Sofa Salon #22: The Sweetness

Dearhearts,

Sofa Salon #22 explodes in harmony as our favourites The Sweetness return to Kristian's wonderful Kreuzberg wohnzimmer. The winter is at our doorsteps, the cold and the dark are trying to creep into the last corners well defended by the warmth of our radiators. What better to keep the ghosts of winter away than music?

The 3rd SofaSalon at Kristian's place will be taking place Friday 11th November

7.30 pm (doors 7 pm) ... Entrance fee is 5 Eur as usual, drinks will be around 1-2 Eur.

We are honoroured to have The Sweetness playing for us again, coming over from the great wide plains of Texas and Canada, performing the best of their folk-inspired sets of accoustic magic.

(here is an example from their last concert at SofaSalon in spring this year: http://wethesweetness.com/videos.php)

Feel free to invite friends, but please let me know, so we can reserve a place for you. Email berlinsofasalon [at] gmail dot com to reserve your place. Eintritt 5 EU. Einlass 19:00.

Sofa Salon August Surprise

Sofa Salon TONIGHT! - 2nd String band (USA)

Dearhearts, Welcome to Sofa Salon! It seems the summer is finally returning to Berlin and what better than to celebrate with some Music in lovely Kreuzberg. This Saturday 6th August 20.30, Kristian is hosting an evening of American bluegrass, old-time, folk and country-western with The Second String Band from Washington D.C., featuring Sophia Kruszewski on mandolin, Sam D'Agostino on guitar, Phil Aroneanu on banjo, and Jacob Weiss on fiddle, and all on vocal harmony. "Please come, enjoy and our support our dream of sharing our unique blend of American music with friends new and old across Europe!"

Check out their blog at: http://2ndstringband.com/

The concert is at Kristian's place in Oranienstraße in the middle of Kreuzberg 36. Doors open at 20:00, music starts 20:30. It's 5Eur donation to help the guys finance their tour through Europe. Drinks will be available at low prices. To register: kristian.brakel@gmail.com

Sofa Salon's first birthday!

Na ja, It's Sofa Salon's first birthday and I'm celebrating with a... Sofa Salon. Exactly one year ago, I put on three afternoon living room concerts for the Moabiter Kulturtage.

The shows were filled with wonderful musicians, poets and an attentive audience. Something really special happened in that space and everyone there loved seeing performers so close. I put on a few more and then a few more. I made an afternoon festival with SAND Journal and migrated to other living rooms. It's been a surprise and a joy.

Thank you very much to Cosima, Lena, Cameron, Kristian, Kari and Max and Eric for your support. Thank you very much to all the poets, musicians and guests who make Sofa Salon a very warm, intimate Berlin experience.

Highlights for me have included Emilie Zoey Baker, The Alma Church Choir, mr Ocean, Mark Steiner, Roland Satterwhite and Sandra Serala, The Sweetness and Ben Porter Lewis, Biddy Connor, Roller One, Miranda Gjerstad and Lotta Fahlen, Water Music and Daniel Hoth, but you're all amazing.

ENG:

Samstag 16. Juli - Wohnzimmer Konzert: Schneider & Son, Ned Collette (Aus) + poet Sally Browne (Aus)

...Sofa Salon presents an early evening of wonderful music and poetry. Doublebass player Claudia Schneider fronts Diving Bell, one of Melbourne's more intriguing bands. They create European stories with Melbourne sounds and have been described as Indie Oompah. Frau Claudia's plays a set with son Liam, from Melbourne band Ships Piano. Respected Australian songwriter and previous Sofa Salon guest Ned Collette also plays his dark and literate folk. Our poet for the evening is Brisbane-based music journalist and poet Sally Browne in her first Berlin reading. Our Sofa Salon is in Schöneberg near S-Schöneberg station. To reserve your places, the Sofa Salon email is : berlinsofasalon@googlemail.com. 6€. 17:00.

DE:

Der Sofa Salon präsentiert einen zeitigen Abend mit Musik und Poesie. Contrabass-spielerin Claudia Schneider führt die faszinierende Melbourner Band Diving Bell an. Sie formen europäische Kurzgeschichten mit Melbourne Sounds. Liam Schneider, der Sohn von Frau Schneider, und die Melbourner Band Ships Piano werden ein pulsierendes Indie Rock Set spielen. Zudem beehrt uns der angesehene australische Musiker Ned Collette mit seinen dunklen und literarischen Songs. Der Sofa Salon wird dieses mal unweit des S-Bahnhofs Schöneberg stattfinden. 6€. 17:00. Für Reservierungen, E-Mail: berlinsofasalon@googlemail.com

Last Sofa Salon at Joe's, last Salon til July

Hi Folks,

Sofa Salon #18:

Donnerstag 26. Mai @ Joe's Bar presents the "For Love And Mayhem" tour launch for Wasp Summer and Water Music's European Tour 2011.

This will be the last regular Sofa Salon showcase at Joe's Bar for a while. I'm going to be busy with touring and recording for the rest of the year, so I'll concentrate on the Wohnzimmer Konzerte for the rest of 2011.

This next Sofa Salon is also special because it is my tour launch. I play solo as Wasp Summer and I've organised a month-long Summer Tour with an amazing Australian singer-songwriter that I've actually never met, Water Music.

Through a mutual friend (and friend of Sofa Salon, Mark Steiner), we decided to have an adventure. Our "For Love And Mayhem" European Tour. We both make soulful, raw folk-rock and alt.country. Come and check out the show.

The Tour Launch Party is the Sofa Salon @ Joe's Bar. Einlass 21:00. Eintritt Spende/Donation. Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg.

Sofa Salon #17 Wrap-Up:

Well, Sofa Salon #17 was AMAZING. Thanks to the SAND Journal crew for their organisational nous and all the readers and musicians who made wonderful performances for us. We had a great audience, too. At 6 hours, we were tired and hungry by the end (thank you, felafel!) but it was a very relaxed and lovely day.

Our musicians were: Roller One, Monty Sparrow, Waywardbreed, Andrew McCubbin and the Hope Addicts and Jimmy Tait. Our performers included Sunny the Magosopher, C.M Scholler, Becky Crook, Julian Smith-Newman, Sophia La Fraga and Shane Anderson. Check out the web links on the right to get a further fix of goodness. We witnessed incredibly moving moments, wry, sly and, surreal and funny moments. And everyone enjoyed the marvellous hof at Pedram's apartment. Thank you all.

Sam Cooney took some great photos and posted them on this blog and his other blog. Matti Ernstmeier posted some images on Facebook. We got mentioned on übercool Berlin events blog Sugarhigh!

I think there will be more Sofa Salon/SAND collaborations in the future.

May Sofa Salon

May I? You May! It's lovely warm Spring. While away your time with live music and poetry.

This Saturday, Sofa Salon teams with SAND Journal, Berlin's English-language literary magazine, for a huge afternoon of Australian music and international poetry to raise money for SAND's good works and upcoming Issue #3.

Samstag 14. Mai - Sofa Salon & SAND Journal Wohnzimmer Festival:
Music from Roller One, Andrew McCubbin and the Hope Addicts, Monty Sparrow , Jimmy Tait and Waywardbreed
Poetry from C.M. Schollerer & Becky Crook & Julian Smith-Newman & Sophia La Fraga & Shane Anderson.
Performance from Sunny the Magosopher.

Berlin receives a fair share of visitors from the Southern Hemisphere's best music city, Melbourne. On tour through Europe, our Melbourne musical juggernaut features Roller One, Andrew McCubbin and the Hope Addicts, Monty Sparrow plus previous Sofa Salon favourites Jimmy Tait and Waywardbreed, alongside some of Berlin's finest poets including C.M Scholler, Becky Crook, Julian Smith-Newman, Sophia La Fraga and Shane Anderson.

Einlass 14:00. Eintritt €5. Performances start at 14:45.
To reserve places, email: berlinsofasalon [at] googlemail.com. Sending an email will get you the address. Our apartment for the festival is in Kreuzkölln near U-Rathaus Neukölln (U7).

Donnerstag 26. Mai @ Joe's Bar presents the "For Love And Mayhem" tour launch for Wasp Summer and Water Music's European Tour 2011.

Berlin's Wasp Summer and Melbourne's Water Music make soulful, dark and raw folk-rock and alt.country. They have never met but, through a mutual friend (and friend of Sofa Salon, Mark Steiner), they emailed and decided to have an adventure. Their "For Love And Mayhem" European Tour. The first night of the tour is the Sofa Salon @ Joe's Bar.

Einlass 21:00. Eintritt Spende/Donation. Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg.

Spring on a Sofa Salon

Boing! Boing! Boing! Sofa Salon springs into Spring with our two April concerts:

Samstag 23. April - Sofa Salon #15: Christina Maria (Can/Ch) + Jimmy Tait (Aus) + poet Alistair Noon

Christina Maria did a Sofa Salon in July 2010. She was mesmerising and many requested an encore. She brings her lithe acoustic folk pop back to the Salon alongside Australian act Jimmy Tait, the melancholic and spacious sound of prolific Melbourne songwriter Sara Retallick and her gun band. If you loved The Sweetness last month, you'll love Sofa Salon #15.
Our poet is Alistair Noon, a bi-lingual fixture on the Berlin spoken word scene.

To reserve places, the Sofa Salon email is : berlinsofasalon [at] googlemail.com. Also, "Like" us on Facebook.

Donnerstag 28. April - Joe's Bar Showcase: Mijo Biscan (AUS) & Ian Fisher (USA) plus poet to be announced
A night of soulful voices. These two artists have travelled a long road to bring us their music. From Australia, Mijo Biscan, known to some people in Berlin from the Melodica Festival Berlin, and for his pure and powerful voice. Formerly of the US, wanderer Ian Fisher puts a rolling big-river spirit in his soaring voice and songs. Doors at 21:00. Eintritt 4€. Joe's Bar, Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg.

Sofa Salon #14: Australian Festival

So, last Saturday 26, we had a marvellous night at Kristian's apartment on Oranienstraße. We ran out of beer - twice. There were more of you lovely folk than I expected.

We witnessed wonderful, soulful performances from The Sweetness (Chloe Charles, Aly Tadros, a delirious Douglas and Sam) and poet Ben Porter Lewis.

The beat poetry improv jam with Ben, Sam and Douglas that opened the second half was exactly what I imagined could come from a Sofa Salon event. Thank you to Kristian, the artists and to everyone that came (especially the Slovakian and Wien folk) and made it amazing. You make Sofa Salon.

Onto the Australian onslaught. It's the time of year for Australian musicians to throw down their hard-earned and hop a plane to Europe. I am blessed with several lineups of amazing Australian talent in the next few months. The first is this Thursday at Joe's Bar. Behold:

Donnerstag 31 März - Joe's Bar Showcase: Biddy Connor (AUS) with Ned Collette (AUS) & Emaline Delapaix (AUS) plus a special poetry performance from lina paul (DE) and mr oCean (AUS).

Biddy Connor is an amazing film composer, viola player and songwriter. Sofa Salon is lucky to have her for a one-off performance featuring respected songwriter Ned Collette (AUS) and also me on backing vocals. Emaline Delapaix (AUS) is giving us her spun sugar ambient folk-pop. Our poetry performance is a new collaboration between previous Sofa Salon performers German singer-songwriter Lina Paul and Australian poet mr oCean.

Doors at 21:00. Eintritt 4€. Joe's Bar, Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg.

Australische Film-Komponist, Violaspielerin und Songwriter Biddy Connor kommt nach Berlin bei Joe's Bar, P'berg, für eine einmalige Aufführung ihrer atmosphärischen Musik zusammen mit Musiker Ned Collette (Aus) und Gastspielern. Folk-Pop Sängerin Emaline Delapaix (Aus) spielt auch. Poesie kommt von lina paul und mr oCean. Anfang 21:00. Eintritt 4€. Joe's Bar, Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg, 10435 Berlin Tel: 0178 5527533

Coming Up:
Samstag 23. April - Wohnzimmer Konzert: Christina Maria (CH/CAN) and Jimmy Tait (AUS) plus poet to be announced

Donnerstag 28. April - Joe's Bar Showcase: Mijo Biscan (AUS) & Ian Fisher (USA) plus poet to be announced

Samstag 14. Mai - Sofa Salon & SAND Journal Wohnzimmer Festival: Monty Sparrow & Jimmy Tait & Waywardbreed & Andrew McCubbin & Roller One & Sunny the Magosopher (All AUS) & poets TBC.

Donnerstag 26. Mai - Joe's Bar Showcase: Water Music (AUS) & Wasp Summer (Aus/Berlin) Europatour launch plus guests to be announced.

Spring Sofa Salons

New shows for Spring!

Samstag 26. März - Wohnzimmer Konzert: Chloe Charles (CAN) & Aly Tadros (USA) plus poet Ben Porter Lewis (USA)
Sofa Salon is excited to host these two amazing alternative acoustic songwriters during their European tour. Toronto native Chloe Charles has been likened to Cat Power and Joni Mitchell and is possessed of a dramatic dark-honey voice. Austin-based Aly Tadros has the sass of Fiona Apple and the swing of a Ricky Lee Jones. Both ladies offer a distinctive and accomplished point-of-view. Poetry from New York documentary maker and whirlwind Ben Porter Lewis.
This Sofa Salon is in Kreuzberg. To reserve places, email is : berlinsofasalon [at] googlemail.com

Chloe Charles (Kanada) und Aly Tadros (USA) sind junge und talentierte Singer-Songwriters im Alternative Folk Stil. Sie spielen ihre erste Europa-Tour zusammen. Wohnzimmer-Konzert-Serie "Sofa Salon" gibt ihre ersten Berlin Konzert bei einer privat Wohnzimmer in Zentral Kreuzberg. Poesie von Ben Porter Lewis (USA). Reservieren Ihr Platz oder informationen von berlinsofasalon@googlemail.com. Anfang 19:00. Eintritt 6€.


Donnerstag 31 März - Joe's Bar Showcase: Biddy Connor (AUS) with Ned Collette (AUS) & Emaline Delapaix (AUS) plus poetry from lina paul and mr oCean.

Talented Australian film composer, viola player and songwriter Biddy Connor comes to Berlin for a one-off performance of her atmospheric music featuring respected songwriter Ned Collette (AUS) and other guests. Also featured is the spun sugar ambient folk-pop of Emaline Delapaix (AUS), now based in rural Germany. The night's poetry performance is a new collaboration between previous Sofa Salon performers German singer-songwriter Lina Paul and Australian poet mr oCean.

Doors at 21:00. Eintritt 4€. Joe's Bar, Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg.

Australische Film-Komponist, Violaspielerin und Songwriter Biddy Connor kommt nach Berlin bei Joe's Bar, P'berg, für eine einmalige Aufführung ihrer atmosphärischen Musik zusammen mit Musiker Ned Collette (Aus) und Gastspielern. Folk-Pop Sängerin Emaline Delapaix (Aus) spielt auch. Poesie kommt von lina paul und mr oCean. Anfang 21:00. Eintritt 4€. Joe's Bar, Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg, 10435 Berlin Tel: 0178 5527533

Samstag 23. April - Wohnzimmer Konzert: Christina Maria (CH/CAN) and Jimmy Tait (AUS) plus poet to be announced

Christina Maria did a Sofa Salon in July 2010. She was mesmerising and garnered requests for an encore. She brings her lithe acoustic folk pop back to the Salon alongside emerging Australian act Jimmy Tait, the melancholic and spacious sound of prolific Melbourne songwriter Sara Retallick and this gun band.

To reserve places, the new Sofa Salon email is : berlinsofasalon [at] googlemail.com.


Donnerstag 28. April - Joe's Bar Showcase: Mijo Biscan (AUS) & Ian Fisher (USA) plus poet to be announced

A night of soulful voices. These two artists have travelled a long road to bring us their music. From Australia, Mijo Biscan, known to some people in Berlin from the Melodica Festival Berlin, and for his pure and powerful voice. Formerly of the US, wanderer Ian Fisher puts a rolling big-river spirit in his soaring voice and songs.

Doors at 21:00. Eintritt 4€. Joe's Bar, Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg.



Samstag 14. Mai - Sofa Salon & SAND Journal Wohnzimmer Festival: Monty Sparrow & Jimmy Tait & Waywardbreed & Andrew McCubbin & Roller One & Sunny the Magosopher & poets TBC.
















Sofa Salon teams with SAND, Berlin literary journal, for a huge afternoon of Australian music and international poetry.

Our Melbourne musical juggernaut features the songwriters from Roller One, Andrew McCubbin and the Hope Addicts, Monty Sparrow plus previous Sofa Salon favourites Jimmy Tait and Waywardbreed all performing to raise money for SAND Journal, alongside some of Berlin's finest spoken word performers.

To reserve places, the Sofa Salon email is : berlinsofasalon [at] googlemail.com. Doors 13:00.


Samstag 15. Oktober - Wohnzimmer Konzert: Wooden Peak (DE) + Martin Lau & Teleskop (DE)

I heard Wooden Peak's wonderful electronic-acoustic folk at Fusion 2010 and asked them to play a Sofa Salon. They will also perform for us their collaboration with poet Martin Lau, who has just released his first cycle of poems on Periplaneta, with Wooden Peak setting Martin's words to music.


To reserve places, the Sofa Salon email is : berlinsofasalon [at] googlemail.com.

Sofa Salon #12 @ Joe's Bar

Thank you to friends, old and new, who came to Sofa Salon #11 at Max and Kari's. With fantastic, emotive and even daring performances from Roland Satterwhite, Gosia Winter and Linden Horvath, a swell time was had.

The next installation of Sofa Salon @ Joe's Bar is tomorrow night!

Donnerstag Februar 24. - Joe's Bar Showcase: Janin Johannsen & Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla was one of the first musicians I saw live in Berlin. He has a lovely way with words and a sweet, organic sound for fans of Devendra Banhart. Janin Johannsen has an emotional, crystaline voice, delicate folk style and a fascination with Elvis. Her performance features Andreas from Sofa Salon favourites The Alma Church Choir. A gorgeous night ahead!

Doors at 21:00. Eintritt 4€. Joe's Bar, Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg.


Next wohnzimmer konzert:

Samstag März 26. - Wohnzimmer Konzert: Chloe Charles (CAN) & Aly Tadros (USA) plus poet to be announced

Sofa Salon is excited to host these two amazing alternative acoustic songwriters during their European tour. Toronto native Chloe Charles has been likened to Cat Power and Joni Mitchell and is possessed of a dramatic dark-honey voice. Austin-based Aly Tadros has the sass of Fiona Apple and the swing of a Ricky Lee Jones. Both ladies offer a distinctive and accomplished point-of-view.

To reserve places, the new Sofa Salon email is : berlinsofasalon [at] googlemail.com

2011: New Sofa Salon lineups

Welcome, Dearhearts, to Sofa Salon 2011. We begin on Thursday 27 January at Joe's Bar, Prenzlauer Berg, with the monthly Sofa Salon showcase. Please come along and witness the warm, wonderful pop-folk of Australian musician Jona Byron and the thrift-shop pop of Brighton, UK anti-folk band Curly Hair.

Herzlich willkommen, liebe Herzen, zu Sofa-Salon 2011. Wir Beginnen am Donnerstag 27. Januar mit der monatlich Sofa Salon präsentieren in Joe's Bar, Prenzlauer Berg.
Bitte, kommen Sie und the warm, wunderschön pop-volkslieder von Australien Jona Byron und der "Thrift-shop pop" von britischen anti-folk band Curly Hair erleben.

Love,
Ms. Sam

Donnerstag Januar 27. - Joe's Bar Showcase: Jona Byron & Curly Hair
Jona Byron (AUS) is purportedly a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid which carries a guitar and sings from the trees, originally discovered in Melbourne, Australia until 2010, when he was spotted in Berlin. Also spotted in Berlin is anti-folk group Curly Hair (Brighton, UK) who bring their charming, thrift-shop pop to Joe's Bar this Thursday 27.

Doors at 21:00. Eintritt 4€. Joe's Bar, Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg.

Samstag Februar 19. - Wohnzimmer Konzert: Roland Satterwhite & Gosia Winter & poet Linden Horvath
For the first living room concert of 2011, welcome back a previous Sofa Salon guest, Berlin-based violinist and songwriter Roland Satterwhite (Berlin/USA) alongside with talented folk-jazz chanteuse Gosia Winter (Berlin/AUS). This will be a joyful and sassy jazz-influenced night from these two wonderful voices. Our poet will be the thoughtful and wry Berlin-based writer Linden Horvath (USA/Berlin).

To reserve places, the new Sofa Salon email is : berlinsofasalon@googlemail.com.


Donnerstag Februar 24. - Joe's Bar Showcase: Janin Johannsen & Sarsaparilla plus poet to be announced

Sarsaparilla was one of the first musicians I saw live in Berlin. He has a lovely way with words and a sweet, organic sound for fans of Devemdra Banhart. Janin Johannsen has an emotional, crystaline voice, delicate folk style and a fascination with Elvis. A gorgeous night ahead!

Doors at 21:00. Eintritt 4€. Joe's Bar, Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg.

Samstag März 26. - Wohnzimmer Konzert: Chloe Charles (CAN) & Aly Tadros (USA) plus poet to be announced

Sofa Salon is excited to host these two amazing alternative acoustic songwriters during their European tour. Toronto native Chloe Charles has been likened to Cat Power and Joni Mitchell and is possessed of a dramatic dark-honey voice. Austin-based Aly Tadros has the sass of Fiona Apple and the swing of a Ricky Lee Jones. Both ladies offer a distinctive and accomplished point-of-view.

To reserve places, the new Sofa Salon email is : berlinsofasalon@googlemail.com.

Donnerstag März 31. - Joe's Bar Showcase: Biddy Connor (AUS) with Ned Collette (AUS) & Emaline Delapaix (AUS) plus poet to be announced

Talented Australian film composer, viola player and songwriter Biddy Connor comes to Berlin for a one-off performance of her atmospheric music featuring respected songwriter Ned Collette (AUS). Also featured is the spun sugar ambient folk-pop of Emaline Delapaix (AUS), now based in rural Germany.

Doors at 21:00. Eintritt 4€. Joe's Bar, Schönhauser Allee 157, Prenzlauer Berg.

Samstag April 23. - Wohnzimmer Konzert: Christina Maria (CH/CAN) and Jimmy Tait (AUS) plus poet to be announced

Christina Maria did a Sofa Salon in July 2010. She was mesmerising and garnered requests for an encore. She brings her lithe acoustic folk pop back to the Salon alongside emerging Australian act Jimmy Tait, the melancholic and spacious sound of prolific Melbourne songwriter Sara Retallick and this gun band.

To reserve places, the new Sofa Salon email is : berlinsofasalon@googlemail.com.

Samstag Oktober 15. - Wohnzimmer Konzert: Wooden Peak (DE) + Martin Lau & Teleskop (DE)

I heard Wooden Peak's wonderful electronic-acoustic folk at Fusion 2010 and asked them to play a Sofa Salon. They will also perform for us their collaboration with poet Martin Lau, who has just released his first cycle of poems on Periplaneta, with Wooden Peak setting Martin's words to music.


To reserve places, the Sofa Salon email is : berlinsofasalon@googlemail.com.