Long before there was Skinny Lister and the Dropkick Murphy’s. Even before there was the Pogues, there was a ‘Folk Punk’ movement. Okay, it wasn’t so ‘in yer face’ as the later incarnations, but The Oysterband were up there singing crafted lyrics from a fire in their collective bellies. Now into their 43rd year, the fire is more a smoulder than a furnace, but after a half hour listening to the band on Thursday at Bonn Harmonie it was clear that the songs still matter – to both band and fans.
Aside from having a nice chat with the charming lady about Rory Gallagher, I remember Vanja Sky‘s appearance on last year’s Blues Caravan for her excellent Blues-Rock set (including Rory’s ‘Bad Penny’) Definitely worth a trip ‘up the road’ for:
Make a note 12th March, Yardclub, Cologne!
Ticket details HERE
Another date for the diaries of Rock Lovers: The day following Sting’s appearance, another music legend will grace the Kunst!Rasen stage. Former Creedence Clearwater Revival front-man John Fogerty will be bringing hits like ‘Proud Mary’ and ‘Bad Moon Rising’ to Bonn on 16 July. After mega hits with CCR Fogerty went on to carve out a successful solo career and his musical longevity has been rewarded with Rolling Stone magazine voting him as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists, 100 Greatest Songwriters, and 100 Greatest Singers of all time.
It will be Fogerty’s first visit to the ‘new’ venue by the Rhine but not his first open-air here by any means, having played shows in both 2006 and 2008 at the former Museumsplatz concert site. This should be a very special event since it’s his 50th Anniversary Tour.
Tickets go on sale from 1 February. Also available from 1 February at Mr Music in Münsterstrasse (along with lots of great cd’s!)
I dare you to play the link below and not sing along even once…!
She calls them her ‘Holy Trinity’ of music, and I’m sure Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Cole Porter would all have enjoyed Astatine‘s excellent concert at Bonn Harmonie on Sunday. Put together some of the best Jazz composers of the 20th Century and a talented band of musicians and you really can’t go wrong. As Mr Gershwin would have observed – “Fascinating Rhythm’!
Thorbjørn Risager and the Black Tornado have been one of my favourite live bands since 2014’s wonderful ‘Too Many Roads’ disc.
Risager’s raspy soul-drenched voice is backed by a powerhouse of a band that always delivers 100% onstage. The good news is that they’re back in Bonn at the Harmonie on 21st February. Ticket details HERE
and in case you need convincing…
Rock drummer Ted McKenna has died aged 68, following complications occurring during a routine Hernia operation.
His fellow musician from the ever popular Band of Friends and Rory Gallagher Band Gerry McAvoy announced today on Facebook: “I’m lost for words creating this post. I lost my friend and comrade this morning. After what should have been a routine operation, there were complications, meaning Ted started hemorrhaging blood. Sadly the surgeons could not stop the bleeding”.
The new single from forthcoming release ‘Paths‘ (due for release on 1 February)
Since their appearance on Rockpalast Wille & The Bandits have been popular visitors at Bonn Harmonie.
If you’ve caught them before or don’t yet know about this Bluesy power-trio from Plymouth in the UK, then this is a reminder not to forget – 24 April Bonn Harmonie TICKETS HERE
