Singer, songwriter, and genre-blending musician Matisyahu has announced the details for his annual Festival of Lights Hannukah shows., marking the 18th annual event with shows at Brooklyn Bowl December 14-15 and Miami Beach on December 20-21, marking the start and end of the Feast of Dedication.
The special two-set shows will feature Matisyahu celebrating the 20th anniversary of his breakthrough, Gold-certified album Live at Stubb’s, performing the album in full along with a set of hits, fan favorites, and new songs off his forthcoming album, Ancient Child, out October 3rd.
In addition to the music, the nights will include on-stage menorah lighting and a disco dreidel ball. At the Festival of Lights, Matisyahu will perform with a full band including Aaron Dugan on guitar, Rob Marscher on keyboards, Jason Fraticelli on bass, and Ben Atkind on drums.
“I am very happy to bring the original music together with the new music as I gear up for the release of Ancient Child,” shares Matisyahu. “Things feel full circle as we celebrate 20 years since Stubbs and 18 Festival of Lights. We will play the original Live at Stubb’s set first and then move onto the music from my 8th studio release, Ancient Child, in the second set. We will also play the classics you love and expect candle melting jams from my all-star band, who are also my close friends of over 20 years. We are celebrating life, music, and the triumph of light over darkness. Come shine with us.”
Ancient Child, Matisyahu’s eighth full-length studio album available via SoundOn, simultaneously reaches back in time and towards the future, in search of the infinite divine light of redemption. On the 12-song collection, Matisyahu finds himself reconnected with his Jewish identity and spirituality in a world post October 7th. Ancient Child investigates questions about history, identity, and destiny from the humility of a child through the wisdom of the generations’ past. The music on Ancient Child is not reggae. It’s not rock. It’s not hip hop. Like Matisyahu, and the world he tries to create lyrically, it is a melding of various styles and sounds that have been influential from a universe of music the singer has absorbed through more than 20 years as a recording and touring artist.
In support of Ancient Child, Matisyahu is hitting the road with his full band on a 15-date headlining tour in October. The Ancient Child Tour, also featuring an opening set from longtime friend and collaborator Aaron Dugan, kicks off October 11th in Buffalo and will travel along the East Coast, stopping in such cities as Boston, Philadelphia, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Charleston, Athens, and St. Petersburg, among others, before wrapping October 29th in Orlando. See below for all upcoming tour dates.
Venue and artist pre-sale tickets for Festival of Lights will be available starting Thursday, September 18th at 12pm EST with the public on sale commencing Friday, September 19th at 12pm EST. Visit matisyahuworld.com for more information and to purchase.
Matisyahu Tour Dates
Saturday, October 4 – Las Vegas, NV @ Reggae Rise Up Festival
Saturday, October 11 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
Sunday, October 12 – Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues
Monday, October 13 – Albany, NY @ Empire Live
Tuesday, October 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl – Philadelphia
Thursday, October 16 – East Greenwich, RI @ Greenwich Odeum
Saturday, October 18 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
Sunday, October 19 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater
Tuesday, October 21 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
Wednesday, October 22 – Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm
Thursday, October 23 – Savannah, GA @ Victory North
Saturday, October 25 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre
Sunday, October 26 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
Monday, October 27 – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Tuesday, October 28 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
Wednesday, October 29 – Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live
Festival of Lights:
Sunday, December 14 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
Monday, December 15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl
Saturday, December 20 – Miami Beach, FL @ Miami Beach Bandshell
Sunday, December 21 – Miami Beach, FL @ Miami Beach Bandshell
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