Press information 14.5.2014

Stadt Nürnberg „War and Peace“: 39th Bardentreffen Festival in Nürnberg Kulturreferat / Projektbüro

On 1st August 1914, Germany declared war on Russia and on the 3rd August on . The 39th Bardentreffen Festival in Nürnberg will be held on the days of these declarations 100 years on. For this reason, our well-known festival has chosen the theme of „War and Peace“ for this year. The festival deals with musical reflections in todays crisis- and war zones throughout the World (from Mali to ) and how, for instance, German speaking songwriters deal with conflicts of social, religious and military sources. Leitung Projektbüro im Kulturreferat: Herr Andreas Radlmaier Hauptmarkt 18 / V. Stock Billed for the start of the festival is a famous singer from the : 90403 Nürnberg Achinoam Nini, internationally known as Noa. In 2009, the Jewish born Tel.: 09 11 / 2 31-23 38 singer from Yemen, sang „There must be another way“ for her homeland andreas.radlmaier@ Israel together with the Palestinian Christian Mira Awad at the Eurovision stadt.nuernberg.de

Song Contest. Noa often uses the stage to speak out for peace in the Projektleitung Bardentreffen Middle East. Herr Karl-Heinz Fischer Tel.: 09 11 / 2 31-33 27 The distinguished Bremer Band Die Grenzgänger searched through the Fax: 09 11 / 2 31-20 01 karl-heinz.fischer@ Folksong Archive in Freiburg for lost songs from 1914 to 1918 for their stadt.nuernberg.de program „Maikäfer flieg” (fly Ladybird) with almost every ‘musical’ trick in www.nuernberg-spielt-wagner.de the book, the four musicians present what they have found at the festival. www.nuernbergkultur.de

Sparkasse Nürnberg In 2013 the based Band Tamikrest stormed to number 1 in the World BLZ 760 501 01 Music Charts with their album “Chatma”, which means „Sister“ and is Kto.-Nr. 1 010 941 IBAN: DE50760501010001010941 dedicated to the Tuareg women who have, in the worsening crisis in Mali, Swift (BIC): SSKNDE77XXX been fighting for the survival of their children and the morality of their families. Tamikrest oscillates between Desert Blues, Psychedelic, Funk and Art-Rock.

With Billy Bragg we have one of the most prominent, politically ambitioned singer and songwriter on the stage. For nearly 30 years his

songs have alternated between political polemic and unstoppable romantic. He is the singer of the post punk generation, but his, creative diversity goes beyond the political theme.

Who better to sing about the Irish tragedy and unrest since the middle ages up to the Northern Ireland conflict than The Sands Family? The

experienced immediacy of daily life in Northern Ireland is mirrored in their songs.

Kai Degenhardt grew up with Folk, Rock, Punk, Wave und Reggae, but also with songs from his father Franz Josef Degenhardt. He has put Seite 2 von 4 together a special program for Nurnberg that covers the topics of (social) peace and forgotten war.

Barabàn the sextet from Milan is well anchored in the Italian folk music scene. It fosters the musical culture of northern Italy, content wise it covers the work of the resistance against the fascist Italy.

Critical, provocative text, Reggae, Dub and Rock: with these characteristics Dubioza Kolektiv are making a name for themselves beyond the borders of Bosnia Herzegovina. Their lyrics revolve around themes of peace, understanding and tolerance, alongside an extreme criticism of nationalism and injustice carried out in their country. In 2013 they were nominated for the MTV European Music Award.

Ernst Schultz has previously dealt with the topic of war with „Ihre Kinder“ (Your Children). For his project „Dylan: Deutsch“ he translated „Masters Of War“ into „Masters of Fear “ and will present a potpourri of songs about war and peace from the past decades.

Barbara Thalheim has been on the stage for 40 years and she is not unknown, especially in Nürnberg where she has performed for the festival regularly, the last time in 2007. Together with Michèle Bernard they will present a special program for the theme of „War and Peace“.

For the born singer things are looking rosy. Her band “Soapkills” is celebrated by the critics but disdained by the Lebanese conservative powers. The name of the band is a sarcastic jibe at her fellow countrymen to wash away their bloodthirsty past.

Aziza Brahim was born in the west Sahara but lives in Barcelona. This brings about cultural tensions that are mirrored in her music. Brahim is considered a prominent and eloquent speaker for the people of the Sahara and their constant battle for justice and acceptance.

One of the most important representatives of the Danish Folk music scene is the 75 year old Fin Alfred Larsen. The enormous treasure trove of songs he has adopted in his life can be seen a series of four award- winning albums. It is from these albums that he will play Danish

‘workman’s’ songs and soldiers’ songs including some from the First World War.

In remembrance of the beginning of WW1, the Osnabruck born Günter Gall has put together a program that attempts to build a bridge between Seite 3 von 4 the Thirty Year War, the time of the Prussians with the Seven Year War and the big wars of the 20th century right up to the “tragedy of Afghanistan” (Theodor Fontane).

Liselotte Hamm et Jean-Marie Hummel round of the topic of „War and Peace“. The Alsace based musicians will present musical stories about the changing past of the French/German border region.

The complete festival program will be available in June 2014.

General information:

Bardentreffen is the largest annual event to take place within the historic centre of Nuremberg. For its 39th edition, which takes course over three days more than 200.000 visitors of all ages gather at nine different stages to listen to world music artists as well as singer-songwriters from all over the planet for free.

Over the years, Bardentreffen has become an important part of the Nuremberg cultural and music scene – and the event well known throughout the entire country. Formed in 1976 as a competition for non- professional singer-songwriters, it has turned into “the magnetic cultural event”, according to the national newspaper DIE ZEIT. Bardentreffen is a music festival that plays an important part in turning Nuremberg into the vibrant and culturally rich city it is today.

“Traditions, trends, experiments”, these are the basics of the festival, which focuses on singer-songwriters and world music artists, their traditions and their latest, contemporary forms of expression.

Artists and bands: War and peace: Noa (ISR), Billy Bragg (GB), Aziza Brahim (Westsahara), Yasmine Hamdan (LIB), Tamikrest (MLI), Barabàn (ITA), The Sands Family (IRL), Dubioza Kolektiv (BIH), Barbara Thalheim & Michèle Bernard (D/FRA), Die Grenzgänger (D), Kai Degenhardt (D), Günter Gall & Konstantin Vassiliev (D), Liselotte Hamm et Jean-Marie Hummel (FRA), Ernst Schultz (D), Fin Alfred Larsen (DEN)

International: The Eastern (NZL), Buyakano (NED), Pippo Pollina (ITA/CH), Hudaki Village Band (UKR), Nomfusi (RSA), Soneros de Verdad

(CUB), Harri Stojka India Express (AUT/IND), Ebo Taylor (GHA),Habib Koité (MLI), Monsieur Periné (COL), Carmen Souza (POR), Aline Frazão (ANG), Island Jazz (MAD), Marta Topferova & Trova (CZE), April Verch (CAN), Amarins (NED), Dominik Plangger (ITA), Liloba (COD/BEL/D), José Miguel Márquez (CHI), Mikaîl Aslan Ensemble (TUR/D), Ragga Gröndal (ISL), Akua Naru (USA) Seite 4 von 4

From Germany: Monika Drasch & Band, Dota & Band, Kofelgschroa, Blind & Lame, Ron Spielman, Carolin No, D’Raith Schwestern und da Blaimer, Erdmöbel, Marinafon, Desiree Klaeukens, Charly & the Band

Regional music scene: Oh Lonesome Me, Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre, My New Zoo, A Kiss From Wendy, Elena Jank & The Acoustics, DM7, We Guess, Samantha Stollenwerck, Your Careless Spark, La Boum, Tim Köhler, The Iron Shirt, KanDo, Ego Decay, Burn Out Blues Convention, The Travelling Playmates Profolk stage: Paul Bartsch, Annett Kuhr, Frank Viehweg, folkSalon, SpuimaNovas

Music for kids: Ben & The Sunshine Boys (AUS/D/USA), Zaches & Die Grenzgänger (D)

Bardentreffen is hosted by the Departement of Cultural Affairs, City of Nuremberg

For more information see: www.bardentreffen.de