Here we go again: the Reeperbahn Festival kicks off September 18th, 2024 with a massive conference, plenty of showcases and all kinds of world-class entertainment.
Four days of listening to live music, surrounded by enthusiasts and industry experts in Hamburg’s most famous district. As usual, the festival is creating a space for up-and-coming as well as established artists, sometimes in niches that go beyond one’s own preferences. So far, it has always been a good opportunity to adjust the antennas and to make new discoveries. To meet old friends or even make new ones.
Unfortunately, it’s no longer a secret how well this event works, the hotel prices are a bit insane this year. Why not crash on my brother’s or sister’s couch? Well, the nights will be long and their family lives start early. And it makes perfect sense to stay close to the Reeperbahn where most of the venues are located. From intimate places like the St. Pauli church to sweaty rock venues like the Molotow with its lovely backyard – everything’s within walking distance. And although it’s never wrong to simply drift through the program without a master plan, I would like to make a couple of recommendations for each day. Take a glimpse to the following acts:
Wednesday, September 18th
Erland Cooper
Scottish composer Erland Cooper creates what can best be described as orchestral landscapes. Author Ian Rankin and Mike Heron of the Icredible String Band are apparently fans of his music. Expect a unique blend of classical, electronica, spoken word and found sounds. It’s music that moves the head and the heart rather than the feet. The seated St. Pauli Church will be a beautiful venue for his special performance.
19:15h – St. Pauli-Kirche
The Shivas
They have been called “the hardest working band in show business”. While that can’t be measured, the Portland, OR-based band looks back on 20 years of intense touring with plenty of sold-out shows. The Shivas will take you right back to the wild ’60s with groovy tunes and duds. Get ready for a stomping sound of classy psychedelia with a female vocalist on drums.
21:30h – Nochtspeicher
Ada Oda
Here we have the colourful collision of indie pop and punk that wants you to dance and to have a good time. Ada Oda are hailing from Brussels and they started with Dutch lyrics. But since Victoria Barracato joined the band, the Italian language has taken center stage. Her vocal style is pretty unique, oscillating between spoken, shouted, and rhythmic contributions. It’s possible that a lot of people will leave the club with a big grin on their faces after this show.
23:10 – Molotow Skybar
gglum
Some introverted artists who once started recording in their bedrooms have become surprisingly successful. And yet it is something special when music made in sweet isolation is played in front of an audience. The 21-year-old singer-songwriter Ella Smoker aka gglum just released her third album The Garden Dream. It is a reflective record that has her flit between woozy soundscapes and quirky moments.
23:40 – Nochtspeicher
Thursday, September 19th
Gwenifer Raymond
The field of solo acoustic guitar known as “American Primitiv” was long reserved for white men. John Fahey is the godfather of the genre, and many artists have since taken up this hypnotic technique with its meditative form and its open tunings. Fortunately, we have Gwenifer Raymond and her incredible guitar work. Born in Wales and living in Brighton, she used to be the drummer in a punk band. Now she presents the spirit of American Primitive with supreme skills. Raymond does not sing and she hides her face behind a curtain of hair – she will communicate with astounding and mesmerizing sounds.
14:30 – Sommersalon / 21:10 – Nochtwache
Bibi Club
Immerse yourself in minimalist synth-pop with honest lyrics – sometimes in French, sometimes in English with Bibi Club from Montreal. Adèle Trottier-Rivard and guitarist Nicolas Basque (from Plants & Animals) are a married couple who have a child together. This perhaps explains the intimacy of their songs, the melancholy breeze and the bittersweet character. Some are like documents of daily life with playful arrangements enhanced by tinny drum machines and layered voices. Some have compared Bibi Club with indie darlings Stereolab – it’s a bit lazy and inaccurate, but it should serve as a motivation not to miss this show.
19:30 – UWE
The Klittens
They describe themselves as “five musicians on a mission, untrained but unbothered.” And they have all the ingredients to become Netherlands next great thing after Lewsberg. The Klittens have a carefree DIY charm and a repertoire that reaches from dark post-punk to danceable songs. So far, they have only released a handful of songs themselves, but it is likely that they will quickly gain a wider fan base. Don’t miss out before the hype starts.
14:00 – Molotow Club / 20:15 – Molotow Backyard
Jane Weaver
By constantly refining experimental ideas between folk, pop and psychedelia, she has sculpted a sound that is uniquely and intriguingly her own. I have seen Jane Weaver on stage a few times and can only admire her constant work. She alternates between playing guitar, keyboard and swirling around the stage instrument-free to focus entirely on the vocal performance, while the four-piece band provides robust riffs and motorik beats. Expect some dazzling space-rock sounds.
23:20 – Nochtspeicher
Friday, September 20th
Amelia Coburn
The ukulele is an annoying instrument. Like the banjo. But if you know how to avoid the clichés and treat the strings with some sensibility, it can be an enjoyable thing. Amelia Coburn sings heartfelt songs on her little uke, reminiscent of the great English folk of yesteryear but with a modern flair. Bill Ryder Jones was very impressed with her work and helped to realize Coburn’s debut album Between The Moon and The Milkman. Not sure if Amelia Coburn is playing solo or with a backing band – we’ll find out.
18:00 – Headcrash
El Perro del Mar
Twenty years ago, Sarah Assbring began her musical journey in Gothenburg with melancholic indie pop as El Perro del Mar. But since then, she has been a relentless shape-shifter. Her uncompromising sound, her daring style and her fierce independence remind me of Björk. She takes the good with the bad and likes to deconstruct things. Expect something different.
20:20 – Mojo Club
The Lemon Twigs
These sublime harmonies will linger in your ears for days after the show – but it’s worth it! Brian and Michael D’Addario have a knack for perfect pop songs and capture the spirit of the “Golden Years” of sunhine- and power-pop with ease. When I saw them live in London in August, they were even more dynamic than on record. In their vintage outfits, they jumped around tirelessly (no wonder they’re so skinny, they burn quite a few calories on stage) and the audience danced and sang along happily.
22:30 – Übel & Gefährlich Ballsaal
The Grogans
If you like raw guitars made in Australia, The Grogans might be right up your alley. Formed back in high school, the trio is one of the hardest working young bands around, presenting an organic chemistry that encompasses blues, surf and garage rock as well as punk and psych maneuvers.
15:30 – Molotow Club / 23:20 – Nochtspeicher
Saturday, September 21st
Friska Viljor
They’ve been around for quite a while and have had a special connection to Hamburg ever since they landed on Wohlwillstraße in St. Pauli and made friends with the record store Back Records. They paid tribute in 2009 with an upbeat song called Wohlwill, and clearly the duo from Sweden are still around, traveling around with their signature sound of catchy hooks and solid songwriting.
19:20 – St. Pauli-Kirche
Suuns
This experimental rock band from Montreal likes to move between the poles of minimalism and maximalism. Expect a transcendental experience with abrasive noise, eerie Krautrock and looping. The vocals are barely recognizable, chopped up and fragmented. And although the light show is colourful, it is of unsettling beauty. The aim is absolute sonic and visual obliteration. Not your average pop song.
19:30 – Übel & Gefährlich Ballsaal
Tapir!
Tapir! is a formidable six-piece band from South London known for their clever genre-bending amalgam of folk, post-punk and art-pop. The beautifully picked guitar and distinctive vocals alone convey a vulnerability and adoration for good storytelling. It is idiosyncratic and complex, but still an accessible world in which Tapir! operate. They released their debut album on Heavenly Recordings this year. And I’m curious to see if the band will bring out the red papier-mâché masks from the promotional pictures when they enter the stage at the Reeperbahn Festival.
20:55 – Molotow Club
Kate Nash
British artist Kate Nash released her latest album on Kill Rock Stars. Quite a surprise as she had huge commercial success in 2007 with her debut Made of Bricks, which included the hit single Foundations. Nash later starred in HBO‘s hit wrestling drama GLOW. And now the songwriter, actor and activist is back with DIY spirit and a couple of songs inspired by old Hollywood, vintage musicals and Riot Grrrl resilience. A creative journey that will be interesting to follow when she takes to the stage in Hamburg.
23:55 – Grosse Freiheit 36
And last but not least:
There are still tickets available here for Europe’s biggest showcase festival. But don’t wait too long, they might sell out at some point.
For those who only want to buy a day pass, I would recommend choosing Thursday, September 19th – it has the best line-up, in my opinion.
There are also a handful of showcases that are free and accessible without a Reeperbahn Festival ticket here in the Festival Village.
Also, the ever-reliable Canadian label We Are Busy Bodies is hosting a day party at Cruise Records feat. Limblifter, Rich Aucoin & the fabulous Christo Graham on Thursday, 14:00-16:00, get your free ticket here.
On Friday, 12:00 – 15:00 there’s a Garage Sale at Knust. Entrance is free for everyone. Step into the weird & wonderful world of indie labels based in Hamburg and expect vinyl, CDs and tapes for a small price.
I look forward to seeing you somewhere along the Reeperbahn!
