Every summer, German music festivals attract millions of visitors from all around the world. No matter which genre of music you prefer, there will certainly be something suitable waiting for you among the many options on offer. Upcoming festivals this year range from classical to folk, rock to pop, and, of course, electronic music: something very close to the Germans’ hearts.
Whilst ‘Rock am Ring’ (which takes place at the Nürburgring racetrack) and the simultaneous ‘Rock im Park’ are arguably the most famous of all, there are plenty of lesser-known festivals to explore. Before the delights of Boardmasters and Reading, I am heading over to Stuttgart at the end of July to check out the KSK Music Open.
Since 2010, the Kreissparkasse festival has been an annual event in the central courtyard of Ludwigsburg castle and now draws thousands of visitors every year. The varied programme has captivated music lovers from across the globe with pop, rock, metal and top hits all featured in the line-up, which has recently included German bands such as Clueso, Max Raabe, Sido and Silbermond. This year the event runs from 29th July to 5th August and features LEA, the Broilers, and Dieter Bohlen amongst others. These are genuine musical highlights set against the breathtakingly beautiful backdrop of the baroque palace. So, what can we expect from these headline artists?
Lea-Marie Becker, known professionally as LEA, is an up-and-coming German singer-songwriter and keyboardist. Her lyrics are painfully honest at times and show how moving and emotive music can be. As the daughter of a music therapist, she was surrounded by music from an early age, but her career began almost by chance with a YouTube video filmed during a break at school. She has remained true to herself and her music as she has become famous. Her songs deal with friendship, loneliness, loss, and love, and her hits include ‘DreiUhr nachts’ and ‘Treppenhaus’.
The Broilers are a German punk band founded in 1992 by singer and guitarist Sammy Amara and drummer Andreas Brügge, who were only twelve years old at the time. The name apparently comes from a slang term for criminals in their hometown of Düsseldorf. Their music is described as a mix of punk, rock, reggae, and pop, and their lyrics are often political, dealing with topics such as war, poverty, and inequality. ‘Tanzt du noch einmal mit mir?’ is one of their better-known hits.
Dieter Bohlen is a German songwriter, producer, singer and TV personality. He first achieved fame as the founder of Modern Talking in the 1980s, often referred to as Germany’s most successful pop duo. His act will be followed by Sven Väth, a German DJ and electronic music producer with a career spanning over thirty years.
German artists are increasingly opting to sing in their own language rather than choosing English for commercial reasons, hoping to appeal to a wider audience. In this way they remain true to themselves and are able to express themselves more genuinely. Listening to German songs is a great way to improve your own mastery of the German language, so why not download your German playlist now?
Pierce (JMG)
