Songs & Whispers
Songs & Whispers is a concert series which takes place in the north-west of Germany on a monthly basis. It has been initiated in early 2009 by the holder of the promotion agency [ps]promotion, Heiko Grein, in Bremen and provides international as well as local artists a platform to promote their music.
The Concept of Songs & Whispers
AbOUT Songs & Whispers
Songs & Whispers is a concert series which has been brought into existence by the collaboration of the record label DANDYLAND and the promotion agency [ps]promotion. Since January 2009 international and regional artists of different genres like alternative folk, alternative country, Americana, or bluegrass, play in venues in the northwest of Germany. Since the beginning of the series the audience grows, as the venues are exceptional, e.g. some of the shows take place at historical cinemas, theatres or in an old quayside bar. An intense atmosphere is accomplished by setting ambitious artists on, and music-lovers in front of stage. Because of the variety of the venues the atmosphere is changing with every concert.
The goal of the series is to link and to culturally gain from having artists from various nations on the project. Every month new and different artists, both regional and international bands, take part in this concept. There is also a possibility for institutions of the music sector, eg. music schools, to play within the concert series. Special shows take place periodically, for example in the Bremer Sendesaal or different schools. A UK Special and the ‘Songs & Whispers’ Australia Live concert are in preparatory stage.
Venues
In early 2009 the series started with seven concerts within a week. Within six months the project has extended into a two-week-circle. An overview about the venues is provided at the MySpace page of Songs & Whispers, which also offers a link to Google-Maps containing directions to these venues.
„Songs & Whispers“ Tour – Circuits & Artists
Circuit 01/2009 - January
Richard Neuberg (Viarosa) from London / UK - http://www.myspace.com/viarosa
Someday Jacob from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/somedayjacob
Circuit 02/2009 - February
Daisy Chapman from Bristol / UK – http://www.myspace.com/daisychapman
Doghouse Roses from Glasgow / UK - http://www.myspace.com/ukdoghouserose
Cedarwell from Sheboygan, Wisconsin / USA - http://www.myspace.com/cedarwell
Binoculers from Hamburg / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/binoculers
Circuit 03/2009 - March
The Cedar from Bath, Bristol / UK - http://www.myspace.com/thecedar
Dogs Run Free from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/dogsrunfreemusic
Songs & Whispers Special April 2009
The Epstein from Oxford, London / UK - http://www.myspace.com/theepstein
Circuit 04/2009 - April
Slow from Bristol / UK – http://www.myspace.com/slowspace
Axel Kruse from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/musikvonaxel
Circuit 05/2009 - May
Viarosa from London / UK - http://www.myspace.com/viarosa
Someday Jacob from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/somedayjacob
Songs & Whispers Special June 2009
Roger Tarry from Bristol / UK - http://www.myspace.com/rogertarry
The Epstein from Oxford, London / UK – http://www.myspace.com/theepstein
Uwe Bruns from Oldenburg / Germany – http://www.myspace.com/hanseroots
Axel Kruse from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/musikvonaxel
Circuit 06/2009 - June
Scarlatti Tilt from Bristol / UK - http://www.myspace.com/scarlattitilt
Fallen Trees from Sheffield / UK - http://www.myspace.com/fallentreesband
Marisa Yeaman from Melbourne / Australia - http://www.myspace.com/marisayeaman
Axel Kruse from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/musikvonaxel
Circuit 07/2009 - July: Songs & Whispers meets the Melodica Festival
Torben Stock from Hamburg / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/torbenstock
Athebustop from Bologna / Italy - http://www.myspace.com/athebustop
Kid Decker from UK & Hamburg / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/kiddecker
Owls of the Swamp from Melbourne / Australia - http://www.myspace.com/owlsoftheswamp
Svavar Knutúr from Reykjavik / Iceland - http://www.myspace.com/mrknutur
Songs & Whispers Open Air Concerts, Special Guests
The Epstein from Oxford, London / UK – http://www.myspace.com/theepstein
The Cedar from Bath, Bristol / UK - http://www.myspace.com/thecedar
Someday Jacob from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/somedayjacob
Circuit 08/2009 – August
Cue Fanfare from Bristol / UK - http://www.myspace.com/cuefanfare
Solo from Utrecht / Netherlands – http://www.myspace.com/solopeople
Hlynur Gudjonsson from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/hlynurgudjonsson
Haruko from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/harukomyspace
Circuit 09/2009 – September
Palodine from Seattle / USA – http://www.myspace.com/palodine
Garfields Birthday from Weymouth / UK - http://www.myspace.com/garfieldsbirthday
August in Fall from Bologna / Italy - http://www.myspace.com/augustinfall
Songs & Whispers Australia Alive Special October 2009
Tobias Hengeveld from Victoria / Australia - http://www.myspace.com/tobiashengeveld
Lucie Thorne from Bimbaya / Australia - http://www.myspace.com/luciethornemusic
Uwe Bruns from Oldenburg / Germany – http://www.myspace.com/hanseroots
Circuit 10/2009 – October
The Cedar from Bath, Bristol / UK - http://www.myspace.com/thecedar
The Alma Church Choir from Düsseldorf, Berlin / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/thealmachurchchoir
Dogs Run Free from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/dogsrunfreemusic
Songs & Whispers UK Special November 2009
Robert Carl Blank from Hamburg / Germany – http://www.myspace.com/robertcarlblank
Someday Jacob from Bremen / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/somedayjacob
Axel Kruse from Bremen - http://www.myspace.com/musikvonaxel
Viarosa from London / UK - http://www.myspace.com/viarosa
Roger Tarry from Bristol / UK - http://www.myspace.com/rogertarry
The Blood Choir from the West-Country of England / UK - http://www.myspace.com/thebloodchoir
Dan Shears & The Velveteen Orkestra from Brighton, London and South East / UK http://www.myspace.com/danshearsmusic
Circuit 11/2009 – November
Skyside from Vienna / Austria – http://www.myspace.com/skyside
Stephen Brandon from Sydney/ Australia + Berlin / Germany – http://www.myspace.com/brandonstephen
Local supports: Dorit Jakobs from Oldenburg / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/doritjakobs
Circuit 12/2009 – December
Caroline Martin with Darker Dogs from Bristol / UK - http://www.myspace.com/darkerdogs, http://www.myspace.com/carolinemartinsmalldog
Roger Tarry from Bristol / UK - http://www.myspace.com/rogertarry
Rober Carl Blank from Hamburg / Germany – http://www.myspace.com/robertcarlblank
The Johnny Parry Trio from London, Bedford / UK - http://www.myspace.com/thejohnnyparrytrio
Local supports: Ivy Mellin from Hannover / Germany - http://www.myspace.com/ivymellin
Specials
Songs & Whispers @ school
The project Songs & Whispers supports promising rising artists in the area of Bremen. On the 27th of May 2009 British band ‘Viarosa’ from London played at the IS Helgolander Straße in Bremen. This concert was integrated by the English and music teachers into the students schedule. Pupils prepared interviews and informed themselves about the music genre, or used different media such as the internet or cameras to document the event.
Furthermore student bands get the opportunity to play on a professional level as the project offers a platform for them in the connection to regualar Songs & Whispers concerts. Thereby students get new motivation, linguistic education and a boost of their musical outcome.
Songs & Whispers @ Sendesaal Bremen
The Epstein (from Oxford, London) and Roger Tarry (Bristol) performed within the series live at the historical Sendesaal Bremen, a special which was able to be realised cause of the collaboration of ‘Friends of the Sendesaal Bremen’ (orig. ‘Freunde des Sendesaals e.V.’), the corporation ‘Panolife GmbH’ and [ps] promotion agency. The live concert has been recorded by ‘Panolife’ in 360° dimensions, which is available in the internet.
Songs & Whispers Open Air Festival
In early August 2009 an Open Air Festival took place at two different venues, one at the ‘Haus am Walde’ and the other at the Katakomben in Achim.
Information on the Open Air Concerts
Haus am Walde (Kuhgrabenweg 2, Bremen): Friday – 31/07/09: Melodica, Someday Jacob (Bremen), The Cedar (Bristol/UK) Saturday – 01/08/09: Melodica, The Epstein (Oxford)
“Katakomben” (Obernstrasse 16, Achim): Sunday – 02/08/09: Melodica, The Cedar (Bristol/UK), Someday Jacob (Bremen)
Radio show
In addition to the concerts a radioshow is produced by the team managing the tour. This show is already in monthly rotation at Radio.Weser TV, Deichradio Schwanewede and Stadtradio Göttingen. In the show current artists and circuits are discussed, enriched with interviews and general information. Also the show provides listeners with information about upcoming concerts on the Songs & Whispers tour.
External links
The radio show can also be downloaded as a podcast, furthermore live videos and recordings are available at the webpages mentioned below.
Youtube-Channel: http://www.youtube.com/songsandwhispers
Archive.org: http://www.archive.org/details/songsWhispers-TheEpsteinLiveHausAmWalde http://www.archive.org/details/songsWhispers-SvavarKnuturLiveTownsideHostel
MySpace (also on this page: a link to the Songs & Whisper podcast) http//:www.myspace.com/songsandwhispers
Songs & Whispers Google-Map: http://maps.google.de/maps/ms?hl=de&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100074815403325974413.000460e7eb2ab51e59ed6&t=h&z=7