It was such slim pickings for traditional folk music in Richmond, VA that two friends and myself decided to found our own organization and host monthy concerts featuring traditional folk music. We've held two concerts, one almost full to capacity and the second, a concert devoted to Yiddish Folk Songs, sold out. We didn't know how an evening of Yiddish Folk Songs would go over in Richmond, but I'd heard Art Todras sing in a Klezmer band and decided we had to do an evening highlighting the priceless, rare material he'd researched and collected over the years. Well, what an evening it was! An unbelievable selection of songs drawn from Eastern Europe and early 20th century America - ranging from sad and mournful to happy and hilarious - there were songs from the Hassidic tradition, work songs, songs from the early labor movements in America, devotional songs...   There was no need to speak Yiddish, everybody, and I mean everybody, was drawn into the stories Art told and the songs he sang! And we learned a lot about Jewish history in the process. It was unforgettable. If anybody is interested in booking Art pm me and I'll send you his contact info (I'm not his agent or anything - I just really admire his singing and his scholarship, as well as his way of communicating with the audience). You can see pictures on our website :http://www.richmondfolkmusic.org/archives/061805.htm