CANCELED: Marni Loffman, Rena Branson and Avra Shapiro in concert

We are sorry to announce this event is canceled. One of the musicians has covid and we do not want to risk exposures. For the wellbeing of our community, there will be no concert.

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Join us for a nourishing evening of music composed and performed by three queer Jewish musicians—Marni Loffman, Rena Branson, and Avra Shapiro! Their songs weave together traditional Jewish liturgy, original poetry, and prayers for healing and liberation. You’re welcome to sing and move along with the music, or to simply breathe and rest with us. Come as you are!

(Optional) Farm Tour 6:15-6:50 pm

Concert: 7:00-8:30 pm

Please read the whole event description. We want to share important details with guests ahead of time.

Avra Shapiro (they/them) is a cultural organizer, liberatory educator, musician, and ritualist living on unceded Lenni Lenape in Philadelphia. They were ordained as a Kohenet (Hebrew Priestexx) in 2020 and this greatly informs their work. Their music has been used in Jewish organizations across the country. They are looking forward to serving as the Cantorial Soloist at Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir this coming fall. They are a deep believer in the Torah of sloths. Check out their offerings at  kohenetavrashapiro.com.

Marni Loffman is a composer, musician, singer and ritual-leader with a love of community education and asking big questions. With a background in cultural anthropology, religion and international peacebuilding, Marni is often weaving social analysis with music making practices. How can music help us belong? How has music played a role in the construction of identity? What does this sound like? What does this feel like? Marni’s debut album, the long short path, releases on rosh chodesh (the new month) Elul in mid august.  the long short path is an invitation to pray from wherever you are on your journey, from a place of eternal wandering and continual arrival, from the paradox of belief, from desiring “traditional” sounds and also yearning for relevance, familiarity and meaning, from recognizing a kernel of truth everywhere but also knowing that no place contains the full picture. Listen to Marni’s debut single tefilat haderech on all streaming platforms.

Rena Branson (they/them) is a Jewish composer, ritual leader, and Reiki practitioner who uplifts personal and collective healing through song. They founded A Queer Nigun Project, which organizes singing opportunities and spiritual nourishment for LGBTQIA+ folks and people in the Jewish community who are incarcerated. Rena writes melodies on commission and offers workshops, concerts, and song circles that weave together original music and Chassidishe nigunim (Hasidic tunes). Over the past year, they produced and released two albums, “Love Is the Ground” and “Undzer Tish,” a collection of nigunim sung by nonbinary artists. You can also hear them sing on a new album of Chabad melodies called Kapelya by RAZA. Learn more at renabranson.com!

Schedule: Arrive by 6:50pm to get seated for the concert or come early (6:15pm) to take a lovely, slow, guided walking tour of the farm.

Directions/Parking: There is limited parking at the farm. We can sell more tickets and welcome more guests if people carpool. Please help us out by carpooling if you can.

Accessible Parking: There is limited accessible parking available by the house, which is closer to the performance site than the general parking area. Please email info@yesodfarm.org to reserve accessible parking.

Accessibility: We will be on a mowed, grassy lawn. There will be both mats and folding chairs available for seating, but feel free to bring your own chair(s) as well. There is a composting toilet and handwashing sink available. There is currently quite a bit of pollen in the air, so plan accordingly if you have allergies. While furry friends are often welcome at events, we ask that you do not bring your dog unless they are a service animal. Please email info@yesodfarm.org with accessibility requests and questions.

COVID: This event is outdoors and distanced, but please **bring a mask** in case there are times where we need to be in closer proximity.

Weather: This concert is outdoors, so please dress for comfort in the weather. If it looks like rain, we will cancel. You will receive an email by 2pm on the day of the concert in case of cancellation, and have the option of a refund.

Pay what you can: Suggested donation is $36. Sliding scale and free tickets are available. Please join us!

You will receive our address upon registration.