It might have looked like Bad Godesberg Kurpark, but musically at least we were far away from an overcast Bonn in August. Astatine‘s magical, musical carpetride took us from Unter der Zeder through the Rumanian Carpathians and on to Paris and Andalusia. Also on board for the journey were guitar virtuosos Daniel de Alcalá (flamenco) with Christiano Gitano (gypsy swing), and Eva Henneken on Violin.

Don’t tell me that people are not attending live music events anymore. Every Unter der Zeder that I’ve attended this year has seen staff furiously putting out additional seating in every corner where a foldable chair is unfoldable. There is clearly a learning curve needed for a lot of regular visitors who until this year have had a drink outside and wandered into the concert area only to find every seat taken. Simply put, the standard of music has been so high that people come once and are instantly ‘Stammgäste’ by evenings end. This evening’s show will have no doubt added to those future returnees.

It was particularly magical to see Eva Henneken fitting in so well with Astatine’s voice. Not that I had any real doubts – Eva has a gift not just for her playing ability but also for her ability to accompany virtually any musician. It’s a gift we’ve enjoyed for some time now at Bonn Folk Club although her commitment to local band Caju makes fitting everyone in a challenge – especially since she also has her own Doctor’s practice to run. Thanks for lending your talents to so many musical causes Eva!

I don’t think I’ve heard either Daniel de Alcalá or Christiano Gitano but they made for not just a perfect accompaniment to Astatine but were also a support act in their own right when they openend the second half of the evening’s music together. There were a few drops of rain, but that’s to be expected when you’re on a long journey – and Astatine’s Orient Express ride was well worth the fare. All-aboard for the next Unter der Cedar on 11 August when you too can be a vocalist as Cologne-based singer and pianist Kathrin Eigendorf will be guiding us through an evening of song around the piano. Pop meets folk songs, meets evergreens, meets chansons, meets gospel, meets singer-songwriters meets charts meets jazz meets Kölsch, meets sea shanties meets mantras meets – above all, the heart…

Thank you’s again to KuKug for presenting yet another concert cracker Unter der Zeder!