With Thomas Kraft (texts), Steven Lichtenwimmer (guitar), Ricardo Volkert (guitar, vocals, cajon) and Laura Wachter (vocals).

In autumn 2026, it will already be ten years since Leonard Cohen passed away in Los Angeles. But Cohen is someone who will always remain.
Anyone who has experienced Cohen at a concert has noticed how much he enjoys the appreciation of his audience, how he is able to create equally magical moods and reach people with his distinctive guitar playing and a fragile voice. In his lifelong quest for self-inquiry, Leonard Cohen, both privately and artistically, fought a battle between unbridled desire and clear rules, between addiction and longing, pain and discipline – always in the hope of redemption and liberation. The elegant charmer and friend of women, who also had a dark side consisting of depression and excessive drug use, was hard to tame. His songs are eternal, his charisma remains unbroken. “A million candles burning for the love that never came.”

With the new stage program under the title, we want to take the audience on a journey through Cohen's life and artistically and musically portray the five most important places: Montreal, Hydra, New York, Granada, and Los Angeles. Thomas Kraft will read new, unpublished texts about Leonard Cohen in the two-hour show (with a break).

And to make the many songs that refer to these places even more atmospheric, we have brought in flamenco guitarist Ricardo Volkert. Thomas Kraft has already created evenings on “Leonard Cohen and Federico Garcia Lorca” with him.

Laura Wachter (vocals) and Steven Lichtenwimmer (guitar) are the band tell me no lies. The two met in 2007 in a funk band, which disbanded, but it was clear to Laura and Steven that they wanted to continue playing and performing together. Steven's guitar style is virtuosic and clear, sometimes reserved, then wild and urgent, depending on what the music demands. Laura, who studied jazz vocals at the music university in Graz, can delight and move with her voice. She creates very intimate moments on stage, only to later perform a song with captivating and powerful intensity. Available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2BmLl3guQMYWXIafZCaX4w?si=Gx_OArpqSXCiXIM9lB6APw

Ricardo Volkert completed six semesters of literature studies before he launched his career as a guitarist and singer. With the guitar duo “Birlinger & Volkert,” he won his first international song competitions. In the early 90s, Ricardo Volkert encountered flamenco, which has since shaped his musical creation. With the ensembles “Amor! Amor! Amor!” and “La Vida Loca”, in duo, trio or at his solo concerts, he brings traditional and modern flamenco, Latin American music, and Spanish-language poetry to the stage. In addition to his concert activities and numerous CD productions, he also participates in audiobook and television productions. http://www.ricardo-volkert.de

Thomas Kraft works as an author, organizer, and high school teacher. In various projects, he strives for a joyful symbiosis of literature, film, and music. In 2014 “Cohen. A Homage” was published, in 2021 “Rock´n´Read”, in 2022 “The Last DJs” and in 2024 “Americana. A Torn Country in the Mirror of Country Music”.

Admission: 18:00 Uhr

6 years of backpacking world trip

Like a gummy bear on ecstasy, Nick Martin tells about a crazy journey that would forever change his life: At the age of 24, Nick Martin buys a one-way ticket to Mexico. The plan was a one-year world trip, which ultimately turned into six years. He travels to almost 60 countries on 5 continents, gets shot, robbed, arrested, sails through a hurricane in the Pacific, smuggles, and earns a few dollars as a stripper in Las Vegas. It is the coolest gap in his resume. Nick Martin's show is the antithesis to the classic slide show presentation - those expecting beautiful pictures of flowers and sunsets are in the wrong place. Instead, there is a motivating kick in the butt for those who want to go on a big journey themselves and fulfill their dreams. Top-notch travel comedy!

For more information and pictures about this MundoLogia lecture, visit http://www.mundologia.de