English
| Selah Sue, Hamel, Rupa & The April Fishes | |
| Wednesday, 14. July 2010, 19:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
The Dutch swing and jazz musician Hamel, the Belgian singer Selah Sue and the American ska–folk group Rupa & the April Fishes will kick off the Kulturarena this year. Each playing their own slot, they will take you on a musical journey lasting for over 6 weeks, commentated by journalist Shelly Kupferberg.
| 2raumwohnung | |
| Thursday, 15. July 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
In the 80s Inga Humpe and Tommi Eckart were the heroes of the German New Wave. Since the turn of the millennium they surmounted the difficult task of remaining cutting edge, and adopted to the current zeitgeist by reincarnating the German pop song as the duo 2raumwohnung. Since their first summer hit ‘Wir trafen uns in einem Garten’ (We met in a garden) they have released 5 studio albums and it’s impossible to imagine a German pop scene without them.
| James Carter | |
| Friday, 16. July 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Some years ago James Carter was renowned as the wunderkind of jazz, the Mozart of the saxophone and a ‘future giant of jazz’. Today he might not be a Superman of instrumental jazz, yet he is one of the most established and talented musicians within the international music scene. His eclectic approach to the roots of gospel, bebop or hip hop make him a one-of-a-kind artist; and accompanied by his quintet he creates a unique, flawless sound.
| Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra | |
| Saturday, 17. July 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Shibusa Shirazu from Tokyo-Kichijoji is a work of art. A manga cartoon disguised as a jazz orchestra, a constantly evolving multimedia-revue, a free style jazz thunderstorm, which John Coltrane would probably have never imagined in his wildest dreams. The 40 piece collective, consisting of musicians, dancers, video artists and performers, all on an equal stand, create wonderful jazzy art, positioned somewhere between free jazz, traditional gagaku, western funk and Balkan polka.
| The Hooters | |
| Wednesday, 21. July 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
They have been on the rock scene for over 30 years now, and enriched the musical world with folk-rock hits such as All You Zombies, and Fightin’ On The Same Side. They achieved major success all the while adding a political dimension to their music with appearances at Live Aid in 1985, as well as in the newly reunited Berlin for ‘The Wall’ event.
| Jochen Distelmeyer | |
| Thursday, 22. July 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Jochen Distelmeyer earned himself a reputation for being the German Dylan or McLean with his multiple and diverse bands that included Bienenjäger and Blumfeld, with whom he presented the world with songs that are characterised by their poetic and intelligent lyrics. With his band Blumfeld he coined the term ‘Hamburger Schule’ all the while building up a huge fan base outside of mainstream radio. Now you have the chance to see him perform solo together with his new band, with whom he continues to work on his outstanding reputation as one of Germany’s most interesting and talented musicians.
| CocoRosie | |
| Friday, 23. July 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Coco Rosie is not a band, Coco Rosie is a whole world, a world one believes to be bigger than our own. Since their critically acclaimed debut album, La maison de mon rêve in 2004, the Casady sisters have been a major talking point, amusing audiences all over the world with their mix of folk, pop, electro trash and singing. They could be described as a Gesamtkunstwerk, wherein the two sisters retreat to explore the boundaries between beautiful and horrible, man and woman, high art and child-like happiness.
| Fred Wesley | |
| Saturday, 24. July 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Although Fred Wesley might not be as ubiqutous as his Über-jazz and soul musicians James Brown or George Clinton, he has played a significant part in the history of jazz music. His trumpet features on hundreds of soul and funk vinyls, adding his unique signature to jazz music. Yet after years in the business Wesley’s curiousity is unsatiable as collaborations with musicians such as De La Soul and Usher, as well as with up-and-coming jazz and soul musicians illustrate. (was ist JB? Jazz blues? Habe einen englischen Musiker und Musikexperten gefragt, ist kein gelaeufiger Begriff im Englischen) Thus it seems Fred Wesley is still immensly enjoying himself and “The New JB’s“ and their very own, enormously straight-forwarc melodic funk music.
| arenAkustik im Volksbad Youn Sun Nah & Ulf Wakenius |
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| Sunday, 25. July 2010, 20:00, Volksbad Jena | KonzertArena |
Youn San Nah is a trained musical singer and achieved success with musicals such as “Linie 1”. Nevertheless she decided to turn her back on her native country Korea and immigrated to France where she turned her attention to sharp, energetic jazz canto. In that world she has proved herself to be a master of breathtaking diversity, displaying both deep emotion, beautiful sound and her unique style. She has achieved stardom with this approach and found a suitable, as well as venturesome, musical partner in the Swedish jazz guitarist and notorious baseball cap wearer, Ulf Wakenius.
| Tina Dico | |
| Wednesday , 28. July 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Tino Dico is a singer and songwriter from the deepest bottom of her soul. She needs only a guitar, inspiring colleagues, and her slightly husky voice to sing about life as a big expedition. She combines her Danish roots, years of experience as a musician in London and dozens of collaborations with bands, such as Zero 7, to create her very unique musical cosmos. Her lyrics and sound place her somewhere between Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Alanis Morrissette.
| Sierra Maestra | |
| Thursday , 29. July 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
For over 30 years Sierra Maestra intensely shaped the movement of modern Son cubano. In 1976 they were the first to re-discover the old Cuban music of the 20s and 30s, which has its origins in the mountains of Sierra Maestra. They were also responsible for spreading Son music across the globe, for example through hiring musicians that include former members such as Juan de Marcos González, from ‘Afro Cuban All Stars’ or Jesus Alemañys’ Cubanismo.
| Milow | |
| Friday, 30. July 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
The Belgian singer Milow could be mistaken for one of Neil Young’s grandsons, or even Bob Dylan or an early Bruce Springsteen, who were able to compose particularly original and innovative music all their life with just an idea and a melody in their head. The sound of Milow successfully synthesises the traditional American song, the French chanson along with the European song, creating beautiful music that is characterised by its youthful emotions and unpretentiousness.
| Sa Dingding | |
| Saturday, 31. July 2010, 19:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
A gig with Sa Dingding isn’t simply a musical experience. It is a synthesis of Wagner and the Far East, a piece of beautiful art. It is an all-encompassing varied juxtaposition consisting of traditional Chinese folk music and modern electronic trip hop rhythms. It evokes trance-like dance and complex siren-like canto, bearing more similarities with the opulent postmodern films of Zhang Yimou than with traditional Chinese folk music.
| kulturarena club im Kassablanca Firewater |
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| Saturday, 31. July 2010, 23:30, Kassablanca | KonzertArena |
Firewater started as a proper indie rock super group with one of the hippest members of the American indie scene. At present, founding member Tod A. is on the road with ever changing musical buddies and with every new record on these journeys he discovers a new musical direction: from ska, salsa, cabaret to cool jazz of American detective series and the pathos pop of classical Bollywood films, as well as Mexican banda brass and Russian folk music. This is all carried by sardonic punk rock which sends a clear message: it’s all or nothing.
| arenAkustik im Volksbad Musica Nuda |
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| Dienstag, 3. August 2010, 20:00, Volksbad Jena | KonzertArena |
Italians Petra Magoni and Ferrucio Spinetti are exceptional artists each in their own right: one is classical educated, with an endlessly diverse voice; the other energetically plays the contra bass. Together they are Musica Nuda, a solely acoustic working duo, which strips their songs of everything unnecessary creating a sound comparable to a dry martini: punchy like the eruption of Mount Etna volcano.
| Clare Teal & Michael Kaeshammer | |
| Wednesday , 4. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Briton Clare Teal and Canadian Michael Kaeshammer are two very different, but still very comparable jazz musicians: they are practically stars in their own respective countries, but are unfortunately rather unknown in Europe. Yet, Michael Kaeshammer is a strong, energetic boogie-woogie pianist and band frontman. Clare Teal’s gigantic voice is comparable to Bette Midler and her classical swing and big band songs. Together they create lightweight, swinging and dance invigorating jazz music.
| Katzenjammer | |
| Thursday, 5. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Listening and dancing to Norwegian group Katzenjammer will equal a good workout, which will leave you feeling invigorated. These 4 ladies from Oslo, with probably thirty or more instruments, create a musical hurricane on stage that will be hard to match. Yet they are not simply creating fast-paced folk, cabaret-like country music, they manage to conjure even newer forms of already innovative versions of polka, serving them with a large pinch of girl power and the potential to reduce us – the audience – to hysteria.
| OqueStrada | |
| Friday, 6. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
OqueStrada are Portuguese townsfolk from the bottom of their hearts. Not far from the capital Lisbon, on the other side of the river Tejo, they honed their musical skills as a ‘Tasca‘ band, yet according to their very own, unique concept. The chanson sextet frequented local bars and pubs in the surrounding villages and towns, in the process picking up influences from the local folk music but with a marked difference that positions them far from being melancholic fado music: down-to-earth, blitheful, fast-paced with a proper groove and a touch of rattling funfair spirit. Very neighbourly indeed.
| Max Herre | |
| Saturday, 7. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Max Herre and his band deliver beautifully relaxed songs, comparable with those of Udo Lindenberg. Yet, Herre’s roots and influences are in German hip-hop, when he was fronting one of the most successful German hip hop bands – Freundeskreis – playing fast-paced music that stood out through their very personal lyrics. As a solo artist his sound also betrays influences from American folk music and the music of silent films, sparking a fire in our hearts, even in the toughest of us, before we continue with our journey.
| La Brass Banda | |
| Wednesday, 11. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Oh wonderful brass music! No matter what students of Mariachi, hysterics of the Balkan and jazz musicians in New Orleans are able to do, the Bavarians – or to be precise the ‘Chiemgauer‘ (after the region) won’t have any troubles to keep up. And their music isn’t just a hit in beer tents but also in the latest clubs and open air venues. The proof lies with the musicians of La Brass Banda, who produce frenetic sounds, accessorised with the off-beats and strong basslines with their tuba, trumpet, trombone as well as bass and drums.
| Manu Katché | |
| Thursday , 12. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Manu Katché is a pivotal character within the music scene. You can hear his distinctive drums on hundreds of albums, which are influenced by West African as well as western European rhythm traditions. This is perhaps most recognisable in Peter Gabriel’s “So” or Sting’s “Nothing Like the Sun”. Since 2005 he nurtures his fruitful working relationship with ECM Record’s Manfred Eichers, to whom he proved to be an excellent jazz musician. Together with fellow musician Dino Palladino he has developed his distinctive rhythmic sound.
| Vienna Teng | |
| Friday, 13. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Vienna Teng could be described as a software engineer and songwriter: of Taiwanese heritage and with a Native American spirit, her music is packed with soft piano melodies and hard hitting lyrics. To summarise, Vienna Teng is an artist through and through. Since pursuing her hobby as a profession, her melodic piano pop – that displays traces of the art of classical and serious American singer songwriter – can be heard nearly everywhere. Thus, she is well on her way to joining the same musical league that Tori Amos or Sarah McLachlan already occupy.
| kulturarena club im Kassablanca Gustav |
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| Friday , 13. August 2010, 23:30, Kassablanca | KonzertArena |
GUSTAV is actually Eva Jantschitsch, a media artist and musician from Vienna. In 2004 she managed to convince the entire alternative music scene across central Europe with her electronic protest song “Rettet die Wale” (‘Save the Wales’) that a good sound, poetic electronic music and political activism can successfully synergise and complement one another. In 2008 she released her second album Verlasst die Stadt (Leave the City), which effectively combines elements of electro with folk music, creating an acoustic celebration.
| Staff Benda Bilili | |
| Saturday , 14. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Staff Benda Bilili consisting of Ricky Lickabu and Coco Ngambali play music of the streets, a sound belonging to the nomads, outlaws and victims of war and disease in their home country Kinshasa. It is fresh and life-affirming music which has its origins in the rumba and soul times of Congolese music - encouraging dance - as well as in musical heroes such as Franco & OK Jazz, Tabu Ley. This obvious happiness serves a function, because Staff Benda Bilili understand like no one else – coming from the streets - how to tell stories of a damaged yet not completely ruined world.
| arenAkustik im Volksbad Klaus Paier & Asja Valcic |
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| Dienstag, 17. August 2010, 20:00, Volksbad Jena | KonzertArena |
Austrian accordion player Klaus Paier and Croatian cellist Asja Valcic are both masters of their respective instruments. Together they form the duo Klaus Paier & Asja Valcic, with songs composed by Paier they dive into an enormous spectrum of different worlds, from tango nuevo and jazz, musette and tarantella to Bulgarian dance and even classical compositions by Satie or Bartok. In an acoustic bilingual tone they create unusual and intense moments with their emotionally charged instruments.
| Marit Larsen | |
| Wednesday, 18. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Marit Larsen is probably one of the most well-known singer songwriters. Despite her tender age of 26 she already has had a successful career as a dancefloor star with the duo M2M, which propelled her to a teen idol. Now she has embarked as a solo artist and surprises Europe with her fresh Brigitte Bardot-like voice, lively guitar and piano sounds and opulent compositions that invoke the 1960s. Her sound is classic, wonderful summery pop and we mean this in a good way.
| Rebekka Bakken | |
| Donnestag, 19. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Rebekka Bakken could be described as Norway’s big jazz musician, though a reluctant jazz musician at that. Her voice carries great emotions, but is also capable of reciting the poems of E.E. Cummings. In short, she’s a polymorphous musician, one of Europe‘s great singers, who most recently turned her attention to folk pop with her album, “Morning Hours“, in which she sings about the long beautiful first hours of daylight.
| Jan Josef Liefers | |
| Friday, 20. August 2010, 19:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Jan Josef Liefers is a polymath through and through: actor both on screen and on stage as well as rock musician. With his band Oblivion – consisting of friends from Hamburg and Hannover who are experienced musicians themselves – he creates systematic music, the sound of his GDR childhood. Yet, it doesn’t culminate in nostalgia, but in fresh and of-the-moment rock music, telling the stories of a long-gone era; but essentially his music just rocks!
| GusGus (Kompakt - Reykjavik, Island) | |
| Saturday , 21. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
GusGus have been working together since 1995 as a constantly changing music and art collective, one which allows comparisons with an Icelandic volcano that every now and then boils over. Collaborating with dancers and artists they move in between club dance, avant-garde house and soul jazz. Most recently the collective has been reduced to only three members and changed direction towards puritanical old school techno and dub step. However, in the core of this ensemble remains its strong live performances – rather atypical for a production team – but without it, it would be impossible to imagine GusGus.
| Los De Abajo | |
| Sunday, 22. August 2010, 20:00, Theatervorplatz | KonzertArena |
Los de Abajo, from Mexico City, are THE Latin ska force from South America, the ones that come to rescue you from all those dangerous places in the world, the blue- helmet saviours with their brass instruments. They have been going since 1992, entertaining audiences across the world with their repertoire of punk influenced salsa ska that not only makes it irresistible to move your hips, but also brings together people from all kinds of backgrounds. The world-wide attention they have received since their early albums, released on David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label, has only increased the attention they enjoy, as well as their dedication, proving that Los de Abajo are one of the most active punk salsa bands across the planet.