Sofa Salon April 2012

Thanks for dropping by the Sofa Salon website and checking out my upcoming shows. As always, doors at 19:00 and reservations are vital! Email berlinsofasalon@gmail.com to secure your seat. If you want to invite friends, the facebook event listing is here.

This month, I continue to explore the work of the many amazing women musicians resident in Berlin. The show is on Friday April 27 and features a solo set by Holly Mae Haddock from Holly Mae and The Painted Room and a set by Susanna Berivan.

FRIDAY APRIL 27

Holly Mae and the Painted Room is a literate art-folk project that draws inspiration from myth and fairytale, heavy on swooning, sparkling production and harmonies.

Susanna Berivan is a smoky, delicate sounding chanteuse pinning her Delta Folk/Blues songs with a downhome guitar style.

SOFA SALON PODCAST NUMBER 4

Every month, I make a podcast featuring the upcoming Sofa Salon performers plus singer-songwriters and poets from around the world whose work I'm digging right now. I host it on SoundCloud and you can stream or download the podcast which features performances from Holly Mae and The Painted Room, Susanna Berivan, Ned Collette, Julitha Ryan, Miranda Gjerstad and Gaby Bila-Günther:

Sofa Salon Podcast 4: April 2012 by SofaSalon

UPCOMING SALONS

MAI 11		Wasp Summer 'Close as a Slow Dance' album launch
Many of you only know me as the hostess of Sofa Salon, but I am about to release my debut solo album under my nom-de-Kunst Wasp Summer. It's also my birthday, so Sofa Salon is hosting its first Album Launch Party!

MAI 12		Sean Nicholas McMahon + A Seated Craft
As Sofa Salon continues the tradition of being a Berlin home for Australian independent music, we present two Australians: Sean Nicholas McMahon and his plaintive Alt.Country/Folk sounds. He comes from acclaimed Melbourne roots band Downhills Home. A Seated Craft is the warm, gossamer music of Alexia Peniguel. The underlying melancholy in her emotive music is leavened by its great, delicate beauty. JUNI 16 Sofa Salon SAND Journal Summer Party Sofa Salon again joins with SAND Journal, Berlin's English-language literary magazine, to create a day-long festival of incredible Scandinavian music and spoken word. We will be holding this in a secret new venue somewhere in Berlin.   JULI 6 Lapingra (It) + guests Italian toycore band Lapingra is a collaboration between two quirky musicians with shared passion for Barbie, bake-a-cakes, Björk, Disney soundtracks and Bauhaus. Their album uses toy instruments to bake oven-fresh and original songs. SUMMER AND BEYOND: AUGUST 18 Ben Salter (Aus) + Ned Collette (Aus) This night features two of Australia's critically acclaimed songwriters and their brand new albums. Ben Salter came from Brisbane bands Giants Of Science and alt.country collective The Gin Club and co-producing his debut solo album The Cat with members of The Drones. Ned Collette is a past host and performer at Sofa Salon and brings us literate musings from his album with his Australian band Wirewalker, 2. SEPTEMBER 1 Ian Fisher (USA) + guest His American folk visions and acerbic wit fall somewhere in the vicinity of Woody Guthrie, or Elvis Costello, Ian Fisher brings us stripped-back versions of songs from his new Ian Fisher & The Past album.

Salons Februar - Juli 2012

Welcome back to Sofa Salon. Last month's collaboration with Bremen agency Songs & Whispers was an amazing night. Thank you to Gillian Grassie for her songs and her generosity in sharing her harp with the audience, Adam Donen for the poetry and candlelight and Heiko and team at Songs & Whispers.

Have a listen to the new Sofa Salon podcast featuring February's performers plus independent poetry and music from around the world including David Creese, Sharon van Etten and Jenny Hval. 

Regards,

Sam 

Friday 24 February: Gosia Winter (Aus) + Cera Impala (US) + Claudia Emmingham ( DE)

Three powerful performers, Berlin ladies all. Gosia Winter, a Polish-Australian songwriter and guitarist with a playful avant-pop style with the sensuality of 30's jazz and the soul of Slavic folk, Cera Impala, a charismatic stalwart of Berlin's bluegrass/americana scene who sounds like Mama Cass and Michelle Phillips with a wicked sense of humour, and Claudia Emmingham, a bi-lingual poet whose found her voice and bone-dry performance style in Berlin's spoken word scene.

Einlass 19:00. Eintritt 6€. Email reservations to berlinsofasalon [ at ] googlemail.com

Friday 23 March: Miss Kenichi (DE) + guests

Miss Kenichi, born a trucker's kid in a secluded little town in the woods of south-east Germany, makes a kind of parched and dreamy Americana with a husky voice that slips in under your defences.

With another musical guest and poet to be announced.

Friday 27 April: Phia (Aus) + Holly Mae and the Painted Room (US) + guests

Phia is the playful DIY-art-pop music project of Australian-in-Berlin multi-instrumentalist songwriter Sophia Exiner, think Regina Spektor or New Buffalo playing in a kitchen full of musical instruments. Holly Mae and The Painted Room is a literate art-folk project that draws inspiration from myths, fairtales and Greek tragedy, heavy on swooning, sparking sounds and harmonies.

Saturday 12 May: Sean Nicholas McMahon (Aus) + A Seated Craft (Aus) + guest

Continuing the Sofa Salon tradition of being a Berlin home for Australian independent music, we're pleased to present Sean Nicholas McMahon and his plaintive Alt.Country/Folk songs. He comes from acclaimed Melbourne band Downhills Home. A Seated Craft is the warm, gossamer music of Alexia Peniguel. The underlying melancholy in her emotive music is leavened by its great, delicate beauty.

Saturday 23 June: SAND Summer Sofa Salon Summer Festival

Sofa Salon again joins with SAND Journal, Berlin's English-language literary magazine, to create a day-long festival of incredible music and spoken word. We will be holding this somewhere extraordinary.


Friday 6 July: Lapingra (It) + guests

Italian toycore band Lapingra is a collaboration between two quirky musicians with shared passion for Barbie, bake-a-cakes, Björk, Disney soundtracks and Bauhaus. Their album uses toy instruments to bake oven-fresh and original songs.

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

Sofa Salon #8 Thank You!

Sofa Salon Berlin - Wohnzimmer Konzert-Serie.

Sofa Salon #8 Thank You!
Musik: The Alma Church Choir (DE) + Lina Paul (DE) + Poesie: Mr. oCean (AUS)

ENG:
What a wonderful SOFA SALON night! A heartfelt welcome to the new people that came along, offered future living rooms, bought CDs and added themselves to the mailing list. My thanks also to the return guests and my gratitude to Neil the Barman and Sascha for their assistance. What beautiful performances from The Alma Church Choir, Lina Paul and Mr. oCean.

The last Sofa Salons for 2010 will be Thursday 25 November at Joe's Bar, Prenzlauer Berg, and an early December living room concert at Sofa Salon HQ.

DE:
Ein wonderschön SOFA SALON! Ein herzliches Wilkommen auf die neues Menschen, die entlang kam, bot Zukunft Wohnzimmer, kaufte CDs und hat sich auf die Mailingliste. Mein Dank geht auch für die Stammgäste und meine Dankbarkeit für die Hilfe von Neil und Sascha. Wirklich schöne Aufführungen von The Alma Church Choir, Lina Paul und Mr. oCean.

Die letzte Sofa Salons für 2010 sind Donnerstag 25. November bei Joe's Bar, Prenzlauer Berg, und ein Anfang Dezember wohnzimmer konzerte bei Sofa Salon Hauptsitz.


Watch a video for The Alma Church Choir song Ubuntu. Andreas told me 'Ubuntu' has various meanings in different African languages, and said Nelson Mandela explained it this way: "A traveler through a country would stop at a village and he didn't have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food, entertain him. That is one aspect of Ubuntu but it will have various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not enrich themselves. The question therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you to be able to improve?"

NEW SOFA SALON EVENTS

Dearhearts,

ENG:
After the wonderful performances of Mark Steiner and Emilie Zoey Baker in September, there's more singer-songwriter and poet actions as Sofa Salon presents two sparkling new events for you!

TOMORROW NIGHT - THURSDAY 28 OCTOBER
Sofa Salon returns to the comfiest new bar in Prenzlauer Berg - Joe's Bar - for Sofa Salons new monthly Berliner Songwriter Series featuring Australian Gothic Folk from Waywardbreed, High Drama Bossa Nova from Roland Satterwhite and shimmering poetic performance from Sandra Serala. Doors 21:00. Entry by donation. Schönhauser Allee 157 10435 Berlin (opp. Kulturbrauerei)

SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER
A wonderful lineup of German singer-songwriters. I saw The Alma Church Choir at SIN Bar a year ago and dreamed of having them play in my living room. Now it's happening and they bring the talented Berlinerin Lena Paul with them for an evening of ambient folk/country wonderment.

Book your places at sofasessions@gmx.de.


DE:
Nach dem wunderbaren Auftritte von Mark Steiner and Emilie Zoey Baker im September, Daher würde der Sofa Salon wie auf den nächsten Schaumwein Gigs in der Serie anzukündigen:

MORGEN ABENDS - DONNERSTAG 28 OKTOBER
Sofa Salon kehrt zum gemütlichsten neues bar in Prenzlauer Berg - Joe's Bar - für Sofa Salons monatlich Berliner Songwriter Serie mit Australische Gotik Folk aus Waywardbreed, High Drama Bossa Nova aus Roland Satterwhite und schimmernde poetische Leistung von Sandra Serala. 21:00. Eintritt Spende. Schönhauser Allee 157 10435 Berlin (neben Kulturbrauerei)

SAMSTAG 6 NOVEMBER
SOFA SALON zurück ins Wohnzimmer am Samstag 6. November mit eine wunderbare Lineup von deutschen Singer-Songwriter. Ich sah The Alma Church Choir bei SIN Bar vor einem Jahr und träumte von ihnen mit in meinem Wohnzimmer spielen. Jetzt ist es passiert, und sie bringen die talentierte Berliner musikerin Lena Paul mit ihnen für einen Abend der Umgebungstemperatur Folk / Country Staunen. 19:00. Eintritt 5€.

Buchen Sie Ihre Plätze bei sofasessions@gmx.de

Our first review

Thanks to mr oCean, inaugural Sofa Sessions poet, for this fine, comprehensive review of the weekend's three Sofa Sessions shows for Moabit Kulturtage. You are very kind, sir! Click on the title for the link to the review.

Sofa Sessions success

Oh! The first three Sofa Sessions were a complete blast! Three days of intimate, warm and soulful performances from some of my favourite Berlin singers and songwriters. Our fantastic, attentive and supportive audiences. Performers and audience chatting in the breaks. Contacts made. CDs sold. Art appreciated. Tablecloths burned.

Amongst the many highlights, here's four images strong in my mind:
* A roomful of people sang harmony with Eric Eckhart and Miranda, Lotta and Floyd
* Daniel Hoth's incendiary poetry readings really affected the audience with his intensity, truth and flow
* Claire from Bocage danced on bare feet and sang her heart out
* The many kitchen conversations, hugs and connections made after the shows

Several people cried at the music, including me. I am buzzing that we made something so relaxed, so simple and so warm that gave some community energy back to this beautiful city. I say "we" because the Sofa Sessions happened and ran so beautifully due to the efforts of many. I would like to publicly thank the following:

Cosima Diehl, Lena Tjäder, Dr. Claudia Beelitz and the Moabit Kulturtage crew, Frau Rosinov, meine nachbarn, Neil Leslie, Christina Fischer, Leena McCall, Cameron Wilson, Craig Thomson, Gaby Bila-Günther, Daniel Skornicka and all the performers and artists. Please click on the links, go to their MySpace pages and websites, support them and see more shows.

I will post photos and video in the next week or so. Keep an eye out here for the next Sofa Sessions gig, join my Sofa Sessions E-Mail Liste and tell your friends.

Live music is the shit!

Much love,

Ms. Sam

Artist Links

You can find the MySpace pages of the Sofa Sessions artists on the right. Please have a listen.

Künstler/Artists for Moabit Kulturtage Sofa Sessions

Sofa Sessions showcases Berlin's best local and international indie pop, folk and rock singer-songwriters, pairing them with great poets and visual artists.

Sofa Sessions debuts for the Moabit Kulturtage festival Juni 18-20, 2010. All sessions are 5€. Drinks available. Children welcome.

To reserve your place, please email sofasessions@gmx.de with your preferred date/s.

Freitag 18. Juni - Eric Eckhart (USA), Simon Eugene (UK), Mesalina Trio (De/Aus/Swe) and poets mr oCean (AUS) and Gaby Bila-Günther (De/Aus) um 20 Uhr.

Samstag 19. Juni - Wasp Summer (AUS), Kiki Brunner (DE), Bocage (FRA) and poet Maria Maddalena (It) um 14 Uhr.

Sonntag 20. Juni - Miranda Gjerstad (SWE), Christina Maria (CH), Grand Salvo (Aus) and poet Daniel Hoth um 14 Uhr.

Visual art is from Christina Fischer (USA), Leena McCall (UK), Neil Leslie (UK), Gaby Bila-Günther (De/Aus) and Daniel Skornicka (De).