Oh Mamma! Reeperbahn Festival went down very professionally in Hamburg this weekend and like every year it was an absolute treat. Reeperbahn Festival takes place in a whole range of clubs, bars and concert halls all around the famous Reeperbahn street, Hamburg’s half red light district half tourist attraction. It’s not only about music but also a lot of visual artists are presenting their works. The St. Pauli football arena traditionally hosts a range of exhibitions too. And what’s great about the music line-up at Reeperbahn Festival is that they always book a LOT of small and rising bands and give them a stage and hungry audience to play for. It’s great magic. And it feels like this year they had especially many of those names.
The most magical show was played by London ensemble Nimmo and The Gauntletts (>see the official Poule d’Or instagram). The band around Sarah Nimmo and Reva Gauntlett was one of Team Poule hot tips – and they didn’t fail those high expectation one bit. A powerful set, great energy, great music. They played the cozy Prinzenbar and the air was sweating hot.
Another amazing gig was Many Things, another group from London. They played the newly re-located and re-opened Molotow – arguably one of if not the most prestigious location in Hamburg. However, it seems like indie music clubs are dying away left and right of the English Channel and Hamburg is certainly no exception. Molotow had to leave their old building, which was their home since 1990, as it was taken down by its owners. So, Many Things played their little hearts out, starting a new history, at a new old venue. Their fun and dance indie pop is right up the Poule’s alley – see for instance their mega banger Alpha Romeo.
Australian super heroes and greatest Samurais in the Empire RÜFÜS finally played a gig in Hamburg – after having shared their song We Left for the fifth Poule d’Or compilation more than four years ago. Certainly a personal highlight for Team Poule. The energetic trio had Prinzenbar eating out of their hands. Banging drums and Tryone’s vocals perfectly completing their feel good electro pop. Photographic evidence above, the 2014-reissue of their first song ever We Left below. Their new album Atlas is out now and the trio is about to embark on a massive North American tour in October, so check those dates.
And those are just three names. The Danish flower poppers of Blaue Blume played a crowded set, as did Sekuoia. Swedish sensation Adna played not one but two beautiful sets. Berlin wonderboys Still Parade rocked hard at Prinzenbar, remember that guy?
So, bottomline, there was a lot going on. And Reeperbahn Festival really is the only four days of the year when the music is taking back this mighty old street that nowadays hosts cheesy musicals and tourist restaurants. Team Poule already wrote this two years ago and this year, with the historic Molotow gone, it feels like Reeperbahn Festival is being stronger and more important than ever.
That said, early bird tickets for Reeperbahn Festival 2015 are on sale – NOW.
