lineup, Levyosn. Just down the block from us, the Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival is also taking place this weekend, making a triumphant return to its original location in Court Square. The festival is much more than just the world renowned acts that play in the city of firsts, however, this year including Omar Sosa, Dumpstafunk and others, and so we crash a workshop being led by Zikina at the Community Music School in Springfield and learn how Blues to Green is incorporating those students into this year’s line up. And in our weekly conversation with Jim McGovern, we find the congressman up to his knees in cheese curds in Wisconsin, and get his take on our on-again, off again war with Iran, Platner dropping out of his senatorial bid, and a pile of listener questions on the liberties being threatened by proposed legislation.