Two musicians who write songs from and for the heart. Daniel Bongart is a local folk music treasure and Roxanne De Bastion is rapidly developing a name internationally as both a singer songwriter and author. The cosy Rheinbuhne on Oxfordstrasse in Bonn was a perfect location for this talented duo.
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The return to Bonn of one of my favourite Jazz guitarists had a special twist this week. Torsten Goods was celebrating, not just his return to Dottendorfer Jazznacht, but also his 44th Birthday. The George Benson-inspired son of an Irish mother and German father was in good spirits and top form for his show.
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So there we were for the launch (pun intended) of Voyager IV‘s new release ‘Rheingold’ and – no disc. Marcus Schinkel was apologetic as he set up his keyboards in advance of the band’s concert at Bonn Harmonie. Something to do with Peter Gabriel it seemed… “Is he coming to tonight’s show?” enquired the similarly perplexed man next to me. But I’m thinking that where the mercurial Mr Schinkel is involved anything and anyone is possible.
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It was an emotional week for Rory Gallagher fans. Just as the sale of iconic instruments and equipment from Bonhams Auction House in London was catching the music press headlines, here at Bonn Harmonie we were privileged to not just hear the music that those instruments so famously played, but also to hear it from the most accurate source possible today – Rory’s former band members Gerry MacAvoy and Brendan O’Neill. Add the considerable skills of Isle of Man guitarist Davey Knowles and, despite the many, many groups playing these songs today, Band of Friends really are the best celebration of Rory’s music.
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For Canadian band Bywater Call, their concert on Sunday (13 October) was the band’s third appearance in the last two years at Bonn Harmonie. Their dual billing in March 2023 supporting Robert Jon & The Wreck was definitely one of the best concerts of last year. The Rokpalast show with Eddie 9volt in October 2023 cemented the Band in Bonn Blues-lovers’ hearts, and here we are, almost exactly a year later and they are finally getting a whole evening to themselves. It turned out to be well worth the wait, as the extra stage time really did give the band a chance to warm up and stretch out – to devastating effect.
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This week sees two events of particular interest to Rory Gallagher fans in Bonn: A concert on Tuesday (15 Oct) by Band of Friends including ex-Gallagher band members bassist Gerry MacAvoy and drummer Brendan O’Neill. Also, an auction at Bonhams in London to sell off much of the gear belonging to Rory which has been looked after by his brother Donal since the guitarist’s tragic death after liver transplant complications in 1995. Centre of the auction will undoubtedly be Rory’s iconic Fender Stratocaster from 1961 bought by Rory as a young teenager on a monthly payment plan and played constantly by him throughout his career. There was a short period when he was unable to play the guitar after it was stolen. Even then, it was so famous that the thieves couldn’t sell it and it was literally ‘ditched’ by them. Now it’s expected to top the million pounds mark at auction. What do his former band-mates, who saw and used this gear on a daily basis think of all this?
Read on.
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This week saw the Autumn Crossroads Festival coming via Rockpalast, as ever, from Bonn Harmonie.
Whilst ticket prices seem to get higher by the year (90 Euros for the four day Festival this time) the musical quality is undeniably pretty reliable these days. I remember seeing a couple of ‘dodgy’ bands in past years – no names revealed! Thursday was certainly a day when quality music was assured. Mike Zito? can only be good. Mojo Thunder? Not a name I’d heard before, but the inevitable google on YouTube was promising. So let’s get going. Lights, action, sound… and of course cameras!
John Harrison is scheduled to play on Saturday afternoon between 15:20 and 15:45 together with Christoph Thiebes on Blues harp at the Baum Wächter Baumfestival in Kulturbad Rüngsdorf Am Schwimmbad 8, 53179 Bonn.
The event begins at 14:45 until officially 18:00 hrs but weather willing may possibly extend into the evening.
There are several other musicians also playing and there will also be recitals of tree-related poetry (PoeTree!)
Just like Bonn Folk Club, the admission is free!
