Herzgrün

At the Sony Center the spring flowers will already be blossoming to energetic beats at the 12th Herzgrün Music Festival. From 6 to 8 April, nine hand-picked young bands will play 16 concerts in the transparent concert hall built specially for the Festival, and at each one 120 guests will be invited to join the singing and feel the groove. All the concerts on the three Festival days start on the hour and last around 40 minutes – enough time to take a break from routine, sense the spring and enjoy some great music – indie, pop, folk, swing, soul & rock’n’roll. This intimate atmosphere is what makes Herzgrün so unique among music festivals.

It is a stroke of good luck for everyone’s ears that Varley, the Irish-German trio fronted by singer-songwriter Claire-Ann Varley, happen to be in Berlin. Listeners love those warm acoustic guitars and soft synthesizer sounds. But those who prefer German lyrics will be happy too – because Jante will bring us German pop with real feeling. He performs in classical singer-songwriter mode with multi-instrumentalist Tim Bergelt, creating a moving world of sound to flop and flow with, alternating with songs to recharge batteries. CARY’s deep soul “with a tidy arse-kicking groove” and a dose of self-professed bolshiness likewise brings German texts to the stage. Cheeky, believable, intense. Moonmind music is a trip to the moon and back. Without kitsch. Indie, folk and experimental pop with a mysterious melancholy touch, but Susann Grossmann’s warm voice keeps even the most complex harmony grounded. The themes of the anarcho-romantic Liedermacher and storyteller Lutz Rode are drawn from life itself and bolstered musically by a pop cadence with all the charm of the 70s & 80s. He creates his own form of indie chanson pop, complete with urban tristesse and husky vocals. Inspired by rockabilly, folk, a sixties beat and the glam rock of the seventies, the duo The Dead Lovers embark on a quick trip down the decades. Meanwhile the Max Demian Band have a touch of the classical sixties combo, packing the glamour and songs of the soul, funk and rock era into a contemporary format. Influenced by a colourful diversity of languages (French, English, Spanish and German) and musical forms, the band River Rats find their inspiration in gypsy jazz, French swing, folk and the country blues of the deep American south.

Sunday is family concert day at Herzgrün: The Pia-Nino-Band put on a musical show for children that captivates listeners of all sizes. The endearing musicians from Cologne perform their cheerful, up-to-date music and their funny, sassy texts with charismatic wit. Pia & Nino write their own racy songs about undersized suitcases, secret detectives, being small and growing up, maths freaks, how to be cool and the best way to handle sludge.

Admission is free

Herzgrün: Fri.: 6:00 to 9:00 pm / Sat.: 4:00 to 9:00 pm / Sun.:2:00 to 7:00 pm
Duration: 40 minutes each

Tickets can be reserved online

www.herzgruen.de/en