Lite & Airy – Bonn Folk Club Open Air

It might look smoothly asphalted to the eye, but the road to Dotty’s Sports Bar for Folk Club Bonn‘s September meet was a rough one indeed.  A long one too, as John Harrison will tell you.  Involving numerous meetings with the owner and correspondence between Folk Club and the powers that be in Bonn.  In the end, though it was a worthwhile journey.  The Hockey pitch at Dotty’s proving to be an excellent open-air venue, and the weather being much kinder than anyone had a right to expect in the early days of Autumn.  Perhaps God is a folk music fan?  Or perhaps he just realised that good music was good for the souls of his creations in this Pandemic riddled World we are all enduring.

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Stadtgarten

You had to get there early for a good place on the grass beside the Stadtgarten Stage.  Perfect weather for a picnic with free music was on offer on both Friday courtesy of Die Musikstation and Saturday courtesy of PopCamp.  Seven bands in two nights, so there really was something for everyone, and if a band didn’t catch your attention then there was always a chance to sunbathe or share a bottle of wine with friends.  Bonn Summer Magic was indeed in the air!

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Topping Charts & Winning Hearts – Larkin Poe in Cologne

When, mid-set,  Rebecca Lovell mentioned that the new CD ‘Venom & Faith’ had gone straight into the biggest Blues chart in America at number one, it seemed like something she was mentioning by-the-by.  Atlanta sister duo Larkin Poe have gone from insider tip to the hottest blues act on the planet.  This will be the last gig of theirs in Luxor, of that I’m sure, and if you were lucky enough to grab a ticket for the show (which sold out weeks ago) you will know why.

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Who, When and Where -find out on 3songsbonn.com

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Don’t underestimate Bonn regarding places to go.  I know from personal experience that there’s often a choice (sometimes a coin flip even!) between events here.  For this reason 3songsbonn.com has two places to look on its site if you want to hear some live music in the Bonn area.

For a general overview there is a link on the screen under ‘Recommended Sites to Visit’ to an excellent events calendar put together by Stefanie Kellner called (surprise, surprise) Konzertkalender Bonn

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Still undecided?  Two events to choose from?

Then check out the Gig Guide tab in 3songsbonn.com’s menu where gigs recommended by 3songs can be found.  If you need more info about the shows, you can either then consult the Konzertkalender Bonn link or google the band and the venue stated.

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However you find out about it – Enjoy the show!

Stadtmusik 2018

Sipping a cool glass of wine on a sunny Summers day, Relaxing live music wafting on a slight breeze, with no waiting at an airport or hotel bill. Bonn City Centre on Stadtmusik 2018 Day was indeed like a one day holiday on Saturday. Friedensplatz, Bottlerplatz, Markt and later Stadtgarten were the ‘holiday’ locations and, much like that beach radio, if you didn’t care for the music on offer you just needed to change your location but with your feet rather than a dial.

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Stadtgarten Season kicks off in the sun

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For many people in Bonn, particularly teenagers and students, the Stadtgarten season at Alten Zoll is already an institution. An extension almost of the numerous teenagers often seen and heard in the shade of the University trees strumming guitars as the sun goes down. I’m sure that opening act in 2018, Cynthia Nickschas, has been one of those strummers. This time around though she had an audience of well over 2000 picnicking on the grass beside her. French electro Folkies Fergessen, Indie-Rockers Koj and Jazz quartet Radius completed the opening weekend of music under the setting sun.

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Sir Van the 90 Minute Man

The local paper reports that Sir Van Morrison said ‘Thank You’ before leaving the stage on this pleasantly warm evening in Cologne.  The only words I can recall from Ireland’s celebrated and knighted (2016) musical son all evening were song names, barked more for the band to follow than for listeners to hear.  Ultimately though, with such a legend, it’s the music that should do the talking; and it did so perfectly in front of a sold out Roncalliplatz audience.

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