Over The Border Festival – 22.03 – 7.04.2019

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Following positive energy,  great feedback from the audience, and enthusiastic cooperation from local partners over the previous three years Bonn is proud to introduce once again it’s Music Diversity Festival ‘Over The Border’ in 2019.

 

 

From 22nd March to 7th April Bonn will be introducing the best of international music, without prejudice or borders. “Over the Border” reflects for many citizens of Bonn a facet of the City that makes it a very special place to live – home to many departments of the United Nations, as well as many other International organizations.

 

Commitment to integration, understanding between nations and religions and combating racism are more relevant than ever. The realization and the understanding that many people grow up with two cultures and are allowed to carry both in their hearts on an equal footing reflects the values of both City and Festival.

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violin virtuoso Ara Malikian (29 March) is just one of the many top international artists in this year’s Festival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Coming this month to Folk Club Bonn…

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The 100th show celebrations may be over, but Folk Club Bonn isn’t wallowing in nostalgia.  Indeed the future at Dotty’s Sports Bar is looking very bright indeed, as the two featured artists for 5th April prove.

British singer-songwriter Daria Kulesh. has an Ingush and Russian heritage and is a popular figure in the current UK Folk scene as proven by her many nominations in the prestigious ‘Folker’ Awards. This year she is a nomination for best duo (with Jonny Dyer).

 

Canadian singer-songwriter Lindsay May will also be a guest.  Her distinctive, sometimes smoky voice, should make for a truly magical evening.

7pm start, but as always, my advice is to get there early!

FOLK CLUB BONN

 

The Lazy, The Weight and The Crossroads

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It was the closing night of the first Rockpalast Crossroads visit to Bonn in 2019, and what a night!  Certainly not one to sleep through for sure, with Hard Rock at its blood pumping, adrenalin spiking best as Austrian rockers The Weight did indeed lay down some heavy riffs whilst Australian rockers The Lazy proved to be anything but what their name suggests.  ‘Loud ‘n’ Proud’ could have been the evening’s motto as beer and metal guitar riffs flowed freely all night long at the Harmonie.

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Rockpalast Crossroads 2019

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Its that time of year again.  Rockpalast makes it’s first to visit to Bonn this year with the 2019 Crossroads Festival.

As usual, a varied bill that should give everyone a tastof what they enjoy as well as a taste of the unknown.  The varied mix was evident even from the first show, featuring Philadelphian Rock Trio  Mo Lowda & The Humble and the 60’s Stax sound of Burundi born JP Bimini & The Black Belts.

Mo Lowda singer Jordan Cairola’s tremolo vocals reminded me somewhat of an understated version of Asaf Avidan, but his lyrics carried a punch that the music itself tended to lack at times, with the best track of all saved to last – ‘Valentine’ is a song inspired by one of the many senseless gun attacks on American schools.  The Humble are a hard-touring band in the States by all accounts and certainly deserve a tour of their own in Europe.  Maybe an appearance on Rockpalast can open the right doors.  Kudos to the band also that despite bassist Jeff Lucci injuring a foot recently and having to play seated, he managed to play the bass lines via keyboard.  It worked a treat too!

Jordan Caiola of the Rock trio Mo Lowda & The Humble

JP Bimini was born in Burundi and a member of the Royal Family there.  In 1993 his parents fled to Britain after three attempts were made on his life during the Civil War in Burundi, and now he’s making a name as a King of Soul Music with an explosive band that delivers a genuine Stax sound and dares the audience not to dance.

All sweat and all smiles – JP Bimeni

A typically mixed but mesmerizing start to this years Rockpalast Crossroads Festivals.

The Festival in Brief:

  • 20 March:  J. P. Bimeni & The Black Belts and Mo Lowda & The Humble
  • 21 March: Krissy Matthews Band und Jetbone
  • 22 March: Fortuna Ehrenfeld und Razz
  • 23 March: The Lazys und The Weight

Start of each concert: 7:15 pm

DETAILS HERE

 

MORE PHOTOS: JP Bimeni

MORE PHOTOS: Mo Lowder & The Humble

St Louis Blues with Mike Zito & Jeremiah Johnson

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There’s a tattoo with the Gateway Arch on his arm, but you only need to hear Mike Zito play to know his origins.  Jeremiah Johnson is a new name in Bonn, but also a native of St Louis, Missouri.

Not only do the two men have a common home, they also have a common ability to play the Blues from their heart-sleeves.  If you missed them on Sunday at the Harmonie, then you really should have the Blues.  Here’s why…

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Mike Zito in Bonn – Introducing Jeremiah Johnson

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That Mike Zito will be delivering the best in Texas Blues on Sunday (17 March) will be understood by the many who have already seen Mike here in Bonn.
Advice from 3songsbonn is to get there early and catch support, St Louis born  Jeremiah Johnson.  His new Zito produced release ‘Straitjacket’ debuted at nr 1 on the iTunes New Blues Releases and at Nr 6 on the Billboard Blues Chart.  Bonn Harmonie,  concert begins at 7pm  TICKET DETAILS HERE

Short break in service…

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You might have noticed that not a lot has happened lately on this site.  Due to personal/private matters 3songs isn’t able to get out to shows at present.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible – in the meantime, there is still some great music coming your way.  12 March sees Vanja Sky (from last years Blues Caravan) in Cologne and Texas Heat in Bonn.  Sunday (17th) sees Mike Zito at the Harmonie, where from 20-23 March the next Crossroads Rockpalast takes place.  Please check the concert calendar and Harmonie links in the right bar of this website for more details of what/who is coming this way, and support live music!

Folk Club Bonn #100 This Week – invitation to play

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Typically for a story involving John Harrison, It all started with a harmonica.  He was travelling back on a train and began playing.  Fellow passengers enjoyed it, and the idea for a Folk Club in Bonn was born.

Nine years later John’s Club has grown and grown, shedding venues like a snake sheds its skin as each was outgrown.

On Friday (1 March) Folk Club Bonn will proudly celebrate its 100th evening, and you can not only come and listen – you can even play too!  There will be two stage areas at Dotty’s Sports Bar, allowing for quick turn-arounds so that everyone can take part.  The only rules are 1) No amplification and 2) Each act has only 3 minutes.  So please come along and join in.

In addition:

3songsbonn has spent many a happy evening taking pictures at the Folk Club, and to mark the occasion has produced a limited edition 24-page colour booklet celebrating many of the participants – old and new. The booklet will be available at Dotty’s on  Friday for 10 Euros.  (it was no easy task to choose images from the hundreds available!)

Hope to see a packed house at Dotty’s Sports Bar then – Friday, March 1 from 7pm sharp and don’t forget to bring a song!  Details HERE

DOTTY’S SPORTS BAR