Category Archives: Reviews

Guarding Trees in Plittersdorf

by

1

Peter Wohlleben, in his groundbreaking book ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ notes that many a tree trunk in many a forest  still lives on thanks to the trees around it.  They ‘feed’ it through their own roots, looking after their own so to speak.  Which is just as well, since we humans very often use our leafy friends as mere political pawns. We claim to guard our climate by cutting down fuel emissions through improving cycleways, and to do so we cut down trees.  Good then that there are humans out there looking out for the welfare of our leafy oxygen guardians, and Sunday was a chance to meet some of them as well as a day to enjoy good local music in a good local park on a good sunny Summer afternoon.

Created in 2020, “Baumwächter” or ‘Tree Guardians’ in English, was the initiative behind Sunday’s relaxing event.  “We give trees a voice – because every tree counts!” is the motto here.

Continue reading →

When Rivers Meet – We Fly Free

by

0

It’s barely been two years since Grace and Aaron Bond had a musical epiphany.  After eight years of making music largely as the fancy took them, the husband and wife team from Essex discovered they could make a pretty great Blues Rock sound.  In fact, they liked it so much that the duo headed out on the roads of England in an old VW Camper to test out their new musical love – and then came Covid.

At this time you would expect the story to take a downward turn.  Instead, the Pandemic proved to be the making of them.  Proof of that is in a record-breaking four wins at this year’s British Blues Awards.  Alongside Best Emerging Artist, Best Band and Best Album they also picked up the curious Most Inspirational Online Performance award.  All of which makes both band, and album well worth a listen for all Blues Rock lovers out there (and I know there are many around Bonn area!)

Continue reading →

Rozedale – Rozedale

by

0

Popular French rockers Rozedale are back with something new, and and I don’t mean just a change in spelling (from Rosedale) either. The band centred around Amandyn Roses’ punchy vocals and Charlie Fabert’s tasteful guitar licks have completed their third studio disc.  ‘Third album syndrome’ (there’s even a name for it) usually develops as follows:  New band kicks off with a solid debut, filled with songs that have perhaps been years in the making (1st release). Band then find out what went down best from this first disc and use that knowledge to deliver a solid follow-up (2nd release).   But then comes the question: should release number three stay safe and be more of the same? Should it show progression and risk losing fans?  For Rozedale it’s make your mind up time..

Actually, that subtle spelling change is a clue to the musical path taken.  Yes, things have changed, but not too much.  Overall the band has kept it’s sound – and that’s a good thing.  Using the mixing skills of Chris Sheldon (Radiohead/Foo Fighters) is an equally wise move –  guaranteeing that this release maintains a Rock edginess even in its introspective moments.

Continue reading →

Marion & Sobo Band w. Joscho Stephan – Live in Coburg

by

1

From “Kultur Blüht Auf” in Coburg.  Marion Lenfant-Preus and Alexander Sobocinski prove here, with the talented help of Radek Stawarz (violin, Bratche-Cello), Stefan Berger (double bass) and very special guest Joscho Stephan that they are amongst the best bands around, and not just in the Bonn area.  Enjoy this World-class performance from the Bonn duo – with a little help from their friends.

Layla Zoe – Nowhere Left To Go (Layla Zoe Music)

by

0

Layla Zoe certainly didn’t make it easy for herself. 2018’s superb double-disc ‘Gemini’ seemed to say everything that could be said and in the best way possible. It was electric, it was Blues, Funk, Gospel and Rock. It was the sum of all the releases before it. The subsequent ‘Retrospective Tour’ and disc suggested a watershed moment had been reached. Did it also leave the self-proclaimed firegirl literally with ‘Nowhere Left To Go’? – is this perhaps the aptest album title ever penned? Well, no, as it thankfully turns out. Whilst NLTG doesn’t re-invent the wheel as far as Layla’s music is concerned it is, thanks to plenty of new faces behind the songs, still a fresh as well as a strong statement from the heart. It also still showcases the lady’s amazing voice with that trademark emotional intensity that is the secret of Layla Zoe’s success.

Continue reading →

Lockdown Releases – Getting Music to the People

by

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As happened during the first Corona lockdown, musicians, creative souls that they are, have been finding ways to keep their music in the public eye or get the buzz from a live show (depending on your viewpoint of the musicians concerned).  So let’s take a look at some of the music that’s been happening in the musical bubble of 3songsbonn.com.

Continue reading →

Jolly Hockey Sticks – Folk Club Woodstock Edition

by

0

So, ladies and gentlemen, who was that masked man behind the microphone on the hockey pitch stage on Friday at Dotty’s?   One thing is for sure, it wasn’t the Lone Ranger, or Batman either for that matter.  A Superhero was not required.  No one needed rescuing on this 114th edition of Folk Club Bonn.  Or was it the 2nd edition of Folk Club Bonn Lite?  Historians are feverishly working on this conundrum as I write.  They will be in agreement at any rate that it was a relatively warm breeze which blew across the Hockey Pitch and that when raindrops did fall occasionally, they were generally warm, soft and far between each other.  Much better in fact than an evening pre-named ‘Woodstock Revisited’ had any right to wish for.  Again, I say unto you: God is a Folk Club fan.

Continue reading →