In the United Nations of World Music, forshpil represents Yiddishland, a legendary, transnational territory where shtetl musicians play electric guitars along with fiddles and traditional Yiddish ballads are as popular as rock anthems. Forshpil emerged on this planet in 2003 in Riga, Latvia. Since then the band has been studying, preserving and creating traditional and contemporary Yiddish culture. Led by singer Sasha Lurje and keyboardist/arranger Ilya Shneyveys, forshpil has traveled all over Europe and North America playing and teaching at major Jewish and world music events. 
Forshpil re-energizes traditional Yiddish songs, Hasidic nigunim and klezmer tunes with modern rhythms, harmonies and instruments. Age-old songs of love and despair are infused with psychedelic rock, funk, jazz and other transformative substances. If Pink Floyd and The Doors had ever jammed together at a Jewish wedding, they might well have sounded like this!

Line-up:
Sasha Lurje (LV, DE) - voice
Ilya Shneyveys (LV, US) - keyboards, arrangements
Evgenii Lizin (DE) - drums
Mitia Khramtsov (DE) - violin
Avi Fox-Rosen (US) - electric guitar