In 2025, the Berlin cult band KARAT celebrated its 50th birthday - and what a celebration it was. This grand anniversary could not have been more spectacular. There were 75 concerts, numerous TV appearances ranging from the Giovanni Zarrella Show to the Goldene Henne, a 90-minute television documentary that has since been rebroadcast during prime time, a rapidly sold-out anniversary cruise to Norway, and a new studio work titled “Hohe Himmel”, which became the band's fifteenth album and quickly entered the Top 20 of the official album charts. Throughout these festivities, every phase of the decades-long success story was highlighted: the early hits from the late Seventies such as “König der Welt” and “Über sieben Brücken”, which Peter Maffay turned into the biggest hit of his career in the cover version, later classics like “Schwanenkönig”, “Der blaue Planet”, and “Jede Stunde”, as well as newer songs like “Schlafendes Herz” and “Wir”. The grand jubilee once again reminded everyone that this band is an indelible part of the annals of German rock and pop music, that they made music history in both East and West - KARAT is the only band from the former GDR that won gold records in the FRG even before the fall of the Berlin Wall and performed on “Wetten, dass..?”. There was a reminder of over twelve million sold records, countless awards from the Golden Europa to the Goldene Henne, and not least that KARAT is anything but an old boys' club, that passion, musicality, and energy continue to be the cornerstones of their work. KARAT made it unmistakably clear that they are a band from the here and now and that they are still to be reckoned with.
So it is not surprising that Claudius Dreilich (vocals), Bernd Römer (guitar), Martin Becker (keyboards), Daniel Bätge (bass), and Heiko Jung (drums) are stepping into the year following the grand anniversary success with great strides. Of course, no one would have held it against the musicians if they had taken it easy in 2026, treated themselves to a break, or basked in the successes of the previous year; on the other hand, that wouldn't have aligned with the KARAT DNA. Thus, the new year is packed with concert dates and will be sprinkled with further surprises. One of them: KARAT is releasing a new live album. The triple vinyl, recorded in autumn 2025 at the Hannover Theater am Aegi, brings together the highlights of the last five decades - approachable, energetic, and agile. KARAT presents themselves as an extremely well-coordinated band, ready to climb the next levels and always looking forward - without denying their roots. Even more: This 3-LP set makes you eager for KARAT live. Fortunately, 2026 will offer plenty of opportunities for that.
Doors open: 6:30 PM
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
