Kunstrasen Bonn – 9 July 2026

The ‘Nutty Boys’ have now grown up it’s true (Suggs is now 65 after all) but Sax player Lee Thompson still finds time to fly paper planes into the crowd and Suggs himself rejoices in the politics of novelty UK Candidate Count Binface. There is a brief attempt to play the experienced advocate of good sense when Suggs warns young audience members to “get an education” and “Don’t become troublemakers like him!” at which point he waggles an accusing finger at Thompson, who has just retrieved his tambourine from the photopit after a failed attempt to throw it over a mike stand several feet away. They may not be nutty boys anymore, but Madness still know how to have fun, and the 3,700 strong audience at Bonn Kunstrasen are with them all the way – many wearing red fezzes in anticipation of ‘Nightboat to Cairo’.

The theme was ‘Dreams’ but Folk Club Bonn #169 looked in danger of of being a Nightmare for the organizers. Announcements that Bonn’s main artery the Nordbrücke was now completely closed off left many wondering about chaos on the roads, and gathering grey thunderhead clouds too suggested it might be a night to stay at home in the dry. Indeed, by the time things got underway a look at the rear balcony at Dotty’s revealed the slightly bizarre sight of people on the tennis courts with sunglasses on being pelted by a fierce rain shower.

Southern rock band from Orange County, California Robert Jon & The Wreck have been around since 2011. The five-piece consisting of Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar), Warren Murrel (bass), Andrew Espantman (drums), and Jake Abernathie (keyboards) have since gradually been building up a solid reputation with their warm, rocking sound. They brought that sound, along with trademark soaring guitar leads, rich vocal harmonies, and songs that stick with you long after the show, to the Harmonie once again on Wednesday. My impression? Despite being a great live band even when I first saw them back in 2023, they just keep getting better.