Doors at 2:30 pm; Show at 3 pm

Tickets are $12 Adults / $8 Kids

A long-time Ashkenaz family favorite, the wildly imaginative Octopretzel quintet returns to delight a young audience (and parents) with its colorful and inspired performance. An Octopretzel show features fresh songs, sing-alongs and kiddie participation. The band, three of whose members are parents, has been known to inspire spontaneous kiddie mosh-pits. The songwriting presents imagery of things such as spinning tops, roly-polys, and whimsical imaginary creatures. As the band says, “Our songs seek to discover that part of you - of all of us - that hasn't forgotten how to play, how to be silly, how to appreciate simplicity, all those things that kids just do naturally.”

With several albums of its own music, Octopretzel is also featured on our “Live at Ashkenaz, Vol. 2: Kids!” CD. Along with songs written by band members, Octopretzel music includes family favorites dressed in elements of many cultures such as African drumming, klezmer fiddling, Middle Eastern percussion and singing styles, bluegrass, rock and roll, lullabies and nursery rhymes, with words sung in English, Spanish, Hebrew and even Quechua.

Singer and guitarist Melita Doostan is Octopretzel’s creator, a former pre-school teacher who is now a music specialist for youngsters. Singer David Doostan is an East Bay emergency room doctor.  Jen Miriam Kantor, a former member of the Sippy Cups and the Puppet Players, sings and plays percussion (by day she’s a doula, artist, and puppeteer). Mandolinist and fiddler David Rosenfeld has worked with the Oakland Symphony and plays in klezmer band Kugelplex. Vir McCoy sings, plays too many stringed instruments, is a founder of world band Hamsa Lila, has performed and recorded with everyone from Mickey Hart to Beats Antique, and still found time to compose more than 200 songs!