Stadtmusiktag, to give it its proper German title, has been a popular event in Bonn for some years now.  It’s a pleasant way to bring life to the often rather soulless streets in the City.  This year the Market Square, Duisdorf’s pedestrian area, and the alcove outside of Bad Godesberg’s Stadthalle were the chosen locations, with a finishing concert at Stadtgarten by the Alter Zoll.  3songsbonn and folk club regulars will be interested to hear what Daniel Bongart is up to these days.  Well, I am pleased to say, Daniel is still busy making good music as my review from Bad Godesberg reveals.

I’m at the Stall set up for drinks by Ralf Reifenberg outside at the back of Stadthalle, and we are in agreement.  For Stadtmusiktag it’s either too hot, too cold, too rainy…  we’ve seen it all over the years.  Today it’s very definitely too hot.  There’s a row of some thirty seats pointing towards the Konzertmuschel as it is popularly known. The concave stage built into the side of Bad Godesberg’s redundant Stadthalle (City Hall) that once had small music ensembles playing in its inviting space is a good metaphor for Bonn itself it seems.  Part of a building designed for better times.  Struggling to retain a semblance of elegance Despite too many years of neglect and bad planning. 

There’s a Black curtain hanging at the back to hide the cracks and graffiti in the wall (which is a pity as I like that weathered, beat-up, appearance). In front of that curtain, Daniel Bongart and Band kick off their set as the seats gradually fill and curious onlookers out for a Stroll or cycle in the Park stop for a rest and a bit of music – which is the aim of the Game of course – there would certainly be more onlookers if the band was playing around the corner in Theaterplatz.  Instead, there is a street food day taking the space there to offer even more fast food possibilities than usual to the local public.  If music be the food of love – you need to love to walk (or cycle) to find it.

Those who braved the extra distance to get to Stadthalle were rewarded with an excellent set by Daniel Bongart.  For the most part familiar self-written songs in Daniel’s somewhat melancholic style, they never get too bogged down in sentimentality though.  That’s partly down to his fine feeling for lyrics and also down to having guitarist Jens onboard who deflects from the ‘weight’ of those lyrics with his light melodic playing. It’s also good to have Michael Semmler swapping bass duties for electric piano and adding to the musical layers.

For those new to his music, Daniel Bongart sings from the heart, inspired by events that have moved him personally. It’s a heady and enjoyable musical mixture. Love songs like ‘Her Silhouette’, songs of loss like ‘We’ll Meet Again’, of disaster, as in the wonderfully evocative ‘Empty Halls’ recalling the tragic Ahrtal flood that claimed 135 lives in 2021. As a native of Bad Neuenahr, it’s a story that Daniel is particularly adept at telling, and the silence that accompanies his version today is a testimony to the power of the tragedy and to Daniel’s prowess in articulating it.

A large part of the concert is taken up with material from 2023’s Dreaming Tree disc, including the title track. Two numbers that are exceptions, and worth mentioning, are a brand new song ‘Fill up your Heart’ and the evening’s only cover song ‘Thank You’. The latter was written by Richard DeBastion, a regular visitor to Bonn Folk Club who has now sadly passed away. “Richard is a singer/songwriter who it was a great privilege for me to know” Bongart remembers. The DeBastion connection lives on though, and plans are underway to hopefully bring Richard’s daughter over to Bonn for a date later in the year. That would certainly be something to catch as anyone who saw her supporting Katie Melua in 2022 will attest, but there might well be a, you’ve guessed it, ‘catch’ in that plan. Roxanne is currently promoting the book she penned about her Grandfather Stephen DeBastion. Called ‘The Piano Player of Budapest’ it’s already garnering praise (at the time of writing it’s The Guardian’s ‘Audiobook of the week’ and #1 in Amazon Australia’s Music Biographies list) and, if there’s any justice, will emerge with a film script (are you still out there Steven Spielberg?)

By the concert’s end, audience numbers have swelled considerably but it’s a shame that the stage couldn’t have been more central in Bad Godesberg. Those who arrived late had Samba Bom and African Melody to enjoy. I managed to stay for some of the former before the heat drove me back home and a break before heading down to Stadtgarten in Bonn Centre for the closing concert at this year’s Stadtmusiktag.