Concert report from Kristof Scheller – Harmonie Bonn 22.12.2026

It tends to be the case that every time someone plays two shows in subsequent years in the Rhineland it becomes considered a ‘Tradition’. In the case of guitarist Stefan Stoppok (vocals, guitar, cajon), however, one must speak of a repeat offender: once again he was a guest at the Harmonie in Endenich, together with American musician Tess Wiley, shortly before the end of the year. The Hamburg musician with roots in the Ruhr region has been on a kind of permanent tour for decades and is certainly one of the best and most creative guitarists in Germany, stopping at nothing when it comes to plucked instruments (add ‘Thueringische Waldzitter’ to the earlier list). In addition, being joined by Tess Wiley on vocals, guitar, violin and piano gave the songs an interesting ‘Texas meets Ruhrgebiet’ air – not to mention giving Stoppok the opportunity to find yet another fresh edge for his music this time around.

With his steadfast refusal to give in to commercial hits you won’t hear Stoppok on everyday German radio. His is a loyal fan base similarly disinterested in eschewing intelligent and thoughtful lyrics in order to create a pop tune and chart success. There’s certainly no need to win over this evening’s audience – they already know him so to speak, and would disagree with his opening song lyric “Am schoensten ist es immer anderswo” (‘Schoene Gruesse’). It’s always better somewhere else? Not for these fans it isn’t! – at least for the next two hours.

Stoppok, often on the road with his rock bandmates, has chosen to do a string of intimate gigs and with Wiley is doing a short but whirlwind tour this Winter, visiting 22 cities in around a month. The programme is colourful and varied, with older hits (‘Wetterprophet’, ‘La Compostela’, ‘Aus dem Beton’) alternating with songs from newer albums (‘Lass sie rein’, ‘Mal Dein Herz an’, ‘2 Wunderschoene Augen’). Wiley also contributes two of her own songs, demonstrating a talent for powerful ballads. In this rich programme (exactly two hours including encores), Stoppok also manages to slip in a few critical political comments without turning the evening into a political song recital.

Overall, both musicians come across as delightfully authentic and relaxed. Unfortunately, even two hours seem too short for such compelling music. Fortunate then that Stoppok has started that tradition we mentioned earlier and Bonn fans can already make a note in their diary for 22 December 2026.