During the week of June 8-14,  Northampton’s “Django in June” again plays host to world class artists and avid amateurs with a shared passion for the musical tradition associated with pioneering jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli. What began in 2004 as a small, single day event now spans a week, with over 200 attendees from around the world filling the dorms and grounds of Smith College with a joyful noise that goes by many names: “Gypsy jazz”, “hot jazz”, “jazz manouche”, and “Sinti Swing.” At week’s end, the artists on staff take the stage at the historic Academy of Music in Northampton to offer the general public a sampling of jazz à la Django at its best.

Friday, June 12th

Hot Club of Cowtown

Gwen Cahue Quartet

In 1994 in New York City, Elana James placed an ad in the music section of the Village Voice looking to join a band, and Whit Smith answered it. Since then the music these two have made has always been a secret brew of energy, joie de vivre, and a respect for tradition. As their name implies, the two are more likely to show up at the gig in cowboy hats than berets. Think, Paris meets Austin. But the influence of both Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli is unmistakable. For our 2026 opener, sit back and let the Hot Club of Cowtown take you to “that crossroads where country meets jazz and chases the blues away.” (The Independent)

Then we welcome our guests from France, the Gwen Cahue Quartet, to the concert stage. A self-taught musician who trained under the direct guidance of masters, Gwen Cahue blends the raw energy of Jimi Hendrix with the melodic inventiveness of Django Reinhardt. The rest of his group is made up of best-in-class specialists in this style: Bastien Ribot on violin, William Brunard on double bass, and Benji Winterstein on rhythm guitar. Gwen first came to our attention through his involvement in Selmer 607 and Django Club early in the 2000’s. These were projects that involved, by invitation, the very best of a new generation of French guitarists who not only carried on the tradition of jazz manouche, but lifted it to new heights. Tonight, the Gwen Cahue Quartet will do the same for your spirits.  

Saturday, June 13th

Sam Farthing Trio with Giacomo Smith

Fapy Lafertin, Tcha Limberger, Dave Kelbie and Vilmos Csikos

Django in June was launched over 20 years ago on the hunch that maybe some North American guitarists would be interested in learning how to play Gypsy Swing in what we might call the “European style”. Enter Baltimore born-and-based Sam Farthing to demonstrate that some of us are not only interested in studying the style—some are capable of mastering it. And in Sam’s case, at a remarkably young age. He has done so by applying his raw talent to intensive study of the work of Django Reinhardt and his musical heirs, many of whom he has come to know and with whom he has shared the stage: Stochelo and Mozes Rosenberg, Tchavolo and Samson Schmitt, and Fapy Lafertin (also featured in tonight’s concert.) 

Sam put in an appearance last year here at Django in June on another artist’s bill. This year, though, the show is all his, ably supported by Sami Arefin on guitar and Zach Valentine on bass. Sam will be joined as well by a perennial favorite of DiJ students and audience alike, clarinetist Giacomo Smith.

Our 2026 concerts close with a quartet led by one of the most celebrated and influential Gypsy guitarists of the last 50 years, Fapy Lafertin. Like most Sinti musicians, Fapy started his musical career playing in a family band—his father on violin and his brother on rhythm guitar. He started playing the Hot Club de France repertoire when he joined the orchestra of violinist Piotto Limberger (Tcha’s grandfather). Between 1975 and 1985 Fapy played in the highly influential band, Waso, which also featured Vivi Limberger, a revered Sinti musician in his own right. Vivi’s son, Tcha Limberger,  brings spontanaiety, humor, and technical brilliance to whatever he plays, whether drawn from family tradition, Hungarian Magyar Nota or Tin Pan Alley. He shares the stage with his uncle Fapy tonight on violin and vocals.

In the 1990’s Lafertin released two iconic albums—‘Swing Guitars’ and ‘Hungaria’—with the British quartet, Lejazz. Those historic recording sessions were shepherded by one Dave Kelbie, who joins Fapy tonight on rhythm guitar. To round out the quartet, we welcome back Hungarian double bassist, Vilmos Csikos. Please note: this is not a touring group—more like an intimate gathering of extremely talented family and old friends. Lucky us, we’re invited.

Show Date/Time:
Friday, June 12, 2026 at 7:30PM

Saturday, June 13th, 2026 at 7:30PM

Doors at 6:00 pm

Ticket Prices:
$30.83-$52.36 After Fees

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