Behnam Samani, the renowned Iranian percussionist living in Cologne with international stage and workshop experience, brought this festival to life. International masters of their craft from Italy, Iran, Germany, India, and Tajikistan will teach many different facets of percussion art in workshops and present them in concerts over three days.

WORKSHOPS

Internationale Dozent:innen aus Iran, Deutschland, Indien und Tadschikistan werden viele verschiedene Facetten der Percussion-Kunst in Workshops lehren und in Konzerten präsentieren. Euch stehen Workshops für Tombak, Doyra, Gesang, Daf, Cajon, Udu und Rahmentrommel lt. aufgeführten Zeitplan jeweils in Stufe I (Beginner, auch ohne Vorkenntnisse, Instrumente können gegen geringe Gebühr und Reservierung geliehen werden) und Stufe II (Fortgeschrittene, bitte bringt Eure Instrumente mit) offen. Jede Einheit dauert 90 Min.

Anfänger werden auf einem Instrument schnell musikalische Erfolge gemeinsam mit anderen erleben.

Leihinstrumente: Instrumente können gegen eine kleine Gebühr 10,- pro halben Tag ausgeliehen werden. Wir bitten um Reservierung mit Eurer Anmeldung per Mail an suedstadt.leben@koeln.de

Fortgeschrittene werden durch virtuose Meister inspiriert und erweitern Ihr Können. Bitte bringt Eure Instrumente mit.

The popular singer-songwriter and performer presents the audience with a selection of the most beloved songs from his creative career. Dimitris Zervoudakis will be accompanied on stage by a group of excellent musicians in a performance full of dynamism and intense emotional shifts.

Dimitris Zervoudakis is a unique performer and songwriter with an impressive stage presence, who has made a strong impression since his beginnings with the historic "Neoi Epivates" and later with his own works and collaborations with great composers and interpreters. A soulful voice that has absorbed both its rock influences and the strong roots of our traditional rebetiko and folk music. Interaction with the audience is an essential part of his performances. Recently, he presented his latest recording project titled "The Breath of the Madman," which was enthusiastically received by the audience.

Dimitris Zervoudakis - Vocals, Guitar
Diamantis Karagiannakidis - Piano, Keyboards
Thanasis Archaniotis - Percussion 
Nickos Hristidis - Bouzouki, Tzoura
Georgios Makris - Nei, Kaval, Gaida

Lineup
Marion Lenfant-Preus - Vocals
Alexander Sobocinski - Guitar
Stefan Berger - Double Bass
Frank Brempel - Violin
Jonas Vogelsang - Guitar

MARION & SOBO BAND creates their own modern style from Global Music and vocal Jazz, proving that handmade, acoustic music can be not only delicate, contemplative, and colorful, but also highly energetic and powerful even without drums. The German-French-Polish ensemble, led by multilingual singer Marion Lenfant-Preus and guitarist Alexander "Sobo" Sobocinski, presents their new album "gomera," dedicated to the diverse landscape and culture of the Canary Island where the two spent many winters collecting many song ideas. Stylistically diverse from Gypsy Jazz to Rumba, Chanson, and Balkan sounds. Linguistically varied with songs (in French and also in English, Spanish, German, and Romanes) inviting you to dance and dream. The band sings and plays with charm, humor, lightness, and joy for a cross-cultural and cross-generational audience.

SWR2
"Marion & Sobo Band are truly a group of passionate musicians that one should actually experience live, as the spark quickly jumps over."

Support // STELLA TONON (Duo)
Stella Tonon - Vocals
Björn Eichert - Drums
The Italian-Folk and Jazz artist, Stella Tonon, presents a unique fusion of old Italian folk songs and inspired original compositions, exploring her Italian-Portuguese roots and incorporating her musical past from Rock, Neo-Folk, Jazz, and Blues. With her debut album "Mezzanotte" and through her artistic interpretation, she gives a contemporary touch to these traditional melodies of the "Canzone" from the 40s to the 60s, appealing to fans of Folk and Jazz music as well as new listeners.

In the years 2022 and 2023, the Goethe-Institut Iraq, together with the local Institut Français, realized a series of exchange projects with German and French musicians in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil. During multi-week stays in Erbil and Mosul, the guests collaborated with Kurdish musicians to develop a concert repertoire that was performed at various festivals and events.

With the kind support of the Goethe-Institut Erbil and its director Anais Boelicke, as well as Mr. Mutaz Abdelrahman, and with the friendly support of the cultural department of Cologne, a return visit of the Iraqi musicians can now be organized.

Music pieces composed by both the Cologne jazz musicians and the Kurdish musicians will be performed. Traditional themes from the Kurdish-influenced northern Iraq will also be heard in collaborative arrangements by the participating musicians. The combination of jazz rhythm section and Western woodwind instruments with traditional instruments such as the Iraqi Djoze, the frame drum Daf, the Saz, and the Ney, as well as the encounter of singing styles from East and West, promise a sonic experience beyond common genre boundaries. The program allows space for joint improvisations by the musicians, intensifying the musical encounter between the German and Iraqi musicians.

The results of the joint rehearsals will be presented to the audience in a shared concert. Different instrumental combinations will be heard, as well as the entire ensemble as a powerful transcultural sound entity.

Michel Godard – tuba, serpent, artistic direction
Theresia Philipp – reeds
Annette Maye – clarinets
Simin Tander – vocals
Jeroen Van Vliet – piano
Joscha Oetz – double bass
Jens Düppe – drums
Iraqi Guests:
Dana Muhedin -tar
Faten Ahmed- vocals
Riyad Osman- saz + vocals
Gailan Kamaran- clarinet
Fahad Harbo-saz
Wajeda Khero- daf+ vocals
Dastan Rzgar- djoze
Shad Haidar- Sitar
Reman Salar- violin
and more ...

Where angels and fairies dance with trolls and demons and forest spirits - that is the Otherworld, whose beings we encounter on this night…

A festival for the whole family: dancing in the church, fire & stories, and some exciting surprises.

Based on the Celtic late autumn festival Samhain for the witches' New Year, on the 11th new moon in the calendar year (and not on American Halloween!) we celebrate with the whole family. We are not afraid and joyfully drive out the evil spirits! Best in the costume of a good spirit: whether as a bog or water spirit, as an elf, goblin, fairy or giant, prince/ss, forest spirit, flower girl, or wizard… 

Adequate food and drinks for young and old are also provided 

!! Attention: Parents are responsible for supervision!!

Pre-sale starts in September 2024!

The two musicians are very similar in their thinking, musical taste, and artistic vision, creating a seamless synergy that allows them to effortlessly improvise together. This deep connection elevates their performances to a higher level, enabling them to create complex and harmonious improvisations that captivate and enchant the audience. Improvisation in classical Persian music represents the pinnacle of the performance and requires years of practice and mastery under the guidance of experienced musicians. Beyond technical skills, it involves an inner journey that allows the musicians to be completely present, losing sight of time and place. This school of improvisation requires an emotional connection and a shared artistic vision from the performers. Therefore, each performance is unique and influenced by the mood and energy of the artists and the audience. Hence, the audience plays a crucial role as co-creators of the music performed.

Alexander Mercks is one of the most renowned Handpan virtuosos, captivating audiences and taking them on a emotional journey through his music. Discovering his love for music at a young age, Alex found solace and vitality in the diversity of music, mostly as a listener and dancer. In 2014, his journey led him randomly to the Handpan, a unique instrument which he mastered through self-taught learning. With profound understanding, Alex creates complex, heartfelt melodies, harmonies, and rhythms showcasing his technical skill and emotional depth. His music reveals his true self and creates connecting experiences that leave a warm glow lingering with the listeners for a long time.
Throughout his career, Alex has performed at numerous festivals and concerts worldwide, captivating audiences with creativity and passion. For seven years, he toured with Malte Marten as Yatao, achieving global success both in live performances and online. Alexander Mercks is an artist who continually pushes the boundaries of Handpan music, inspiring and captivating audiences with his unique sound. As one of the most well-known Handpan artists globally, he saw great success with his debut album "Osmosis". In 2024, Alexander Mercks will be embarking on a European tour to showcase "Osmosis" and new, unreleased works.

This year's concert by the choir Vozes do Brasil is dedicated to the roots of Afro-Brazilian music, in both popular and contemporary choral music scenes. The program is part of the choir's tour to Fortaleza (Brazil).

At the end of the concert, the most famous MPB songs will be performed for everyone to sing along. 

Choir Vozes do Brasil
Percussion: Klaus Schlossmacher
Bass: Christian Kussmann
Piano and Conductor: Jean Kleeb

Start of pre-sale + prices will be announced in time! 

Singing between Himmel & Ääd

Here, in addition to fostering the Cologne dialect, the focus is on singing along. Old and new Cologne Christmas songs are sung, pop and quirky tunes are performed. Of course, the "Himmel & Ääd Glöckcher" will also not be missing. The project choir was founded five years ago under the direction of Wolfgang Krumpen and sings with about 70 voices. Each guest will receive a songbook. 

Thu 5.12. Start 8 p.m. 
Fri 6.12. Start 8 p.m. 
Sat 7.12. Start 8 p.m.

No claim to a seat.
Pre-sale starts in autumn 2024

The Kurdish musician Yalda Abbasî (vocals, dotar) and the Trio Sêreng (Nure Dlovani violin, Beate Wolff cello, Laia Genç piano) combine the rich diversity of Kurdish music with elements from Western classical and jazz music, bridging different worlds.

The four musicians come together on stage with music from their homelands including Iran, Armenia, Turkey, and Germany, breathing new life into the music of Mesopotamia through their arrangements and original compositions. Their artistic work is always seen as a contribution to Kurdish culture and self-determination.

Abbasî sings and composes in both Kurdish and Persian. Her repertoire is based on a collection of nearly forgotten Kurdish folk music and melodies from her northeastern Iranian home of Khorassan. Since 2016, she has been living in Italy, which has allowed her to further expand her musical horizons and study classical baroque singing at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan.

The Trio Sêreng was founded in 2018 by the Kurdish violinist Nure Dlovani, the German jazz cellist Beate Wolff, and the German-Turkish pianist Laia Genc. "Sêreng" means "three colors" in Kurdish. Each of the three musicians contributes their own color as a cultural and musical experience and sound to the ensemble. The result of their collaboration is a special concert experience with a harmonious blend of Western and Middle Eastern sounds, combining classical chamber music and jazz, folklore, and improvisation.

The Cologne MARKUS REINHARDT ENSEMBLE is once again acting as the host of our annual Advent tradition of musical bridges. Thanks to its amazingly broad repertoire, ranging from Gypsy Swing to Eastern European folklore to Soul and Rap, there will be exciting collaborations with the guests here as well.

Line-up: Markus Reinhardt – Violin, Janko Wiegand – Rhythm Guitar, Zoltán Püsky – Solo Guitar, Smeili Adler – Solo Guitar, Jungeli Albrecht – Double Bass.

This time we are looking forward to Joscho Stephan with his trio, a virtuoso in solo play and representative of modern Gypsy Swing.

Understanding the onset of winter with the darkest day of the year, cultures and religions across the world also see it as the first glimmer of light: people come closer together, reflect on common traditions, and engage in encounters attentively and lovingly. During the dark season, numerous light festivals worldwide emphasize communal solidarity and human togetherness: Christian Christmas, Jewish Hanukkah, Thai Loy Krathong, Chinese Lantern Festival Tangyuan, Hindu Divali. The Festival of Lights and Encounters at the Lutherkirche is celebrated with musical representatives from the three major religions.

The program is currently being planned!
Pre-sale starts in summer

With DJ Micman through the years
Our motto: Lots of dancing, food a bit smaller for in-between hunger

Presale starts in October 2024!

We wish you all a happy new year and a wonderful 2025!