Each September, Hamburg’s Reeperbahn turns into Europe’s biggest stage for new music. Across four days, the festival blends concerts, art, film, and industry talks—making St. Pauli the place to discover fresh talent and experience the future of culture.
To be honest, I wanted to skip this year’s Reeperbahn Festival. The journey from Switzerland is long and hotel prices in Hamburg skyrocket during such events. Is it worth all the effort? Won’t it be the same procedure as last year? Too many gigs being played at around 70 venues in the vicinity of the Reeperbahn?
Of course! Several promising events and acts appear again in this year’s diverse programme. I couldn’t risk missing out on a few fantastic festival days of music and friends, right? Here are some of the reasons why I changed my mind and will be attending the 20th edition of the Reeperbahn Festival from 17 to 20 September under the hopefully unifying topic ‘Imagine Togetherness!’. And remember: there are several shows free to visit without a ticket at the Festival Village on Heilligengeistfeld. I recommend downloading the helpful App on your smartphone to make sure you don’t miss a thing!
Wednesday, 17. September 2025
Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains
François & The Atlas Mountains may no longer be signed to Domino Records, but they continue to weave their signature blend of poetic chanson, indie pop and Afro-influenced rhythms. Led by French-born songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Frànçois Marry, the group is known for creating music that effortlessly shifts between cultures and languages, blurring the line between intimacy and vastness. The cosiness of St. Pauli Church will be just the right place for this.
20:45 St. Pauli Kirche
Flora Hibberd
Flora Hibberd’s exceptional debut album Swirl, released earlier this year on 22Twenty, was a real discovery for my radio show Golden Glades on ByteFM. Her artistic DNA is cool and haunting, similar to Cate Le Bon or Aldous Harding. Her voice is deep and instantly appealing, and while I’m not sure if she’ll be coming on stage with just a guitar, I’m sure it will be fascinating to listen to her stories.
22:00 Schmidt’s Tivoli / Angie’s
Loving
Imagine stepping into a room where every note of guitar resonates like a memory and the vocals feel like the echoe of your own soul—that’s the world of Loving. Since releasing their first songs on Bandcamp about 10 years ago, they’ve been favourites on my radio show. Jesse Henderson and David Parry continue to create sweet, unpretentious tracks that are easy to listen to. Just sit back and relax to this dreamy lo-fi folk tapestry from Canada.
23:50 St. Pauli Kirche
Thursday, 18. September 2025
Liz Pelly & Johann Scheerer
Liz Pelly’s latest book Mood Machine should be part of the curriculum in every school: based on numerous interviews, she takes an in-depth look at the impact of Spotify on music and listening culture. Her conversation with Johann Scheerer, founder of Clouds Hill, is entitled ‘Critical Listening: The Problems with Streaming Culture’ and will be one of many interesting talks during this year’s festival.
16:00 East Hotel
Mei Semones
Mei Semones offers the opportunity to see an up-and-coming young artist before she makes it big. Her music cannot be pigeonholed into a specific genre and is difficult to describe – but it is exciting. She works with rich dynamics and contrasts. Her guitar playing is extraordinary and complex, influenced by jazz, bossa nova and indie rock. Sometimes she sings in Japanese, sometimes in English, constantly switching between style, mood and language. Her upcoming show promises more than just a performance – it is an invitation into the hybrid world of Mei Semones, accompanied by a full band with strings and orchestral elements.
19:30 Mojo Club
No Frills
The showcase of the Canadian label We Are Busy Bodies / Having Fun alone is a good reason to visit the Reeperbahn Festival on Thursday. Daniel Busheikin founded No Frills as a bedroom pop project in Toronto, but it has since developed into a full band. Their sound is deceptively cheerful: jangling guitars, lush melodies and upbeat arrangements often contrast with lyrics that deal with themes such as defeat and depression, always accompanied with a wink and self-confidence. This contrast between words and music and the nonchalant delivery are the reasons why No Frills resonates so strongly and why they have been Golden Glades‘ favourites since day one.
20:20 Schmidtchen
The Boojums
Labelmates The Boojums are just getting started. The Trio hails from Nova Scotia is about to release release their self-titled debut LP at the End of October. Their music channels the raw energy of ‘60s garage rock, the sneer of ‘70s punk, the edge of ‘80s alternative, and the hooks of ‘90s power-pop—yet the result is something undeniably fresh and of-the-moment. Get ready for a sonic time warp with a modern twist with The Boojums.
22:30 – Schmidtchen
Friday, 19. September 2025
Dressed Like Boys
I recently came across the Belgian record label Mayway with French singer-songwriter Aure and her minimalist acoustic songs. Dressed Like Boys, Jelle Denturck’s project, also releases its music on Mayway and is a heartfelt thing. His songs are based on intimate piano arrangements and stories taken directly from Denturck’s own life. The frontman of Belgian indie rock band DIRK takes a slightly different direction with his solo project Dressed Like Boys. Instead of guitar-driven energy there are personal songs that deal with queerness, relationships and memories.
Friday, 16:00 Indra | Saturday, 23:25 Nochtspeicher
Delivery
Melbourne has always produced an above-average number of sharp, unpredictable guitar bands, and Delivery is one of them. Their shows remind us that punk energy does not have to be synonymous with sloppiness. The interplay between the two (sometimes even three) guitars is precise but never sterile. Delivery still carries the DNA of Melbourne’s DIY scene, but they clearly have their sights set on bigger stages.
Thursday, 22:25 Molotow | Friday, 18:00 Molotow
Kratzen
If you like music that invites you to immerse yourself, appreciates repetition as a compositional device and creates moods from minimalist elements, then you should definitely see KRATZEN live. The band’s latest album, III, was produced together with Olaf Opal and reduces everything to the essentials: repetition, subtle variations and atmosphere. Fans of krautrock, post-punk, or minimalist wave will feel right at home.
19:45 Pooca Bar
Saturday, 20. September
Honeyglaze
On Saturday, Molotow is hosting an afternoon curated by Jackson Irvine. Jackson is not only one of the coolest footballers and current captain of FC St. Pauli, but also a real music fan. Every month, he produces a radio show for ByteFM and plays a lot of music from his hometown of Melbourne. Honeyglaze, on the other hand, hails from South London. The trio combines emotional indie rock and post-punk with introspective lyrics. It will be interesting to see how they switch between delicate moments and dynamic energy.
18:30 Molotow
Far Caspian
Far Caspian at the Reeperbahn Fest is probably one of those shows that will stay with you for a long time: not because of pyrotechnics or stage theatre, but because of its honesty, craftsmanship and emotional depth. I’m a big fan of the current album Autofiction. It’s a record that builds on dream pop and shoegaze textures , but filters them through a more personal, reflective lens. I like the feel and textures of this music and look forward to hearing it live.
19:25 Knust
Natalie Bergman
One last recommendation for Saturday evening is Natalie Bergman. This artist has developed a unique style in today’s indie scene by combining vintage soul, gospel warmth and folk intimacy into a sound that is both timeless and deeply personal. I’m not sure if she’ll be performing alone or with a full band, but I’ve heard that she likes to engage with her audience and try to explain the stories behind her music.
21:30 Nochtspeicher
Whether you’re looking for the next big headliner or happen to discover your future favourite artist in a backroom club, one thing is certain: for four days in September, the Reeperbahn pulsates to the rhythm of music. I hope my recommendations will help you find your way around the variety of events and showcases. Don’t forget to get your ticket before it’s too late.
